PAYTON SMITH
What is your job title and what year did you come on staff at The WellHouse?
I am a Therapist for WellHouse Child, and I started in 2023.
What is your favorite part about your job?
The best part of my job is getting to build therapeutic relationships with the girls at WellHouse Child. Each girl has a distinct personality and it is so exciting to get to see those personalities during sessions.
Tell us about your educational and professional experience that equips you to be successful in this field.
I received both my Bachelors and Masters in Social Work from The University of Alabama, and I am Licensed in the District of Columbia, as well as Alabama.
Tell us about your journey coming into the anti-trafficking field and with The WellHouse.
At the start of my education experience I knew I wanted to be a therapist for adolescents, but it wasn't until the summer prior to my sophomore year that I became interested in anti-trafficking. I interned at The WellHouse with Corinne Vance that summer and I learned so much about therapeutic treatment for trafficking victims. Since then, I have volunteered with Trafficking Hope in Tuscaloosa and I did my own research on anti-trafficking policies nationwide and internationally. As I sought job opportunities, The WellHouse was always in the back of my mind, so when I saw an open position I took the leap and applied, which led me to where I am now.