About Aaron V. Smith
Dr. Aaron V. Smith is a licensed clinical psychologist who works by telehealth with athletes, executives, artists, founders and other professionals in high-pressure, highly visible roles. The work focuses on performance under pressure, identity and career transitions, leadership, and handling public scrutiny. Dr. Smith earned a Ph.D. in counseling psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is credentialed by the National Register of Health Service Psychologists, has been an affiliated provider with the National Basketball Players Association since 2020, and also offers forensic consultation.
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Locations
Los Angeles, CA
Specialties
Visiting and access
Offers telehealth in: CA
Black patients and Psychology (PhD/PsyD)
Black psychologists (PhD/PsyD): therapy, assessment, neuropsychology. Fewer than 4 percent of U.S. psychologists are Black, so concordance matters deeply.
Only about 4 percent of U.S. psychologists are Black (APA, 2022), yet the demand is extraordinary. Black adults with major depression are half as likely as white adults to receive treatment, and Black youth suicide rates have doubled since 2007. Psychologists are doctoral-level providers who specialize in evidence-based therapy (CBT, DBT, EMDR), psychological testing, and neuropsychological evaluation. They do not prescribe medication. If you need meds, they partner with a psychiatrist or PCP.
Common reasons to see a psychologist
- Depression, anxiety, panic disorder
- Complex trauma, childhood trauma, racial trauma
- Relationship and attachment patterns
- ADHD evaluation (formal neuropsych testing)
- Learning disability evaluation
- Grief, burnout, and identity work
When to book
- Months of low mood, loss of interest, or sleep/appetite disruption
- Feeling stuck after prior therapy didn't work
- Need formal ADHD or learning disability testing for accommodations
- Racial trauma that previous therapists didn't understand
Advocacy prompts
- What therapy modality do you use, and why?
- How do you handle racial and cultural context in sessions?
- How long do you expect treatment to take for someone with my presentation?
How this listing was verified
Every provider in this directory self-identifies as Black or is listed by a self-identifying professional organization, and licensure or credentials are checked before a listing goes live.
- CMS NPI Registry License check NPI 1245641331 recorded Nov 2026
- Provider self-claim Self-identification recorded Nov 2026
Frequently asked questions
Where is Aaron V. Smith's practice located?
Aaron V. Smith practices at Los Angeles, CA.
Does Aaron V. Smith offer telehealth?
Aaron V. Smith offers telehealth.
What does a Psychology (PhD/PsyD) treat?
Black psychologists (PhD/PsyD): therapy, assessment, neuropsychology. Fewer than 4 percent of U.S. psychologists are Black, so concordance matters deeply.
Other Black Psychology (PhD/PsyD) providers in CA
Jacqueline Benson, PsyD
Oakland, CA
Lenora Burney, Psy.D.
Santa Ana, CA
Alan Ceaser, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Oakland, CA
Christina Charlotin, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Los Angeles, CA
Ashley Claiborne Psyd, PsyD
Oakland, CA
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