Chelsea Smith
BS, CCLS
Chelsea is a Knoxville native and honors graduate of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her passion for supporting children and families began early. In 2005, she started volunteering at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital’s Rehabilitation Center. Following this experience, she pursued an independent study at The University of Tennessee Medical Center, where she created activity kits for pediatric dialysis patients and redesigned the unit’s small playroom to better serve young patients.
In 2009, Chelsea completed a community practicum at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and, in 2010, she returned for her clinical Child Life internship. Later that year, she became a Certified Child Life Specialist, and she proudly re-certified in August 2024 through the ACLP, continuing her commitment to lifelong learning and professional growth.
After becoming certified, Chelsea also joined the Helen Ross McNabb Center, where she led an Intensive Outpatient Program for the Therapeutic Preschool. She played a pivotal role in revising a 12-week trauma-informed curriculum, providing critical support for children who had experienced various forms of early adversity. Chelsea remained a full-time staff member for several years before transitioning to stay home with her growing family. Even then, she remained active in the field, serving as a PRN spokesperson for McNabb’s Healthy Families Program. In this role, she appeared monthly on WBIR Channel 10’s Live at Five at Four, sharing engaging therapeutic play activities designed to foster parent-child connection within the community.
As a Certified Child Life Specialist, Chelsea has worked primarily in outpatient lab and radiology at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, where she developed a strong passion for procedural preparation, therapeutic bedside play, and cognitive distraction techniques to reduce stress and anxiety for children and families.
Chelsea now lives in Knoxville’s Rocky Hill neighborhood with her husband, Will, and their three sons. Together, they enjoy spending time outdoors, traveling to Fripp Island, and cozying up for family movie nights. Chelsea also loves acrylic painting, meaningful conversation, savoring a good cup of coffee, reading with her children, and discovering great local restaurants with Will.
At the heart of Chelsea’s work is Romans 12:15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.” She considers it a sacred calling to walk alongside children and families through both joyful milestones and seasons of challenge and grief. Chelsea is honored to offer support, encouragement, and hope to those navigating the many hills and valleys of life.