Erik Schmitt, PHD, LPC

Dr. Schmitt holds his Bachelor of Arts from West Virginia Wesleyan, Masters in School Counseling from Appalachian State, and PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Georgia. He is a licensed professional counselor with the state of Georgia and has experience with several different groups, including children and couples. He has worked in the school setting, intensive in-home therapy, and private practice. Dr. Schmitt believes that everyone has a story that needs to be shared, and this sharing can help provide insight into the needs moving forward. Dr. Schmitt is also an assistant professor who works frequently with students working towards licensure.

When not working as a counselor, Dr. Schmitt enjoys spending time with his wife, three children, and three dogs doing anything sports-related, specifically soccer and football.

Clinical Focus

Dr. Schmitt is passionate about working with couples who have become distant and disconnected and helping them rediscover hope for their relationship. He uses his life experience and training in the Gottman Method to collaboratively work with couples so that they may once again experience connection and security with one another. He works with couples that have communication difficulties, such as frequent misunderstandings, assumption-making, and lack of clear communication. He also works with couples that are experiencing ingrained conflict both overtly – via perpetual bickering, and covertly – via sweeping issues under the rug without resolution. He’s tuned into concerns that come up within blended families and helps couples find a parenting approach that best aligns with their value systems and goals for their family. Dr. Schmitt works with couples where one or both individuals have ADD/ADHD and helps them navigate the world of communication, time management, and emotional self-regulation. Using structured actives and homework assignments, he helps couples set reachable goals and improve their marriage. Dr. Schmitt works with individuals who are struggling with self-esteem, anxiety, anger and life transition. He provides an empathetic and warm approach so that they may identify their unhelpful thinking patterns and shift into living out of their healthy sense of self. He enjoys sitting with individuals who are athletes and helping them work through mindset and confidence issues so that they may break through their plateaus and achieve their goals.