Serious Mental Illness – Severe Emotional Disturbance
Welcome to the Serious Mental Illness – Severe Emotional Disturbance (SMI-SED) Section
Members of this section share a common interest in promoting optimal functioning in adults living with serious psychiatric disorders and children diagnosed with severe emotional disorders. Members work in a variety of settings (e.g., state hospitals, community agencies, private practice, Veterans Health Administration facilities, residential programs, and criminal justice systems) and share a commitment to supporting the recovery and resilience of persons experiencing disorders such as schizophrenia and other disorders on the psychotic spectrum, mood disorders, and co-occurring personality disorder diagnoses. Members are involved in mental health administration, direct clinical care, research, public policy development, and patient advocacy.
Board certification in Serious Mental Illness Psychology
Psychologists with a specialization in Serious Mental Illness (SMI) Psychology apply specialized individual, societal, and systems level assessment and intervention methods to assist those diagnosed with SMI and severe emotional disturbances (SED) recover and attain their full functional capability. The population of interest is comprised of individuals with the most severe mental illnesses and is of variable age and mixed diagnoses, with an emphasis on disorders where 1) psychosis is often predominant, 2) symptoms may wax and wane but are typically long-standing, and 3) community functioning is often impaired — disorders on the schizophrenia spectrum, bipolar illness, and depression with psychotic features predominate in the Specialty. Psychologists working with the SMI population must be able to identify and address the severe symptoms and pervasive functional deficits that reduce the quality and length of life of many individuals diagnosed with SMI, recognizing this as an element of individual differences and disability while also being capable of providing appropriate support for those individuals who are able to function more autonomously.
Board certification in SMI Psychology is represented by the American Board of Serious Mental Illness Psychology (ABSMIP), which became a fully affiliated specialty board on November 9, 2025. For more information about board certification in SMI Psychology, and to start your application, please see the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) website for the ABSMIPopens in new window.
The SMI-SED Specialty Council
Division 18 and the SMI-SED section have partnered with APA’s Task Force on Serious Mental Illness and Severe Emotional Disturbance to form the Specialty Council for Psychological Training in Assessment and Treatment of Persons with SMI-SED. The specialty council developed the specialization in postdoctoral psychological training in assessment and treatment of persons with SMI-SED.
Please visit the specialty council websiteopens in new window for information on the specialization, including the petition for recognition of postdoctoral specialty in SMI-SED, training guidelines, competency evaluation instrument, research and practice information, and training programs.
Recovery curriculum
In August 2014, the APA Recovery to Practice initiative released a new curriculum designed to provide psychologists and other mental health professionals with information about the issues faced by people with SMI-SED and to provide training in the latest assessment and intervention approaches.
For an overview of the curriculum, access to the specific modules, and to earn credit for continuing education in psychology, please see the APA website.
Learn more and join us
If you are interested in learning more about our section, its committees, or considering becoming a member, we would love set up a 30-minute initial connection call.
Contact us To learn more about the SMI-SED Section and to get involved in the Section, please email us.
Join the section’s listserv To opt into the Section’s listserv, please email us.
Members of this section share a common interest in promoting optimal functioning in adults living with serious psychiatric disorders and children diagnosed with severe emotional disorders. Members work in a variety of settings (e.g., state hospitals, community agencies, private practice, Veterans Health Administration facilities, residential programs, and criminal justice systems) and share a commitment to supporting the recovery and resilience of persons experiencing disorders such as schizophrenia and other disorders on the psychotic spectrum, mood disorders, and co-occurring personality disorder diagnoses. Members are involved in mental health administration, direct clinical care, research, public policy development, and patient advocacy.