Therapist profile
Dorenda Schmidt, LCSW
LCSW - Relationships and family concerns
Continue with DorendaAbout
- Stress and anxiety
- Depression support
- Communication skills
About Dorenda
Dorenda Schmidt is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New York with 10 years of clinical experience. She works with adults dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, family conflict, and trauma and abuse. Dorenda also addresses related concerns such as caregiver stress, divorce and separation, blended family issues, abandonment, and communication problems.
She focuses on practical steps clients can use day to day. Sessions include talking through difficult emotions, identifying patterns that keep problems going, and practicing new ways to respond. Dorenda helps people manage guilt, shame, midlife transitions, and issues connected to adoption and foster care.
Her work includes support for people facing domestic violence aftereffects, coping with natural or human-caused disaster, hospice and end-of-life concerns, and smoking or vaping cessation. She also helps people who struggle with narcissistic dynamics, self-harm urges, or forgiveness challenges. The approach is straightforward and aimed at usable coping skills.
Dorenda draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques to guide interventions and choose methods that fit a person’s situation. She uses her clinical experience to adjust pacing and focus, whether the priority is short-term coping or deeper emotional work. Conversations aim to be clear and direct so people can make steady progress.
People in New York can expect work that centers their immediate problems and daily life. Dorenda asks practical questions, sets clear goals, and reviews progress so each session moves toward the next steps someone wants to take.
How sessions work
How evidence-based methods are used in online sessions
Many evidence-based therapeutic techniques focus on clear, teachable skills. Cognitive approaches help people notice and change unhelpful thinking patterns that drive anxiety and depression. This is useful for someone struggling with worry, low mood, or persistent negative beliefs.Behavioral strategies focus on changing actions and routines. That can mean practicing small changes to reduce avoidance, improving sleep and daily structure, or using gradual steps to address difficult situations like smoking or vaping cessation and self-harm urges.
Choosing the right method is collaborative. The therapist will review symptoms, goals, and preferences and suggest approaches to try. Clients and therapist check progress together and adjust direction when needed so the work fits current priorities.
Confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not list formats. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a weekday or evening routine, shorten travel time, and allow for brief check-ins when a full appointment is not feasible. Talk with the therapist about scheduling and session length to find what fits everyday life.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
New York
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of family concerns does she help with?
She helps people with family conflict, blended family issues, adoption and foster care challenges, and caregiver stress.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is practical and direct, focusing on clear steps, skills, and problem solving for day-to-day life.
What is her clinical background?
She has 10 years of clinical experience working with adults on trauma, relationships, and mood concerns.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is an LCSW licensed in New York and practices with that credential.
Does she offer sessions in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Are international clients accepted?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions scheduled and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the 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 anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.