SaraKay Smullens

SaraKay Smullens, LCSW, BCD, CGP, CFLE, whose private and pro bono clinical practice is Philadelphia based, is a certified group psychotherapist, family life educator, best selling author, and teacher and lecturer here and abroad. For over 40 years her professional life has focused on individuals, couples, families, and groups -- including boards and businesses -- in order to offer insights and strategies leading to greater fulfillment and productivity. SaraKay's book, "Burnout and Self-Care in Social Work: A Guidebook for Students and Those in Mental Health and Related Professions," has gone into a second printing, as those not in the mental health field have found it a valuable resource in these highly challenging and complicated times. Other books include “Whoever Said Life Is Fair?: A Guide to Growing Through Life’s Injustices" and “Setting Yourself Free: Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Abuse in Family, Friendships, Work, and Love." SaraKay has contributed to peer-reviewed literature, and her articles and commentaries have appeared in magazines, newspapers and online sources. Her NASW-PA Lifetime Achievement Award recognized the codification of individual cycles of emotional abuse and the development of a therapeutic model to address them. The founder of the Philadelphia initiative, "Sabbath of Domestic Peace," which identified clergy as a missing link in addressing domestic violence, SaraKay has also been a consultant to documentarian Jennifer Fox's first feature film, "The Tale," which tells the true story of Jennifer's sexual abuse by trusted mentors at age 13. Further, she is board co-chair of the Philadelphia based Live Well (With Depression) Foundation. This fall she will be one of five graduates inducted into the newly formed Hall of Fame of the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice. SaraKay's professional papers and memorabilia, devoted to a more equitable society, can be found in the Archives of the University of Pennsylvania, the Library of Goucher College, and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library. She hopes to spend the rest of her life doing all she can to highlight destructive societal forces through education, advocacy, and activism. Further, she plans to continue submitting captions to the "New Yorker" caption contest, which she has done for years with no success. Learn more at www.sarakaysmullens.com.