Dr. Smith brings more than 25 years of experience supporting children, emerging adults, and families. She is the Clinical Director of Alta Family Development Center, which provides free developmental screenings, referral support, and family services to families in Southern California, along with family and child intervention and assessment. As the former director of the SIJCC ECE, she knows our teachers, our program, and our kids so well. 

Dr. Smith earned her PsyD from Reiss Davis Graduate School, where her research focused on developing low-barrier, highly accessible models of care for underserved and impacted children and families. She holds an M.Ed in Special Education, a BA in Classics and Medieval History from NYU, and specialty credentials in ASD assessment and treatment and parent education from Antioch University and UMass Lowell. 

Liz also serves as adjunct clinical faculty in the PsyD program at Pacifica Graduate Institute, teaching relational neurobiology, therapeutic approaches to child and family trauma, and advanced psychotherapy, and in the PsyD program at SCUHS, teaching advanced clinical skills and early child development. She has additionally supported families as a consultant and advocate in IEP and 504 plan development.