Joel Schwartz, MA, PsyD

Dr. Joel Schwartz is a licensed clinical psychologist who co-runs a private practice in San Luis Obispo called Total Spectrum Counseling. He specializes in therapy and testing for the misunderstood, particularly Autistic people from a neurodiversity perspective. 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.”

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Joel Schwartz maintains a private practice and has an employment relationship with Step by Step Eduplay. He receives compensation as a consultant and presenter. Joel Schwartz receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Joel Schwartz is a member of the California Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association.