Social Impact Authors: How & Why Author Wendy Smith Is Helping To Change Our World
By Authority Magazine Editorial Staff | Hosted on Medium Authority Magazine on Medium – October 26, 2025 As part of my series about “authors who are making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Wendy Smith.Wendy Smith, Ph.D., LCSW, is a retired clinical professor of social work and associate dean of curriculum […]
Dr. Wendy Smith: The Voice for the Unheard
By Dr. Wendy Smith | Dr. Wendy Smith, a leading voice in mental health and youth advocacy, redefines justice by linking childhood trauma to prevention, healing, and systemic change. Impaakt Magazine Cover Story – October 25, 2025 When society talks about crime, especially among youth, the conversation often begins with punishment and ends with statistics. […]
The Hidden Damage of Family Separation
By Dr. Wendy Smith | What No One Talks About The Minds Journal (Dr. Wendy Smith) – October 22, 2025 What happens when family separation leaves invisible scars on children and parents alike? Let’s hear what expert Wendy Smith says. Broken family attachments have a long half-life. KEY POINTS Early attachment relationship(s) ensure protection and […]
The Incalculable Weight of Child Sexual Abuse
By Dr. Wendy Smith | The impact of early sexual abuse lives on after childhood. PSYCHOLOGY TODAY (Dr. Wendy Smith) – October 21, 2025 KEY POINTS Child sexual abuse has impacts that are long-lasting and pervasive. Children often cope with the bewildering and overwhelming nature of sexual abuse by blaming themselves. Being heard and understood […]
The Menendez Brothers: A Psychological Perspective on Crime
By Dr. Wendy Smith | When the abuser is a parent, the devastation multiplies. PSYCHOLOGY TODAY (Dr. Wendy Smith) – August 19, 2025 KEY POINTS The less-than-fully developed executive functions of teenagers play a part in juvenile crime. The motivation for violent juvenile crime, especially within the family, is complex and interpersonal. Early occurring child […]
New York Weekly: Before Their Crimes: What We’re Misunderstanding About Childhood Trauma, Youth Crime, and the Path to Healing
By Wendy Smith, Ph.D., LCSW NEW YORK WEEKLY (Dr. Wendy Smith) – September 16, 2025 In 2015, I traveled to Pelican Bay State Prison at the northern border of California. Its massive concrete blocks rise ominously, in stark contrast to the wildly beautiful coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean just a few miles away. Home […]
The Hidden Damage of Family Separation
By Dr. Wendy Smith | Broken family attachments have a long half-life. PSYCHOLOGY TODAY (Dr. Wendy Smith) – September 15, 2025 KEY POINTS Early attachment relationship(s) ensure protection and provide the context for future development. Sudden and prolonged separation from the primary attachment figure constitutes a trauma for children. Family separation can lead to a […]
The Link Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Crime
By Dr. Wendy Smith | Governor Newsom knows what I know about adverse childhood experiences and crime. PSYCHOLOGY TODAY (Dr. Wendy Smith) – September 4, 2025 KEY POINTS Governor Gavin Newsom recently granted clemency to four youthful offenders serving life sentences. Juvenile offenders have high rates of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). ACEs can negatively affect […]
Denied Parole: What Happens to the Menendez Brothers Now?
By Dr. Wendy Smith | The first parole hearing is a critical juncture. What happens next? PSYCHOLOGY TODAY (Dr. Wendy Smith) – August 26, 2025 KEY POINTS There’s a psychological difference between being a “lifer” and being eligible for parole. Problematic behavior in prison and level of insight are critical factors considered in parole decisions. […]
The Kim Pagano Show – August 23, 2025
Hosted by Kim Pagano The Kim Pagano Show Podcast (with guest Dr. Wendy Smith) – August 23, 2025 Wendy Smith, Ph.D., LCSW, is a retired clinical professor of social work and associate dean of curriculum development and assessment at the University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. Dr. Smith’s latest book will […]