Smullens, SaraKay Cohen 1940-

SaraKay Cohen Smullens was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1940, the daughter of Charles and Charlotte (Orfuss) Sherman. In 1958 she enrolled in Skidmore College, in Saratoga Springs, New York. Two years later, she transferred to Goucher College, in Baltimore. In 1962 she earned the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Goucher College, with a concentration in political science. In 1963 she enrolled in the graduate program of the National Catholic School of Social Service at the Catholic University of America, in Washington, D.C. In 1964 she transferred to the graduate program of the School of Social Work at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1965 she earned the degree of Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania.

SaraKay Cohen Smullens married in 1964 and became the mother of two daughters, Elisabeth Joy LaMotte and Kathyanne Sherman Cohen. She married, secondly, in 1979 to Stanton N. Smullens and became the "step" mother to his two children, Elizabeth Rebecca Smullens Brass and Douglas Robert Smullens.

SaraKay Cohen Smullens began her professional career immediately following her 1965 graduation from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1965-66 she served as a Protective Service Counselor at Philadelphia's Society to Protect Children from Cruelty. In 1966-68 she was a Family Therapist at a Philadelphia psychiatric hospital. In 1968-73 she served the Jewish Family Service of Philadelphia as a Marriage and Family Counselor and as Director of its Family Life Education. In 1973 she began her private practice of Marital, Couple, Family, and Group Psychotherapy, a practice which she continues in 2009. In the mid 1970s, during her years as a single parent and while there were a number of local television shows coming directly from Philadelphia and neighboring cities, she was a frequent guest, discussing areas of social and clinical concern from a social work perspective.

In 1969 SaraKay Cohen Smullens was elected a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers. In 1987 she became a Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work; in 1988, a Certified Family Life Educator; and in 1995, a Certified Group Psychotherapist. She is a licensed practitioner in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She has also held academic appointments in the College of Allied Health Professionals at Hahnemann Medical University, where she lectured and taught courses, seminars, and workshops.

SaraKay Cohen Smullens was (and is) also active in the Philadelphia community. She has been a member of the board of directors of the Family Service of Philadelphia; a member and officer of the Woman's Board of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital; a member of the Board of Overseers of her alma mater, the School of Social Policy and Practice of the University of Pennsylvania; a member of the board of directors of the Center City Residents' Association; a member of the board of directors of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Jewish Congress; Vice Chair and Chair of the Child Welfare Advisory Board of Philadelphia; and a Trustee of her alma mater, Goucher College. She is also the founder of "Sabbath for Domestic Peace," an inter-faith, inter-disciplinary task force with the mission of educating clergy about domestic violence.

SaraKay Cohen Smullens is perhaps best known for her writing. In 1976-81 she was a columnist at Philadelphia's morning newspaper, the Philadelphia Inquirer, where she dealt with issues of relationships and public policy. During this period--in 1980--the nationally-prominent publishing company, Charles Scribner's Sons, published SaraKay's best known work, Whoever Said Life is Fair?: A Guide to Growing through Life's Injustices. In 2002 the New Horizon Press published SaraKay's second, major volume, Setting Yourself Free: Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Abuse in Family, Friendships, Work and Love. Her writing continues to the present time. The International Journal of Group Psychotherapy is to publish a major, twenty-page article of hers in January 2010--"The Codification and Treatment of Emotional Abuse in Structured Group Therapy." SaraKay intends to continue writing and publishing.