Jerry Smith , LCSW, CSW

Jerry Smith is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, holding the credentials LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) and CSW (Certified Social Worker). With 38 years of experience in mental health, he has worked across a wide range of settings and populations, bringing practical knowledge to complex situations.

His work has included support for foster-care families and for families caring for children with developmental disabilities, as well as therapeutic services for geriatric clients living in assisted living facilities. Between those areas he has practiced in psychiatric hospitals, outpatient mental health clinics, alcohol and drug treatment programs, and correctional settings, working with individuals facing both addiction and severe mental health concerns such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorder.

Jerry has extensive experience addressing relationship and self-esteem issues and spent twelve years as an adjunct professor of psychology, combining clinical skill with teaching experience. His primary approach is client-centered, which means he meets people where they are and helps them identify the obstacles and goals they want to work on. He emphasizes collaborative goal-setting, practical homework assignments to reinforce progress, and helping clients explore choices and next steps with minimal resistance. He invites prospective clients to engage in a guided process of reflection and action to move toward meaningful change.

Client-Centered and CBT Approaches Delivered Online

Jerry Smith uses client-centered therapy to create a supportive, nonjudgmental atmosphere where the client sets the priorities and the pace of work. This approach focuses on understanding each person's perspective, identifying what feels stuck, and collaboratively defining the goals the client wants to pursue.

He also draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - CBT - which helps people identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. CBT is practical and skills-based, often useful for addressing anxiety, stress, depression, and difficulties with coping and mood regulation.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Jerry works collaboratively with each person to determine what fits best based on their needs, goals, and preferences. He tailors methods over time and encourages small, actionable steps that support progress.

Online therapy offers flexibility to meet by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit sessions into a busy life or access care from different locations within the therapist's service area. These options support consistent engagement and make it possible to continue therapeutic work even when schedules or circumstances change.