Therapist profile
Dr. Carol Schmidt, LCSW
California
LCSW - Stress and Relationship Issues
Continue with CarolWhere Carol stands
- Credentials
- LCSW
- License
- LCSW, California / 14175
- NPI
- 1508486176
- Experience
- 10 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- California
About
- CBT techniques
- Psychodynamic work
- Client-centered care
About Carol
Dr. Carol Schmidt is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in California with 10 years of clinical experience. She works with people dealing with stress, anxiety, family problems, grief, depression, relationship challenges, and codependency concerns. Her writing and sessions aim to address the everyday strains that make it hard to set boundaries and feel like oneself again.
She favors straightforward conversation and practical strategies. Sessions draw on client-centered methods to follow what matters most to the person in front of her. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to identify unhelpful thinking and build different habits. Psychodynamic ideas are brought in to look at repeating relationship patterns and their roots.
In practice she helps people name what is causing their distress and chooses tools that fit those problems. That might mean practicing clearer limits, shifting repetitive thoughts, or working through grief and loss. Carol keeps explanations concrete and focuses on what someone can try between sessions.
Her background includes an MSW from UCLA and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from USC, and she holds a California LCSW. She draws on that mix of social work and psychology training to combine short-term skills work with deeper exploration when needed.
People who are worn down by other people's needs, who have trouble saying no, or who feel stuck after a loss often find her approach direct and practical. She expects therapy to be collaborative and paced to the client's goals.
How sessions work
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and following the client's priorities. Online sessions using this approach center the conversation on what matters now and on practical steps the client wants to take. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and uses short exercises to change unhelpful thinking and behavior; it suits clear goals like anxiety reduction or changing people-pleasing habits. Psychodynamic work looks at repeating relationship patterns and how past experiences shape current reactions, which can help when someone wants to understand why they keep losing themselves in relationships.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to choose methods that match goals, preferences, and how much time someone wants to spend on skills versus deeper reflection. That conversation happens early and can be revisited as needs change.
Confirm the session formats offered before booking. Many people appreciate online sessions because they make it easier to fit appointments around work, caretaking, or travel. Video can allow face-to-face interaction, while audio or shorter check-ins can fit a busy day or be easier when bandwidth is limited. Ask about current session options when you schedule so the format fits your routine.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Does she help with people-pleasing and boundary issues?
Yes. She works with people who struggle to set limits and who prioritize others at their own expense. Practical boundary skills are part of the work.
What is her therapeutic style like?
She uses a mix of client-centered conversation, CBT, and psychodynamic ideas. Sessions emphasize clear steps and understanding recurring patterns.
How long has she been practicing clinically?
She has 10 years of experience working with stress, mood disorders, relationship concerns, and grief.
Where is she licensed to practice?
She holds a California LCSW and practices in California.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can she work with international clients?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are fees handled for sessions?
Costs vary with location and sessions are provided through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What do I do to begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe at home, use the crisis and helpline numbers.