Martha Sweezy

Martha Sweezy, Ph.D., LICSW is an Assistant Professor (part-time) in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, a program consultant and supervisor at Cambridge Health Alliance, and a psychotherapist in private practice in Northampton, MA. She worked in community mental health at the outpatient department of the Cambridge Health Alliance for more than 18 years as a therapist, supervisor, and Associate Director and Director of Training of the DBT program, gaining extensive experience with a wide variety of mental health challenges, particularly those related to the sequelae of trauma.

After working with psychodynamic psychotherapy, DBT, and EMDR with severely traumatized individuals, she discovered Internal Family Systems therapy (IFS) and completed all levels of IFS training. She has since become one of the field's most prolific authors, co-authoring or co-editing eight books on IFS, including the second edition of Dr. Schwartz's foundational IFS textbook, treatment manuals on trauma, couples therapy (IFIO), and addictions, as well as her most recent book on IFS for shame and guilt. She also co-leads workshops with Toni Herbine-Blank for IFS-trained therapists on shame and self-compassion, known affectionately as 'Shame Camp.'

Martha grew up in Cambridge, MA, with notably accomplished parents: her mother Nancy Sweezy was a folk music advocate and traditional arts champion who received a National Heritage Fellowship from the NEA, and her father Paul Sweezy was the founder of Monthly Review magazine and co-author of Monopoly Capital. Martha holds a Ph.D. and MSW from Smith College School for Social Work and a Master of Creative Writing from Boston University. She currently maintains an online private practice and contributes a blog on IFS for shame and guilt to Psychology Today.