I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCS19128) in California, a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor and a Certified Animal Assisted Play Therapist™. I received her Bachelors of Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and her Masters of Social Work from the University of Southern California. I have been working with children, teenagers and their families, in various capacities, for over 25 years. I have worked extensively with families in a wide variety of settings including residential treatment centers, hospitals, and schools and was an adjunct assistant professor for the USC School of Social Work for over 10 years. I worked in community mental health as a clinician at first, and then as a director, overseeing various programs, working in program development and leading a well respected intern program. Currently, I am focused on my private practice, Play Is Powerful!, in Claremont, California. Along with my canines, Daltrey and Daenerys, Ispecialize in providing play therapy, animal assisted therapy to children, teenagers and families. Additionally, I provide supervision and consultation to individuals and organizations.

My passion for play therapy expands beyond my clinical work, supervision, and training roles and informs all aspects of her career, including her management and leadership style. I have several original play therapy techniques featured in Assessment and Treatment Activities for Children, Adolescents, and Families: Practitioners Share Their Most Effective Techniques (Lowenstein, 2008). In 2005,I had the privilege of participating in a joint relief effort between the Association for Play Therapy and Operation USA in providing direct intervention and training to tsunami survivors and care providers in Sri Lanka. In 2020, Daltrey and I were featured in James Redford’s documentary film, “Playing for Keeps”, which examines the importance of play and downtime on health for people of all ages.

My two Australian Labradoodles, Daltrey and Daenerys (AKA Dani) are incorporated into my work when appropriate. I am certified in Animal Assisted Play Therapy™ through the International Institute for Animal Assisted Play Therapy™ (IIAAPT), and Daltrey and Daenerys are both approved AAPT animals. Additionally, Daltrey and I are a registered therapy team with Pet Partners and are Certified with HOPE Animal Assisted Crisis Response (AACR). Daltrey has volunteered at a local detention center, visited dementia facilities, eating disorder clinics, grief and loss camps, and a variety of other facilities and enjoys participates in de-stressing events at several California universities. In 2014 he participated in a research study by Dr. Aubrey Fine, incorporating dogs into clinical work with children with ADHD. Through our work with HOPE AACR we have deployed to multiple disasters, including fires, mudslides, school shootings and other crisis in California to provide comfort to first responders and those directly impacted by the traumatic events. Additionally, I serve on the Mental Health Committee for HOPE AACR and am the current Mental Health consultant for the PSW Region. Most recently, Daltrey and I have joined the Riverside CalFire Peer Support program where they work directly with CalFire.

Jodi Smith LCSW, RPT-S, CAAPT

Licensed Clinical Social Worker LCS19128

Registered Play Therapist Supervisor

​Certified Animal Assisted Play Therapist

​ PLAY IS POWERFUL!®

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