Martin Smith, Ph.D., Provisionally Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Martin Smith, a highly qualified, provisionally licensed psychologist, is dedicated to helping people navigate and overcome a wide range of mental health challenges. With a warm, compassionate and collaborative approach, he empowers clients to make meaningful changes and improve their well-being.
Born and raised in Nova Scotia, Dr. Smith completed his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of British Columbia, following a Ph.D. in Personality and Measurement from the University of Western Ontario. He has published over 70 peer-reviewed articles in leading psychology journals on topics including perfectionism, depression, anxiety, eating disorders and alcohol misuse, and his research has been cited more than 7,000 times, reflecting its significant impact on the field. He has held academic and clinical positions across Canada and the UK, including an appointment as Assistant Professor in the United Kingdom (2018–2020) and a Canadian Psychological Association-accredited clinical internship with Vancouver Coastal Health.
Dr. Smith provides individualized, evidence-based therapy for a broad range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), low self-esteem, personality disorders and perfectionism, stress and burnout, procrastination and motivation difficulties, eating disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use and addiction, general life challenges and psychosis and other complex mental health issues. His expertise extends to specific anxiety and mood conditions such as social anxiety, panic attacks, generalized anxiety, and persistent depressive disorder. He has a particular interest in supporting people whose difficulties do not fit neatly into a single diagnostic category, and has experience working with veterans as well as active RCMP and military personnel.
His therapeutic approach draws on cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), psychodynamic therapy and motivational interviewing. Dr. Smith is also a recognized Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) Provider for PTSD and is included on the international CPT Provider Roster. This designation reflects specialized CPT training. Dr. Smith works closely with each client to identify their concerns and develop a treatment plan tailored to their needs. He also offers evidence-based psychodiagnostic assessments for conditions such as depression, anxiety, OCD and PTSD, each accompanied by personalized recommendations to guide treatment planning and recovery.
Clients often describe Dr. Smith as knowledgeable, empathetic, flexible, and deeply invested in their progress. Whether someone is seeking support for a specific issue or hoping to better understand themselves, he offers a safe, respectful and collaborative space to begin that work. Outside of work, Dr. Smith enjoys family time, skiing, and adjusting to life as a new dad.
Dr. Smith is the Clinical Lead for CRUX Psychology in British Columbia. He offers individual therapy and assessment services to adults (19 years of age or older). Dr. Smith’s services are available in person at CRUX Psychology’s New Westminster office or online through easy-to-use technologies like Zoom. Dr. Smith is a provisionally licensed psychologist registered with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC) and the College of Alberta Psychologists. Psychologists who are licensed in other Canadian jurisdictions (such as British Columbia and Alberta) can provide online services to residents of some other provinces. Dr. Smith works with clients from British Columbia, Alberta, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. For more information on Dr. Smith’s research, visit Google Scholar and ResearchGate. For a copy of Dr. Smith’s CV, click here.