Dr. Peggy Smith is a licensed psychologist who specializes in helping children, adolescents, and families better understand developmental, emotional, and behavioral concerns through thoughtful evaluation and compassionate care. She provides autism psychologist Salt Lake City services with specialized expertise in autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and childhood mental health concerns.

Families often seek Dr. Smith when they want clear answers, practical recommendations, and a clinician who truly understands the unique strengths and challenges of neurodivergent children.

Specialized Child and Developmental Expertise

Dr. Smith works with children and teens experiencing a wide range of developmental and behavioral presentations, including:

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
  • ADHD and executive functioning challenges
  • Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)
  • Down syndrome
  • Fragile X syndrome
  • Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)
  • Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
  • Conduct Disorder (CD)
  • Learning and adaptive functioning concerns

As an autism psychologist Salt Lake City provider, she understands that developmental differences can affect communication, behavior, school success, emotional wellbeing, and family life in many different ways.

Emotional and Mental Health Support

In addition to developmental concerns, Dr. Smith also evaluates and supports children experiencing:

  • Anxiety disorders
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Selective mutism
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Attachment-related concerns
  • Depression
  • Emotional regulation difficulties
  • Social challenges

Her approach is individualized, recognizing that no two children present the same way—even when they share a diagnosis.

Education and Advanced Training

Dr. Smith earned her doctorate in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota. Her research focused on developmental psychopathology, with particular emphasis on autism and childhood behavior disorders.

She completed her predoctoral internship at the Carmen B. Pingree Autism Center of Learning, where she received advanced training in:

  • Assessment of nonverbal and minimally verbal children
  • Autism evaluation
  • Behavioral intervention planning
  • Parent guidance and support
  • Developmentally informed treatment recommendations

This experience strengthened her expertise as an autism psychologist Salt Lake City families can trust for nuanced and individualized care.

Teaching and Clinical Leadership

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Smith has taught university courses in:

  • Psychopathology
  • Child and adolescent development
  • Human relationships
  • Social psychology
  • Motivation and emotion

Her teaching background reflects both her depth of knowledge and her passion for helping others learn and grow.

Warm, Practical, Family-Centered Care

Dr. Smith knows that parents often seek services during stressful and uncertain times. She works to make the process supportive, clear, and collaborative.

Families appreciate that her evaluations often provide:

  • Greater understanding of their child’s needs
  • Strength-based insight
  • School and treatment recommendations
  • Behavioral support strategies
  • Clear next steps for care

Supporting Children and Families in Utah

Dr. Smith is completing her postdoctoral residency as she continues expanding her ability to provide comprehensive psychological services for children, teens, and families affected by autism, ADHD, developmental differences, and emotional concerns.

Whether a family is seeking an autism psychologist Salt Lake City provider or expert guidance for a child with developmental or behavioral concerns, Dr. Smith is committed to helping children thrive and families move forward with clarity and confidence.

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