Jason Schmidt, AMFT
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
Individual, Couples, Family & Adolescent Therapy | Virtual Therapy in Orange County, California
Finding Your Footing When Life Gets Complicated
Life can be complicated, and sometimes the challenges we face leave us feeling lost, overwhelmed, or unsure of what comes next. Perhaps you're navigating chronic illness or disability, experiencing anxiety or depression, grieving a loss, or adjusting to changes in your relationships or family.
Whatever brings you here, you don't have to carry it alone.
I believe therapy offers a space to slow down, feel heard, and begin making sense of your experiences. My goal is to create a genuine, compassionate environment where you feel safe to explore what matters most to you, question patterns or expectations that no longer serve you, and discover new possibilities for moving forward.
Healing doesn't have to follow a prescribed path. Together, we'll work at your pace, honoring your experiences, strengths, and hopes for the future.
My Approach to Therapy
I believe meaningful change begins within a trusting, collaborative therapeutic relationship. My approach is integrative, drawing from humanistic, narrative, and psychodynamic therapies to meet you where you are rather than asking you to fit a particular method.
I'm especially interested in how the stories we tell about ourselves are shaped by our relationships, communities, and broader social circumstances. Sometimes these stories can become limiting, particularly when we're navigating experiences that challenge our sense of identity, independence, or belonging.
Through curiosity, reflection, and collaboration, we can explore these stories, recognize strengths that may have been overlooked, and create room for new ways of understanding yourself and your relationships.
The Experiences That Shape My Work
Before becoming a therapist, I spent years working as a documentary filmmaker and in social justice. Much of that work involved listening closely to people's experiences, helping them share their stories on their own terms, and understanding the larger systems influencing their lives.
Those experiences continue to shape how I approach therapy. I believe every person's story deserves to be heard in full, and that our struggles cannot always be understood separately from the families, communities, and social structures surrounding us.
As a disabled single father, I also bring lived experience to my clinical work. I understand some of the complexities of navigating disability, parenting, caregiving, and a world that doesn't always accommodate our needs. These experiences inform my commitment to providing thoughtful, affirming care while recognizing that each person's circumstances and experiences are uniquely their own.
I am passionate about working with:
adolescents, adults, couples, and families, with particular interest in supporting people navigating:
Chronic illness, chronic pain, and disability
Parenting, single parenting, and co-parenting
Caregiving responsibilities and family support
Anxiety, depression, and emotional overwhelm
Grief, loss, and significant life transitions
Relationship difficulties and communication challenges
Identity, self-understanding, and belonging
Family conflict and complex family dynamics
Whether you're adjusting to a new diagnosis, navigating changing family roles, or simply feeling disconnected from the life you want to live, therapy can be a place to explore your experiences without judgment.
Getting Started
I offer virtual therapy through Elmzadeh Counseling, serving clients throughout Orange County, California.
You don't need to have everything figured out before beginning therapy. Sometimes the first step is simply having a space where your experiences are heard, your struggles are understood in context, and your hopes for change can begin to take shape.
“You don't have to carry it all on your own. Together, we can create space for understanding, connection, and meaningful change.”
Jason Schmidt is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist #146744 practicing under the clinical supervision of Ava Elmzadeh, LMFT #125639. Insurance eligibility and appointment availability are subject to verification.
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