Cheryl grew up in Fresno and graduated from Fresno Pacific University with a BA in psychology. She completed her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy, as well as a Masters in Theology, from Fuller Theological Seminary. In 2018, she earned a doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy Studies from Eastern University.

Cheryl married her college sweetheart, Peter Smith, in 1993. They have two teenage boys who keep them busy with their many and varied interests. Cheryl and her family have spent seven years living and serving internationally in Lithuania, Czech Republic, and Zambia. Her work in Zambia entailed leading Trauma Awareness and Recovery workshops for refugees as well as developing and teaching Peace Club curriculum for primary and secondary schools. Her work took her to South Africa and Swaziland as well. She currently teaches at Fresno Pacific University and Biblical Seminary as Adjunct Faculty. She has taught courses in Marriage and Family, Sociology, Trauma, Victim Recovery, and Interpersonal Communication. Cheryl has also taught Cross-cultural Counseling and Cross-cultural Psychology courses, taking students to Los Angeles and Guatemala for experiential learning trips.

Cheryl is certified in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT). She also sees individuals and families from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Some of her topics of interest include missionary care, grief, identity formation, faith and spirituality, and premarital counseling. She counts it a privilege to journey with clients as they learn to live authentically and to develop healthy emotional bonds with the people they love.