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Interests

• clinical neuropsychology
• cognitive rehabilitation
• the neuropsychology of trauma
• self-regulation, embodiment, mindfulness

Faculty bio

I was trained as a clinical neuropsychologist. My current research program focuses on the neuropsychology of trauma in adult populations. I am interested in how trauma affects our thinking abilities and emotional well-being. My main populations of interest are those with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) as well as medical PTSD (i.e., the trauma that occurs in the context of catastrophic or life-threatening illness). I am also interested in how to enhance trauma-informed practice in healthcare. Finally, our lab also conducts research into therapeutic approaches to enhance cognitive and psychological functioning in trauma survivors. These include cognitive rehabilitation, body awareness practices such as mindfulness and conscious dance, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and expressive arts. Most of my research is patient-oriented research, which means I include people with lived experience as members of my research team. 

Aside from being faculty at UVic, I am also the Research Scholar in Residence for Mental Health and Substance Use at Island Health. In this role, my mandate is to engage in research and support evidence-based practice on the topic of complex trauma.

I am also a champion for first generation students. That is, students who are first in their family to attend higher education. Learn more and join the .

Representative publications

Smart, C. M., Macoun, S. J., Qualls, L. K., Ellis, H. A., et al. (2025). Using the Delphi Method to Develop Trauma-Informed Practice Guidelines for Neurorehabilitation. Rehabilitation Psychology, accepted for publication.

Smart, C. M. (2022). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for Post-Stroke Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Case Report Using the Three-Phase Approach. Brain Injury, 36,1372-1381.

Smart, C. M., Ali, J. I., Viczko, J., & Silveira, K. (2022). Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Interventions as a Form of Neuropsychological Rehabilitation. Mindfulness, 13, 301–317.

Silveira, K., Garcia-Barrera, M. A., & Smart, C. M. (2020). Neuropsychological Impact of Trauma-Related Mental Illnesses: A Systematic Review of Clinically Meaningful Results. Neuropsychology Review, 30, 310-344.