About the Author

Sherry Van Atta Smelley, MSW, LCSW, DCSW, BACS has been working with serious and life-threatening illness, grief and loss for over 25 years. She has worked in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, out-patient clinics and private practice. In her practice she provides individual and couples counseling and is a Board Approved Clinical Supervisor. Since 2002 Sherry has been an adjunct faculty member at Louisiana State University teaching in both graduate and undergraduate programs in the School of Social Work. It was at LSU that she earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Social Work. Sherry is recognized as a diplomate in Clinical Social Work by the Academy of Certified Social Worker, the American Board of Medical Psychotherapists and is a member of the National Association of Social Work. Throughout the years, she has presented at numerous conferences, trainings, and workshops. Most recently, after her mother's long journey with Alzheimer's Disease and subsequent death, Sherry has written a book, The Girl, the Star, and the Spider, and has made it available in hopes that it will bring comfort to others as it has to her.