About Darlene
Darlene Schmitt is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) based in New York with 33 years of clinical experience. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, and life transitions. Her approach emphasizes clear communication and practical steps people can use between sessions.
She often welcomes young adults and college-aged clients who are learning how to cope with pressure and build confidence. Sessions begin with listening to what matters most to the person and identifying small, doable goals.
How Darlene works
Darlene uses straightforward techniques to reduce overwhelm and increase motivation. Her work draws on client-centered methods that prioritize the person's perspective. She also uses cognitive behavioral strategies to spot unhelpful thinking patterns and DBT skills to manage strong emotions when needed.
Mindfulness and motivational interviewing are woven in to strengthen self-awareness and commitment to change. In a session she will talk through specific problems, help build coping tools, and practice skills that can be applied to everyday situations. She pays attention to family of origin issues, communication problems, and struggles like grief, trauma, or eating concerns when they come up.
People often try therapy because of big life shifts, panic, persistent low mood, or problems with intimacy and trust. Darlene helps clients break these issues into manageable steps and supports them as they work toward clearer thinking and steadier emotion.
Darlene lists 7 ways of working on the entry:
What Darlene works with
The areas below are the ones Darlene selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
Also listed
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Communication problems
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Eating disorders
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Intimacy-related issues
- LGBT
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Personality disorders
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
- Women's issues
- Young adult issues
Training and background
| Register | LMHC |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 33 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | New York |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
How therapy approaches work online
Client-Centered Therapy centers on the person's own goals and perspective. The therapist listens closely and helps people make choices that feel right for them, which can help with low self-esteem, relationship concerns, and general life stress.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It is useful for anxiety, depression, panic, OCD symptoms, and mood disorders by teaching practical techniques to test thoughts and try new behaviors.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, offers concrete skills for managing intense emotions and reducing self-harm or impulsive actions. It includes tools for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improved interpersonal effectiveness.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the person about goals, try methods that fit their needs, and adjust strategies based on what helps most. The plan can change over time as progress is made.
Online therapy offers flexible ways to meet. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation; phone sessions can work when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text-based messaging let people check in between sessions or use shorter, more frequent contacts. These options make it easier to fit therapy into school, work, or busy family routines.
Start online instead of waiting
Our partner service asks a few questions about what you are looking for and matches you with a therapist for sessions from home.
Book with DarleneWe will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you.
Common questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
How would you describe her therapy style?
How much clinical experience does she have?
What are her credentials and where is she located?
Which languages are sessions offered in?
What formats are available for sessions?
How does cost and billing work?
How do I begin working with her?
A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
We will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you. Entries are not assessed or endorsed by this directory.
Other entries for stress, anxiety
Supportive LCSW helping people build strength and clarity
Practical, trauma-aware therapy for everyday life
Practical, relational therapy for life transitions