Dr. Symphonie D. Smith is a therapist, educator, and creator of the Self-Centering Framework, a relational approach developed through her clinical work with women navigating patterns of over-functioning and responsibility. Rather than encouraging women to simply practice more self-care or “put the cape down,” Dr. Smith’s work offers an antidote to the Superwoman burden many Black women carry by addressing the deeper relational dynamics that keep high-capacity women carrying more than their share. Grounded in family systems thinking, the Self-Centering Framework translates complex relational dynamics into accessible language, helping women understand how these patterns take shape—and how to shift them without abandoning the people they care about.

An Independent Marriage and Family Therapist with more than 12 years of clinical experience and founder and owner of Personal Space: Self-Centering Therapy®, Dr. Smith works with individuals, couples and romantic partners, and families to help women reclaim themselves in their relationships and lives. Her clinical work addresses the relational, emotional, and societal pressures experienced by Black women who are often expected to carry the weight of families and institutions without adequate care themselves. Through the Self-Centering Framework, she helps women learn to love, lead, and care for others without losing themselves in the process. Her therapeutic approach integrates family systems thinking, intersectionality, and culturally responsive therapy, while also affirming LGBTQ+ clients, particularly those navigating the intersections of gender, sexuality, and Black identity.

In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Smith is committed to the development of emerging clinicians and future leaders in the field. She is an AAMFT Approved Supervisor, providing clinical supervision and training to developing therapists, and serves as a mentor through the AAMFT Minority Fellowship Program, supporting clinicians committed to serving underrepresented communities and advancing research and policy that improve access to care. She has also served as adjunct faculty at Walsh University, Bowie State University, and Virginia Tech.

At the heart of Dr. Smith’s work is a deep commitment to the well-being of Black women. She believes that when Black women are supported in living centered, whole lives, the impact extends far beyond the individual—strengthening families and the broader Black community. For Dr. Smith, protecting and prioritizing the well-being of Black women is both a professional calling and a responsibility to the collective.