SaraKay Smullens, Author of Setting Yourself Free and Whoever Said life is Fair?



CALENDAR \| RECENTLY PUBLISHED ARTICLES \| EMAIL REGISTRATION \| GUESTBOOK \| MEDIA INFORMATION

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Would you like to invite SaraKay
to speak
to your group?

Link here for more information.

To see a master list of previous speaking engagements and interviews, link here.

2010

June 30	SaraKay's Review of Blackbird Listed in the Best of the Broad Street Review for 2009
April 21	SaraKay will present a workshop for the staff of Lift Philadelphia about the impact of emotional abuse on the young.
April 9	SaraKay appeared on the Parent's Tool Talk Radio Show with Jody Johnson Pawel. Link here for a podcast of SaraKay's discussion on overcoming emotional abuse.
March 18	SaraKay served on a panel for the Women's Alliance of the Jewish National Fund: Women, Our Amazing Journey
Announcement	SaraKay's paper, "The Codification and Treatment of Emotional Abuse in Structured Group Psychotherapy" was published by the International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, a peer reviewed journal, in January 2010. A copy of the article may be found here.
February 2010	SaraKay's will be presenting at the annual meeting of the American Group Psychotherapy Association in San Diego. The presentation will be called "Water, Water Everywhere," and will be about how therapists can replenish themselves and avoid burnout.
2009

Announcement	A case presentation of “Glorya and Sid” written by SaraKay for the Therapist’s Notebook feature will be published in the November 2009 issue of Social Work Today.
Announcement	SaraKay's paper, "The Codification and Treatment of Emotional Abuse in Structured Group Psychotherapy" has been accepted by the International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, a peer reviewed journal. It will be published in January 2010.
Announcement	The Intergenerational Department of Temple University will publish a chapter on Friendship penned by SaraKay Smullens.
Announcement	SaraKay's papers have been accepted by the Archives of the University of Pennsylvania and can be visited at the university by anyone who is interested.
Announcement	SaraKay has been tapped to be the clinical consultant for a play called Hunter Gatherers by Pater Sinn Nachtrieb. It will open at Philadelphia's Exile Theater.
"Blackbird," an award-winning play by David Harrower	Commentary from SaraKay: I have had the honor to serve as the resident clinical consultant for the award winning play, "Blackbird," by David Harrower, which has been offered by Philadelphia's Theatre Exile from February 5 to March 1. This play focuses on the sexual abuse of a 12 year old girl by her 40 year old neighbor and the repercussions of their three month relationship, all examined when they meet years later. The playwrite describes this relationship as a "love story about two people who have been through a life changing event together." My challenge was to share with the director and founder of Theatre Exile, Joe Canuso, and the actors, Pearce Bunting, and Julianna Zinkel, real life events (always protecting the confidentiality of those I am privileged to work with) that can lead to this kind of intense union. I have long thought that psychotherapists should be trained, not by studying pathology, but instead by studying the arts, all of them, and in this way learn about human needs and what motivates humankind. This professional involvement with Theatre Exile and "Blackbird" has been a privilege for me. In addition to the work described earlier, I have participated in two discussions with the director and artists following performances, and last evening led a discussion focusing on the psychodynamics of this play and what could be possible as the characters introduced moved on to determine paths in their own lives. Though Harrower, to my knowledge, has never discussed this play beyond the one sentence shared above, there are many clues in his writing that we explored last evening.
2008

The Huffington Post	SaraKay's regular commentary may now be found in the Huffington Post
2006

March 2 - 4	National Association of Social Workers Pennsylvania
April 5-6	National Association of Social Workers Massachusetts
November 13	Sabbath of Domestic Peace Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church 8812 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia PA 19118 This is a free event but RSVPs are necessary (by Monday, November 6) to: Jennifer Drass (215) 438-9070 jdrass@avpphila.org
December 17	Enchantment Theatre Company "Beauty and the Beast" Post-show discussion which SaraKay will moderate. This will be after the second performance at 4 PM. The show runs approximately 60 minutes followed by a 15-minute Q & A with the actors and then the symposium. More information can be found at www.enchantmenttheatre.org

Spring 2004: SaraKay will be the recipient of two very special honors. Link here for more information.

Fall 2003: "The Five Cycles of Emotional Abuse", initially published in Annals (Fall 2002), will be reprinted in the Fall issue of Network, the journal for certified family life educators of the National Council on Family Relations.

Fall 2003: "A Therapeutic Model for the Treatment of Emotional Abuse" will be published in the Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association.

Winter 2002: Setting YourSelf Free was reviewed in the Winter 2002 Newsletter for Certified Family Life Educators of the national Council on Family Relations.

"Every adult should take the opportunity to read this book for a clearer understanding of themselves and to recognize that the burden of guilt many of us carry is far from justified or necessary. Not only will this book make a wonderful gift, but it should be required reading for employers and supervisors as an aid to understanding fellow workers, friends and employees."

Read the entire review.

SaraKay was cited in the Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association with excerpts of her book Setting YourSelf Free. The Annals is the official peer-reviewed journal of the association. Link here to view the article.

Setting YourSelf Free was named by Today's Books as a "Best Read" in its August 26, 2002 edition. It was rated "!!!! Exceptional"

The 7th Annual Sabbath of Domestic Peace Interfaith Service took place on Wednesday, October 2nd at St. Malachy Church in Philadelphia. This interfaith service offered spiritual support to victims of abuse. It included readings and prayers for healing from the Muslim, Christian and Jewish faith traditions.

All with an interest in ending domestic and emotional abuse are invited to attend this moving and meaningful service. For more information, please contact the Sabbath of Domestic Peace by linking below, or by calling the office at 215-732-1539.

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