She completed her coursework in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral program at Argosy University, Georgia School of Professional Psychology. She earned a Masters of Arts in Education (emphasis in adult education) from San Francisco State University. She specializes in working with adults experiencing anxiety and depression as well as mental health concerns related to trauma and medical/health conditions. She has gained over seven years of clinical experience working at mental health clinics which included working at the Stoney Brook Counseling Center in Massachusetts and the VA in Atlanta in the Health Psychology Department. During this time, Dr. Bivins-Smith gained extensive experience working with mental health issues related to trauma, physical illness and pain. She also co-facilitated smoking cessation and pain management psychoeducational groups.