Sara Smucker Barnwell, Ph.D.

Sara Smucker Barnwell, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist who provides compassionate, evidence-based care to adults and adolescents. She strives to help clients identify and meet their goals through emotional insight and thoughtful change. For many clients, this involves reducing stress, improving self-care and gaining understanding of thoughts and feelings. Dr. Smucker Barnwell is passionate about ensuring that clients have easy access to the care they need, and delivers care through both traditional and innovative, technology-based methods.

Dr. Smucker Barnwell received her doctoral degree from University of Southern California. She also possesses a Masters in Education from Harvard University, where she worked with families and children with complex socio-emotional and behavioral challenges. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Seattle VA, and later lead the Seattle VA Telemental Health service. She is a University Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She has served as a staff Researcher for UCSF Child Services Research Group and Harvard Medical School Judge Baker Children’s Center. She currently serves on several national consultation groups offering guidance in the ethical use of technology.

Dr. Smucker Barnwell provides care focused on a diversity of patient needs, including:

• Stress reduction, building confidence to manage life’s challenges
• Understanding oneself and focusing on a value-based life
• Life transitions, including birth, death and other milestones
• Women’s health and post-partum care, including traumatic birth experiences
• Body image and eating concerns
• LGBTQ health

She provides a diversity of evidence-based treatments, including:

• Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy for PTSD
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)