About Us
About Eva
PhDr. Eva Smidova, Ph.D., LMFT – Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Transgender Care Therapist, Board Certified Hypnotherapist, Board Member of The GET (Gender-Equality-Trust) Network Foundation, Florida Department of Children and Family approved Parent Care Provider. Degrees: EU earned PhDr. in Psychology, and M.A. In Law, US earned Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy. Private Practice in NAPLES, Anchor Counseling - Dianne Durante, Ed.S., LMFT, 810 Anchor Rode Drive, Naples, FL, 34103. E-mail: dr.eva.smid@gmail.com, cell phone: 239-247-4231.
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UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
The Palacky University in Olomouc, Faculty of Law, the Czech Republic
graduated July 1998 – obtained the Masters of Laws degree
The Palacky University in Olomouc, Department of Psychology, the Czech Republic
graduated January 2009 – obtained M.A. degree in Psychology and after dissertation in clinical psychology (defended April 2009) – Eva obtained PhDr. degree in Psychology
Thesis: “Impulsive sexual behavior - Cybersex addiction”
Nova Southeastern University of FLORIDA
graduated in July 2019 - obtained PhD. in Marriage and Family Therapy
Dissertation: “Transgender Parent Differentiation: A Heuristic Phenomelogical Study"
PROFESSIONAL/THERAPEUTIC CERTIFICATION
certificates in various psychological diagnostic methods, children projective methods, psychotherapeutic technics, trainings, such as: Integrative approach in Family Therapy (48 hours), Self-reflective group therapy (one year, 2 hours a week), Focusing (40 hours), CBT therapy for sexual dysfunctions (50 hours), The Tree Test (16 hours), Hand Apperception Test HAT and Luscher color test (16 hours), Figure Drawing Test FDT (16 hours), Children Stars and Waves anxiety test, Relaxation methods and Autogenic Training in Psychotherapy (17 hours), Crisis Intervention (40 hours), Transgender Care and Support (my first certification of transgender care in 2006 -10 hours), certified attended workshops at Nova Southeastern University in 2014-15: Relational suicide assessment: risks, resources, and possibilities for safety; Your journey with autism: a relational backpack; Looking through a natural systems lens: culture, diversity, and differentiation of self of the therapist; Diversity, inclusion, and culture from a natural systems lens; Solution-focus brief therapy: theory to practice; Supervision and training with MFT micro-skills.
IRT - Institute of Family Therapy, Prague, The Czech Republic September 2008 – June 2011 –
350 hours of supervised systemic family therapy training
Board Certified Hypnotherapy Certification, Florida July 2014 – intensive training in hypnotherapy and relaxation methods in therapy
International Transgender Certification Association (ITCA), Florida January 2015 - certified Transgender Care Certified Therapist
Florida Department of Children and Family Approved Parent Care Provider, Florida October 2016 – established and approved
OTHER EDUCATION
University of Cambridge (English as a second language - FCE, CAE, IELTS)
Helen Doron English International, Israel (English teacher - English for children - English as a second language)
LATEST WORK EXPERIENCE:
PSYCHOLOGY – COUNSELING, FAMILY AND INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, TRANSGENDER CARE THERAPY, EDUCATIONAL SECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
Family psychological counseling agency and Private practice (the Czech Republic, 2006-2010)
- therapist, counselor
individual, couple, systemic family and group therapy
specialization in divorce issues, parenting, LGBTQ community, sexuality
crisis management
group therapy for women with PTSD and trauma
Clinical psychology ward of the Olomouc’s Faculty Hospital (the Czech Republic, 2006-2010)
- supervised internship in clinical psychology at the Clinical Psychology ward for children
assessment, diagnostics, case analyses, family therapy and therapeutic work with children, case portfolio
Government Agency for the Pedagogical and Psychological Counseling (the Czech Republic, 2008)
- supervised internship in school psychology, methodology and diagnostic methods
psychological assessment of children and adolescents
Group Therapy with gamblers in the Psychiatric Clinic Kromeriz (the Czech Republic, 2010)
- therapist, counselor
assisting group therapy for pathological gamblers – CBT approach
School psychologist and therapist in an elementary school and middle school (the Czech Republic, 2009 - 2010)
Eva belonged to the first school psychologists and challengers in the field of school psychology in CZ
- consultations, counseling, intervention – crisis intervention and prevention
- career guidance and counseling for middle school students
individual consultations
group therapy and family therapy with parents and children
assessment, screening
methodological help and education
communication and co-operation with government institutions, psychiatrists, and physicians
Brief Therapy Institute at Nova Southeastern University (Florida, 2014 - 2015)
- internship, systemic family therapy under a supervision
Pine Ridge Education Center – Promise Program (Florida, 2014 - 2015)
- internship, individual therapeutic consultations, and assessment of minors, children, and teens, under a supervision
