Dr. Smyth is engaged in individual and family psychotherapy and assessment. She has been in private practice with adults and children since 1980 and has been at her present location since 1985.

Dr. Smyth has particular interest in individual psychotherapy with children and adults from dysfunctional families, such as children of alcoholics and survivors of sexual abuse. She is also interested in working with individuals undergoing transitions in adult life and doing assessments of children's learning and emotional difficulties. She frequently helps children deal with changes and problems that may arise as a result of parental separation / divorce, parental substance abuse or death of family members. Dr. Smyth and Gilmour Psychological Services colleague, Dr. Catherine Pink , offer a special service to couples and families for which sexual orientation has presented problems or challenges.

Dr. Smyth's therapeutic orientation could best be described as eclectic. She believes the therapeutic approach should be tailored to the needs of the client. Dr. Smyth has trained in client-centred and insight-oriented psychotherapy and has also pursued training in the behavioural and cognitive therapies and EMDR.

Dr. Smyth earned her Honours B.A. in Psychology from York University in 1971. Her Masters and Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology were earned at the University of Ottawa in 1975 and 1979 respectively. She has been registered as a psychologist in Ontario since 1980. She is also registered with the Canadian Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology.

Dr. Smyth has been employed as a staff psychologist in a number of different settings: provincial correctional services, children and adult outpatient departments of a psychiatric hospital and therapeutic day schools. She has been the Acting Director of the Psychology Department of the Royal Ottawa Hospital and was the coordinator of the Children's Psychological Services there for over three years. She has acted as a consultant to local social service agencies for children and has taught university psychology courses at the graduate level.

In support of the profession of psychology, Dr. Smyth is a member of the Ottawa Academy of Psychology and the Ontario Psychological Association. These associations encourage the scientific pursuit of the greater understanding of human behaviour and the better provision of quality health care to the public.