Dr. Carol Schmidt

Practical, compassionate therapy for life challenges

LCSW California

Experience: 10 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Grief
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages: English

About Carol

Dr. Carol Schmidt is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in California who focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and family challenges, and life transitions.

Background and approach

With ten years of clinical experience, she blends practical, evidence-informed strategies with a compassionate, approachable style to help clients address both immediate symptoms and longer-standing patterns that interfere with daily functioning. Her background includes graduate training in social work and doctoral studies in counseling psychology, which inform a flexible, individualized approach.

Dr. Schmidt uses cognitive behavioral principles alongside client-centered and psychodynamic ideas to create tailored treatment plans.

She supports clients coping with trauma and abuse, intimacy-related concerns, parenting and blended-family issues, mood and personality difficulties, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and career or life-purpose questions. Sessions emphasize understanding the roots of distress, building concrete coping skills, and strengthening personal resources so clients can make meaningful changes at their own pace.

How Therapeutic Approaches Translate to Online Care

Dr. Schmidt integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and client-centered methods in online sessions to address a wide range of difficulties. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and teaching practical coping strategies, which can be especially useful for anxiety, depression, panic, obsessions, and mood regulation. Client-centered work emphasizes empathetic listening and collaboration, creating space for clients to explore feelings, build self-understanding, and strengthen resilience.

Choosing an approach is a collaborative process. The therapist works together with each client to explore which methods fit their concerns, goals, and personal preferences, adjusting techniques over time to better match progress and changing needs. This partnership helps tailor treatment so it feels relevant and manageable for the individual.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to engage using video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules or access care from different locations within California. These options support continuity of care and allow therapists to deliver both skill-building exercises and reflective conversation in formats that suit each client's routine and comfort level.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does this therapist address?

Areas commonly supported include stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, mood and personality disorders, and concerns such as ADHD and bipolar symptoms.

How would therapy feel in terms of style and approach?

The therapeutic style is warm and collaborative, combining client-centered listening with active strategies drawn from cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic work to help people gain insight and practical skills.

What is the therapist's professional background?

This clinician has ten years of experience and completed graduate training in social work and doctoral-level studies in counseling psychology, providing an integrative foundation for clinical practice.

Where is the therapist licensed and what credentials do they hold?

The therapist practices in California and holds the credential CA LCSW 14175 as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Can someone who speaks another language work with this therapist?

Sessions are offered in English; there is no indication of other language services or international client acceptance at this time.

What formats are available for sessions?

Clients can meet via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on their needs and scheduling options.

How are fees and subscriptions handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin working together?

To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsGrief Depression Coping with life changes

Also works with

Relationship issuesTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoachingADHD

Additional focus areas

Autism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesCodependencyDivorce and separationFamily problemsForgivenessImpulsivity Isolation / lonelinessLife purposeMood disorders Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersSocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Psychodynamic Therapy

Experience

10+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English