Miami Children Hospital (Florida, 2015)
- internship, a member of family therapy team at a summer camp for children with craniofacial diagnosis
NSU Arena (Florida, 2014)
- event management
ANCHOR COUNSELING (Dianne Durante, Ed.S, LMFT) - Family Therapy Private Practice (Naples, Florida 2014 - ongoing)
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Transgender Care Certified Therapist
Psychotherapy and Gender Affirmative Therapy
Transgender support groups with GET Network Foundation (Fort Myers, Naples, Florida 2013 - ongoing)
- therapist and board member
Spouses of Transgenders support group with GET Network Foundation (Fort Myers, Florida 2016)
- therapist, leader of the group
David Lawrence Mental Health Facility (Naples, Florida 2015)
- PRN at Crisis Unit with children, teens, adults
University of South Florida – VSA (Naples, Florida 2015 - 2017)
- teaching artist –art therapy projects
K-12 students with disabilities (autism, developmental and behavioral disorders)
THESIS, ARTICLES, ACADEMIC WORK
Smidova, E., “Specifics of teaching second language in an early age”, education material for English teachers, 09, 2009
Smidova, E., “Cybersex addiction?!,” Psychology Today, 11, 2008
Smidova, E., “Cybersex addiction – internet addiction, sexual addiction, or impulsive disorder - polemic,” Psychology Today, 02, 2009
Smidova, E., “Metaphors we live through,” Psychology Today, 11, 2010
Smidova, E., “Cybersex addiction,” student´s book, Faculty of Addictology, 12, 2010
Smidova, E., “What if my children start killing yours?! Seldom Rampage in Wild West or a New Norm?,”submitted to Psychology Today 12/2012
Smidova, E., “Let’s play,” play therapy academic presentation, NSU Fort Lauderdale, 11, 2013
Smidova, E., “Myth of Normal Family. Chaos in Kindergarten, academic presentation, NSU Fort Lauderdale, 10, 2013
Smidova, E., “Self-differentiation over VoIP, academic presentation – research survey, NSU Fort Lauderdale, 03, 2014
Smidova, E., “Sexual genograms”, academic work, NSU Fort Lauderdale, 06, 2014
Smidova, E., “Cybersex addiction,” academic presentation, NSU Fort Lauderdale, 06, 2014
Smidova, E., “Intercultural couples tango” released in Parent and child, Naples, 12, 2014, presented in 11, 2014, NSU Fort Lauderdale
Article about launch of support group for caregivers in co-operation with MHA Florida weekly September 2014
Article about launch of support group for transgender families in co-operation with MHA Florida weekly February 2015
Interview about therapy with transgender youth with Naples Daily News December 2014
Interview about therapy with transgender youth with Naples Daily News March 2015
Durante, D., & Smidova, E.,“Family Tapas,” educational lessons for families in co-operation with UCC Naples, 01-03, 2015
Smidova, E., “Efficacy of family systems therapy/Bowen therapeutic approach in group therapy for families with transgender youth,” research proposal, NSU Fort Lauderdale, 07, 2015
Smidova, E., “Sexual Genograms: Sexy Therapeutic Tool Reveals Family Secrets across Generations: Clinical use of sexual genogram as a friendly, yet efficient therapeutic tool,” submitted to Psychology Today 7/2015 (topic presented at Florida Association for Family and Marriage in Orlando, June 2014)
Smidova, E., “American School of Teenagers: Survival Kit for Parents?!,”submitted to Psychology Today 9/2015
Smidova, E., “Therapeutic approach to a treatment of depression in children and teens,” Medical Tribune, January 2016
Smidova, E., “Hawaii is a Bridge between East and West: Report about the International Family Therapy Conference, Kona, Hawaii, 03-30 – 04-02, 2016,” The Business Soirée 4/2016 in Science part of TBS, April 2016
Smidova, E., “Group Therapy Program for Families with Transgender Member: Propelling Gender Differentiation,” Journal of Psychology Research, December 2016
: Smidova, E., “Transgender Parent Differentiation: A Heuristic Phenomelogical Study," ProQuest, September 2019
MEMBERSHIPS: American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy – Clinical Member, Florida Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, WPATH – World Professional Association for Transgender Health, ITCA – International Transgender Certification Association, PFLAG – Parents, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Family of, AFTA – American Family Therapy Academy, IFTA – International Family Therapy Association (membership is processed now), Board member of The GET Network Foundation, nonprofit organization, professional member of AASECT - American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists.
Since 2015 I have been working towards a launch of the Gender Equality Trust nonprofit organization in the Czech Republic. I am also a member of two Czech National LGBTQ non-profit organizations. INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL CONFERENCES AND SYMPOSIUMS PRESENTATIONS: Cyber remedy: Link your Family to a Healthy Dimension for AFTA, 2014. Sexual Genogram for Florida AMFT 2014, Cultural Clashes in Couple Therapy for Florida AMFT 2015 and for IFTA Hawaii 2016, Family therapy with transgender and gender questioning families + Homo Parenting for IFTA Hawaii 2016, Natural Systems Family Therapy Program For Trans+Gender questioning families at Scientific Symposium of WPATH in Amsterdam, Netherlands, June 2016.
