Dr. Brian Smothers, Psy.D.
Dr. Smothers works with adults and adolescents in individual, couples and family therapy. Dr. Smothers also provides consultation to other mental health professionals, and psychological assessment for ADHD, learning disorders, and diagnostic/personality testing. He works with various mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, personality disorders, and chronic anger. His areas of clinical interests include: men's issues, issues affecting the clergy and health professionals, aggression, and recovery from trauma and traumatic loss. He has worked in community mental health and university settings. Dr. Smothers specializes in psychodynamic psychotherapy. He was a 2013-2014 Fellow of the American Psychoanalytic Association and a 2014-2015 Teaching Fellow. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, the National Register of Health Service Psychologists, and an Associate Professor at the Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology.
As a therapist, I believe that difficulties develop within relational contexts influenced by early relationships and current interactions. Good treatment is goal focused, and based on the here-and-now distress that brings you to treatment while also being curious about how the present is influenced by the past. Treatment must occur within a safe professional relationship. In my work, the therapeutic relationship is an important part of the healing process. Through on-going conversations and shared curiosity my clients and I broaden our understanding of their current distress and future aspirations. I look forward to the opportunity to work with you. |
Smothers, M.K. & Smothers, D.B. (2017, September). The Ties That Bind: Understanding Attachment Theory as a Path to Connection. Six-hour workshop presented for Wisconsin Association of Family & Children's Agencies (WAFCA) Continuing Education and Professional Development Program, Pewaukee, WI.
Smothers, M. K., Smothers, D. B, & Halaiko, J. (2016, November). The Dynamics of Live Supervision. Live supervision session at the Fall Summit of the Wisconsin Counseling Association, Milwaukee, WI. Smothers, D. B. & Smothers, M.K. (2016, September). Who will hear me when I call? The role of witnessing in community trauma. Paper session presented at the annual Social Living Conference, Milwaukee, WI. Smothers, D. B. (2015, October). A psychotherapy of the possible. Paper Presentation at the annual Psychology and the Other conference, Cambridge, MA. Smothers, D. B. (2015, September) Creativity and Hospitality: Negotiating who or what is known in psychotherapy. InvitedPaper Presentation at the Wisconsin Psychoanalytic Society, Milwaukee, WI. Smothers, D. B. (2014, November) From (his)story to (our)story: Narrative understandings of culture, identity, and culturally-informed practice. Paper Presentation at the annual Wisconsin Counseling Association summit, Madison, WI. Smothers, D. B. (2014, June). There’s something about Boundaries. Paper Presentation as part of the fellow’s programming at the 103rd Annual meeting of the American Psychoanalytic Association, Chicago, IL. Rusch, K.R., & Smothers, D. B. (2014, April). Being an Ethical Person. Paper Presentation presented at the 2014 Wisconsin Psychological Association Conference, Madison, WI. |