In this episode, I speak with Dr. Joel Schwartz. Joel is a licensed clinical psychologist with a private practice centered in Arroyo Grande. The practice is virtual (so they see anyone in CA and CO). He specializes in therapy and testing for the misunderstood. As a therapist, he is warm, compassionate, and strongly humanistic, allowing for all the oddities and unexplored aspects of his clients to emerge and be validated. As a testing psychologist, Dr. Schwartz specializes in difficult and complex cases.

Dr. Schwartz grew up in Southern California. He developed an early interest in psychology, strangely enough, from a childhood filled with science fiction stories. These stories often provided fascinating looks into human psychology and the human spirit. Dr. Schwartz attended UCLA as an undergrad where he conducted research in the field of neurolinguistics. From there, he attended Yeshiva University’s Ferkauf School of Clinical Psychology for his Master’s and Doctorate degree. He has worked in various settings including colleges, clinics, a federal prison, and residential treatment centers. Through his experience with a vast array of individuals he has stuck with one important lesson among many; as the psychoanalyst Harry Stack Sullivan said, “We are all more human than otherwise.”

In this episode, we explore various facets of the neurodiversity. 

Highlights:

Joel's jewish roots and how this impacts his understanding of social justice

Foundations of a neurodivergent-affirming practice 

Damian Milton and the double-empathy problem 

Nick Walker's neuroqueer theory 

Humanistic goals in therapy 

Joel's future vision for his Neurodiversity Affirmative Therapists group

The developmental approach of Lev Vygotsky 

Much more!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-schwartz-psyd-40181614/

https://twitter.com/DrJoelSchwartz

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2219847184963504