HONORARY MEMBERSHIPS AND AWARDS
The Manes Association of Fine Artists – Manes – founded 1887 - membership for an outstanding contributions in the area of the very special arts, Eva became a part of the intellectual, historic-cultural legacy of the Association
Kiwanis Club Young Professionals – membership for a beneficial impact on life of children in the respective region
The Advisory Committee of the School of Nursing, Prostejov – membership for a significant support to a reform and humanization of the Czech health system, equality of minorities
The Advisory Committee of the School of Design and Fashion, Prostejov – membership for a unique contribution to work with students with disabilities (VSA – Very Special Art) and LGBTQ youths, to an enactment of special programs – educational as well as behavioral – for integration of students with special needs
The Citizen Association – membership for contribution to a process of humanization of Czech psychiatry and advocating for LGBTQ patients rights in the Czech Republic
The Czech Medical Chamber – Association for Sexual Education and Parenting – membership for an academic achivements in the field of sexuality and gender
Academic Achievement Award for Family Therapy Adult Learners
INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL CONFERENCES AND SYMPOSIUMS PRESENTATIONS
“Cyber remedy: Link your Family to a Healthy Dimension” at American Family Therapy Academy annual conference in Athens, GA on June 4 – 7th 2014
“Sexual genograms in clinical practice” at Florida Association for Marriage and Family Therapy annual conference in Orlando on June 14th-15th 2014
“Cultural clashes in Intercultural couples therapy” presentation for Florida Association for Marriage and Family Therapy conference in FL, 10, 2015
“Intercultural couples,” in International Family Therapy Association in Hawaii, March 2016
“Family therapy with transgender and gender questioning families,” (introduction of a research study), in International Family Therapy Association in Hawaii, March 2016
On behalf of University Palacky Olomouc, CZ “Homo-parenting” (international research by Kolarik-Hajkova) in International Family Therapy Association in Hawaii, March 2016
“INSIDE-OUT: Natural Systems Family Therapy Program For Trans+Gender questioning families at Scientific Symposium of WPATH in Amsterdam, Netherlands, June 2016.
“Transition to Transparents: Applying the Family System Perspective on the Challenging Process of Enhancing a Transgender Parent Role Across the Lifespan. Phenomenological Approach. Case studies”, accepted for USPATH Scientific Symposium, February 2017, Los Angeles, CA.
“Intimate world of transgender individuals and their partners: Gender Identity and Sexual Identity in Couples Therapy. Case Studies", at AASECT annual conferece, June 2018, Denver, CO.
"LGBTQA++ YOUTH vs THE WORLD: STIRRING THE POT HAND IN HAND," FGCU Conference, November 2019, Fort Myers, FL.
PERSONAL SKILLS AND COMPETENCES
languages besides English: Czech, Slovak C2 level (fluent speaking, writing), German B1 (fluent speaking, basic writing)
Human Shell in Psychotherapy
Shell might be a symbol of active listening and whispering back.
Colors of the shell means diversity and beauty in diversity.
The seashell, especially the scallop is the symbol for pilgrimage - journey, path, and help. St. James used the scallop shell during his pilgrimage to beg for food and water. Even the poorest people could fill the small shell, so he always found help along his way. Fertility and love is also associated with the scallop shell. The scallop also represented encouragement of a child-bearing. The conch shell was one of Buddhism’s eight auspicious symbols, signifying truthful speech and strength. In Buddhism the conch shell’s call is meant to awaken one from ignorance, and is a sign of victory over suffering. In the Hindu tradition its mystical meaning alludes to strength and fortitude. The conch, or shankh, is the most ancient musical instrument known to man. In Chinese Buddhism, the conch shell signifies a prosperous journey, and in Islam it represents hearing the divine world.
Affilations
- AAMFT: American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
http://www.aamft.org/iMIS15/AAMFT/ - AASECT - American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists
http://www.aasect.org
- Anchor Counseling & Training Center, Dianne Durante, Ed.S., LMFT, Naples, www.EverydaySymbols.com
- GET Network Foundation SWFL, Fort Myers, Naples, board member, like us on Facebook: Naples, https://www.facebook.com/TheCenterSouthwestFlLgbtqCommunityCenters
- I-BOS Counseling Center, Katherine A. Lowry, M.S.Ed.,LMHC, NCC http://www.iboscounseling.com/
- ITCA: International Transgender Certification Association
http://www.transgendercertification.org/ - NAPLES PRIDE
- https://www.naplespride.org/
- NSU: Nova Southeastern University
http://www.nova.edu
- PFLAG: Parents, Families, Friends of Lesbians and Gays
http://www.pflagnaples.org/ - WPATH: World Professional Association for Transgender Health
- http://www.wpath.org/
