Emily Smith, LCSW-R, is a Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work, a distinction that signifies excellence in advanced-generalist clinical social work. This national certification, awarded by the American Board of Examiners (ABE), is recognized by insurers, healthcare organizations, legal entities, and consumers as a hallmark of high-level competency in the field.
A graduate of Fordham University, Emily brings more than 15 years of experience working with state and federal organizations. In the early years of her career, she worked with children in residential care who suffered from severe mental health conditions. Her role included providing crisis intervention and psychotherapy to youth, educating and supporting family members, and facilitating therapy groups to help children develop coping skills and emotional resilience. She also coordinated with various school districts to ensure that treatment was not only effective but cohesive as well. Since that time; she has treated individuals across the lifespan, as well as couples and families, who have faced challenges such as grief and loss, post-traumatic stress due to trauma, addiction, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, ADHD, OCD, women’s health concerns, and significant life transitions.
Emily integrates a variety of evidence-based treatment modalities into her practice, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Brain Health Optimization, EMDR, and Performance Enhancement Psychology. She approaches therapy from a strengths-based perspective, providing a safe and supportive environment for clients to heal and grow.
Emily’s love of learning, both personally and professionally, led her to eventually serve as the Senior Behavioral Health Specialist for the New York Army National Guard. In this role, she developed a comprehensive program to provide accessible clinical and educational services to over 10,000 geographically dispersed Service Members. She has also advised senior military leaders on psychological health policies, strategies, and operations. Emily excels in clinical assessment, crisis response, counseling, and psychoeducational training aimed at enhancing individual and unit performance.
In partnership with the Center for Deployment Psychology and Purdue University’s Military and Family Research Institute, she played a pivotal role in implementing the STAR Behavioral Health Provider Program. This initiative trains community mental health providers to better understand the unique challenges faced by Service Members and their families, including deployment cycles, combat injuries, reintegration, and military culture. Emily also launched the NYARNG Annual Behavioral Health Workshop, attracting international keynote speakers, and later served as the Lead Planning Coordinator for the Army National Guard Behavioral Health Training Event (BHTE), a premier national training for behavioral health professionals across all 54 states and territories. Her expertise in Army National Guard behavioral health policies and regulations has earned her both local and national recognition as a subject matter expert.
Beyond her professional commitments, Emily has volunteered with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, contributing her expertise to support the psychological well-being of Medal of Honor recipients and their families. The Medal of Honor, the highest U.S. military award for valor in combat, is presented by the President in the name of Congress. Emily’s role with the Society underscores her dedication to serving those who have made extraordinary sacrifices for their country.
Most recently, Emily founded Northpointe Integrative in Albany, NY, where she continues to serve military personnel, law enforcement officers, and first responders, as well as provides services to adolescents and adults who are struggling to navigate varying conditions and clinical concerns. Her personal and professional mission remains steadfast: to provide exceptional care to all individuals, families, and couples seeking support.
