PuttingFamilyFirst

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JS Portrait of Jerry Smith
Online therapist

Jerry Smith

Experienced LCSW focused on family wellbeing

Credentials
LCSW, CSW
Experience
38 years
Licensed in
Georgia
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Jerry

Jerry Smith is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with decades of experience in mental health. He uses a client-centered approach to meet people where they are and help them set realistic goals. His style is straightforward and practical, with an emphasis on mutual respect and clear steps forward.

He has worked across many settings over a long career, including psychiatric hospitals, outpatient mental health clinics, and alcohol and drug treatment programs.

Background and approach

He has also provided services in jails and penitentiaries, and supported people living in assisted living facilities. This breadth gives him familiarity with a wide range of life challenges and medical and social settings. Family and parenting issues are among his focus areas, along with stress, anxiety, addiction, depression, trauma, grief, anger, and self-esteem.

He also addresses sleep and eating concerns, career transitions, and coping with life changes. Additional attention is given to blended family issues, fatherhood concerns, and divorce and separation matters. Therapy sessions often include practical tasks to practice between meetings.

He uses homework to reinforce change and to track progress. He combines a client-centered stance with tools from cognitive behavioral therapy to help people recognize patterns and try new habits. Jerry holds the credentials LCSW, CSW and is licensed in Georgia.

He has nearly four decades of experience and has taught as an adjunct professor of psychology. He prefers a conversational, goal-focused way of working that aims to make therapy useful and down-to-earth.

Therapeutic approaches for online family and parenting support

Client-centered therapy focuses on understanding each person’s experience and priorities. The therapist listens carefully, reflects what he hears, and helps clients set their own goals. This approach is useful for parents and family members who want practical, person-focused support.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts influence feelings and actions. It breaks issues into small, changeable parts and teaches concrete skills for managing anxiety, mood, and behavior. CBT is often paired with homework to practice new ways of thinking and acting between sessions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with clients about goals, needs, and preferences and then recommend techniques to try. This is a collaborative process so adjustments can be made based on what helps most.

Online therapy offers several practical benefits. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation from home, while phone sessions can be used when video is not convenient. Live chat and text-based messaging give short-term check-ins and support between meetings. These options make scheduling easier and let people fit sessions around parenting and work responsibilities.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Jerry commonly address?
He works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, addiction, depression, trauma, grief, parenting, family problems, self-esteem, anger, and relationship challenges.
What is his general therapy style?
His practice is client-centered, meaning he meets clients where they are and follows their goals. He also uses cognitive behavioral therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He brings 38 years of professional experience across psychiatric hospitals, outpatient programs, substance use treatment, jails, and assisted living settings.
What credentials and location are listed?
He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with credentials LCSW, CSW and holds the Georgia license GA LCSW CSW001614.
Which languages and international arrangements are supported?
Sessions are offered in English. He is not currently accepting international clients.
In what formats are sessions offered?
Sessions can be conducted by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How are costs and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are involved to begin therapy?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Next step

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