Dr. Colette Smart

I am a registered psychologist, licensed to practice in BC, and my training as a clinical neuropsychologist is consistent with the Houston conference guidelines. See this fact sheet for more information on the profession and qualifications of clinical neuropsychologists. Specifically, I completed my doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Loyola University Chicago, with an internship at New York Presbyterian Medical Center/Weill Medical College of Cornell University. I completed my post-doctoral residency in clinical neuropsychology from the JFK-Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in New Jersey, after which I stayed on as a staff neuropsychologist. During this time I served in a variety of roles, including running a Memory Disorders Clinic for older adults, being the primary neuropsychologist for the inpatient rehabilitation unit as well as the movement disorders team, and conducting outpatient brain injury rehabilitation groups. I am an award-winning teacher at UVic, where I teach and supervise undergraduate and graduate students. I am also a champion of first-generation students (i.e., those who were first in their family to attend higher education), and I was one of the founders and leadership team for a mentorship program for first-gen students at UVic.

For well over 20 years, I have worked with people with chronic illness, specifically, neurological injury and illness, but also other illnesses such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, and chronic pain. I never set out to be a “trauma therapist”, but when I opened my private practice several years ago, trauma was the thing that kept showing up in my clients’ lives. Interestingly, many of my clients themselves did not know they were suffering with trauma. Although I was originally an aging researcher, this led me some years ago to shift my whole program of research and clinical focus to complex PTSD, medical PTSD, and trauma-informed practice in healthcare. I have become a passionate advocate around these topics, and as of January 2024, was appointed the Scholar in Residence for Mental Health and Substance Use at Island Health, our local health authority here on Vancouver Island, BC. My role is to conduct research and be an advocate for education and dissemination of evidence-based practices around the topic of complex PTSD. Some of this work, in collaboration with my team, is featured on our “Resources for the Public” page.

Although neuropsychologists often focus primarily on assessment, my passion has always been psychotherapy and cognitive rehabilitation and getting to know people and walk alongside them on their journey of healing. My primary theoretical orientations are existential-humanistic, attachment-focused, and incorporating holistic approaches that engage the body as well as cultural and spiritual factors. For several years, most of the clients in my practice were Indigenous Canadians, and sitting with them has greatly influenced me and my work, for which I am incredibly grateful.

When I’m not working, I love to spend time outdoors exploring with my therapy dog, Frank, dancing, practicing my DJ skills, occasionally blogging, and reading philosophy for fun.