Melissa Kraemer Smothers, Ph.D.

2016_melissa_smothers_006.jpgLicensed Psychologist-WI
Associate Professor, Professional Counseling Program
Email: kraemerm@mtmary.edu
Phone: (414) 930-3276
Office: Kostka Hall, Room 353

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Education:

  • Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, APA Accredited, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee – Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Department of Educational Psychology
  • Master of Arts, Counseling Psychology, Boston College – Boston, Massachusetts
  • Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Human Services Concentration, DePaul University – Chicago, Illinois

Honors/Awards:

  • 2019 Heritage Award Nominee, Mount Mary University 
  • 2016 – 2017 Excellence in Teaching Award Nominee, Mount Mary University
  • NCACES 2016 Innovative Counselor Education Program of the Year (Departmental Award)
  • 2015 – 2016 Excellence in Teaching Award Nominee, Mount Mary University
  • 2014 – 2015 Excellence in Teaching Award Nominee, Mount Mary University
  • 2014 Early Career Psychologist National Register Credentialing Scholarship

Program Development:

  • Mount Mary University (MMU) Trauma-Responsive Interactions: April 2018-present 
    • Developer and Facilitator
    • Developed original curriculum for 24 hours of educational trauma programming, delivered to MMU faculty and staff over a four week time period. Curriculum developed to foster a more trauma-responsive environments at MMU, including participants developing a deeper sense of the physiological, emotional, and behavioral effects of trauma. Collected data and evaluated effectiveness of programming. 

Research Interests:

  • Attachment Theory
  • Issues of gender & power in therapy and supervision
  • Trauma

Recent Presentations:

  • Smothers, M.K. (2020, November). Creating a Trauma Responsive University: The Results of Educating Faculty and Staff on Trauma and the Impact on Learning​. Presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Atlanta, GA. 
  • Smothers, M.K. & Jashinsky, T. (2019, April). Healing from trauma and addiction: The role of values and meaning-making in recovery. Paper presented at Mount Mary University Spring Art Therapy Symposium, Milwaukee, WI. 
  • Smothers, M.K. & Jashinsky, T. (2018, April). Understanding the parallel dynamics in treating co-occurring trauma and addiction. Mount Mary University Spring Art Therapy Symposium, Milwaukee, WI.
  • Scheidegger, T. Smothers, M. K., Ong, L., Sepulveda, V., King, C. & Jashinsky, T. (2017, October). Assessment of counselor trainee skills and self-efficacy. Paper presented at the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, Chicago, IL.
  • Smothers, M. K., & Smothers, D. B. (2017, September). The Ties That Bind: Understanding Attachment Theory as a Path to Connection. Six-hour workshop presented for Wisconsin Association of Family & Children's Agencies (WAFCA) Continuing Education and Professional Development Program, Pewaukee, WI.
  • Smothers, M. K. (2017, January). General Group Therapy Techniques. Six-hour workshop presented as part of the Behavioral Health Workshop Series at Aurora Psychiatric Hospital, Milwaukee, W
  • Smothers, M. K., Smothers, D. B., & Halaiko, J. (2016, November). The Dynamics of Live Supervision. Live supervision session at the Fall Summit of the Wisconsin Counseling Association, Milwaukee, WI.
  • Smothers, M.K. (2016, October). Reflective functioning in supervision: Expanding the worldview of the supervisee. Roundtable presentation at the North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, Bloomington, MN.
  • Smothers, M.K., Ong, L., Sepulveda, V., & Jashinsky, T. (2016, October). Assessment of counselor trainee and self-efficacy. Paper presented at the North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, Bloomington, MN.
  • King, C. & Smothers, M.K. (2016, October). Teacher-student attachment styles and the influence on academic success and emotional development. 2016 Catholic Educator's Convention, Milwaukee, WI.
  • Smothers, M.K. & Smothers, D.B. (2016, September) Who will hear me when I call? The role of witnessing in community trauma. Paper session presented at the annual Social Living Conference, Milwaukee, WI.
  • Smothers, M.K. (2016, August). Counseling in 2016: Navigating boundaries in the era of social media & technology. Four-hour ethics works presented to Ozaukee and Washington County Health and Human Services, Port Washington, WI.
  • Smothers, M.K. & Scheidegger, T. (2016, April). Integrating a trauma informed care model with attachment theory and neuroscience. Paper session presented at the annual Counseling Spring Intensive at Mount Mary University, Milwaukee, WI.
  • Smothers, M.K. & Lancione, A. (2016, March). Relationship between gender role conflict, coping, and burnout in male law enforcement. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the American Counseling Association & Canadian and Psychotherapy Association, Montreal, Quebec.
  • Smothers, M.K. (2015, November). Entering the worldview of the child: An introduction to attachment and parental reflective functioning in working with caregivers. Paper session presented at the annual Social Living Conference, Milwaukee, WI.
  • Smothers, M.K. (2014, November).  Recent Legal Cases and the 2014 ACA Code of Ethics:  The Intersection of Ethics and Values.  Paper session presented at the annual meeting of the Wisconsin Counseling Association, Madison, WI.
  • Wester, S.R. & Smothers, M.K. (2014, May).  Understanding masculinity to improve counseling with men.  Paper session presented at the Wisconsin Counseling Association's Spring Summit, Milwaukee, WI.

Publications:

  • Smothers, M. K. (2018). Meaning-making after a fire: Applying the concepts of place attachment to the therapy space. The Wisconsin Counseling Journal, 31, 15-24.
  • Smothers, M.K. (2016). Neutrality and Curiosity. Entry in J. Carlson & S. Dermer (Eds.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Marriage, Family and Couples Counseling. SAGE Publications.
  • Smothers, M.K. (2016). Women's Project, The. Entry in J. Carlson & S. Dermer (Eds.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Marriage, Family and Couples Counseling. SAGE Publications.
  • Fleischman, K. Smothers, M. K., Christianson, H. F., Carter, L., Hains, A. A., & Davies, W. H. (2012). Experiences of adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes as they transition from middle to high school. Journal of School Counseling.
  • Smothers, M. K. & Smothers, D. B. (2011). A model of sexual assault primary prevention with diverse urban youth. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 20, 708-727.
  • Kantemneni, N., Smothers, M. K., Christianson, H.F., & Wester, S.R. (2010). Role induction: A potential method for improving men’s perceptions of career counseling. Career Development Quarterly.
  • Smothers, M. K. (2009). Harry Stack Sullivan. Entry in D. Lemming, K. Madden, & S. Marlan (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Psychology and Religion. Springer.
  • Smothers, M. K. (2009). Alfred Adler. Entry in D. Lemming, K. Madden, & S. Marlan (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Psychology and Religion. Springer.
  • Hains, A. A., Berlin, K. S., Davies, W. H., Sato, A. F., Smothers, M. K., Clifford, L. C., & Alemzadeh, R. (2009). Attributions of teacher reactions to diabetes self-care behaviors. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 34, 97-107.

Professional Memberships:

  • American Counseling Association
  • American Psychological Association
  • Wisconsin Counseling Association (Editorial Board Member)
  • International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies

Grants Funded and/or Special Projects:

  • Past Journal Editor, Wisconsin Counseling Journal (2012-2018)
  • Editorial Board Member, Journal of Counseling Preparation and Supervision (JCPS)

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