Briana Smith is the founder and Clinical Director of Be Seen Therapy, where she has created a sanctuary for healing that reflects her profound understanding of human resilience and the transformative power of therapy.

With specialized expertise in trauma recovery, EMDR therapy, and anger empowerment, she brings over a decade of experience working with at-risk populations to help individuals feel truly listened to, heard, validated, and seen. Briana's calling in mental health began at YMCA OZ as a Resident Supervisor, where she witnessed firsthand how the right support at the right time could change the trajectory of someone's life, igniting her deep commitment to creating environments where people can process emotions, build resilience, and reclaim their sense of self.
Her therapeutic approach integrates trauma-informed, client-centered care with solution-focused therapy techniques. This comprehensive methodology allows her to understand the difference between what clients express verbally and what they truly mean, helping them reach the core root of problems while simultaneously supporting them toward their next steps in life. Briana's approach is grounded in her extensive experience working with troubled youth, survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, individuals with anger management issues, and substance use challenges, providing her with deep understanding of complex trauma presentations and the specialized interventions needed for lasting healing.
With a B.A. in Therapeutic and Community Psychology and Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Point Loma Nazarene University, an M.A. in Clinical Psychology with emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University, and an M.A. in Education-School Counseling from Alliant International University, Briana brings exceptional academic preparation to her clinical work. Her professional journey spans residential treatment, crisis management, school-based mental health services, coalition work with domestic violence survivors, clinical director roles, and university-level teaching at Pepperdine University's Graduate School of Education and Psychology, where she supervises emerging therapists and teaches foundational clinical skills.
Beyond her clinical work, Briana is passionate about giving back to the therapeutic community through supervision and training of Associate Therapists. Her experience includes managing teams of resident advisors, serving as Assistant Clinical Director at treatment centers, and adapting her practice during the pandemic by creatively incorporating online tools and expanding her EMDR skills for telehealth platforms. Briana shares her life with her beloved companion Ruby, a Rhodesian Ridgeback/Australian Cattle dog mix who sometimes joins sessions to provide additional comfort and perfectly timed therapeutic moments for clients.

• Briana's extensive experience across multiple treatment settings, from residential care and crisis intervention to outpatient therapy and academic supervision, provides her with a comprehensive understanding of mental health treatment across the entire continuum of care.

• Her trauma-informed, client-centered approach combined with solution-focused techniques allows her to help clients understand the deeper meaning behind their expressions while providing practical tools for moving forward in their healing journey.

• As both a clinical practitioner and educator, Briana's commitment to training the next generation of therapists through supervision and university teaching ensures that her expertise and passion for healing extends beyond her individual practice to benefit the broader therapeutic community.