Jay Schmucker, MFT Intern

Jay Schmucker (he/him) is a Marriage and Family Therapy Intern at Northwest Relationships who brings curiosity, warmth, and a grounded optimism into the therapy room. Jay works with adults, adolescents, individuals, couples, and families, supporting clients who are navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship conflict, life transitions, grief, and questions of identity.

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Jay’s approach is collaborative, strengths-based, and client-centered. He believes that meaningful change happens when people feel safe, supported, and empowered to build on what’s already working—while also gaining flexibility around patterns that may no longer serve them. He is especially committed to meeting clients where they are and approaching each person’s experiences with openness, respect, and curiosity.

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Drawing from Family Systems Theory, Jay integrates Solution-Focused Therapy, the Gottman Method, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). He has completed Level 1 Gottman Method training, including advanced coursework on treating trauma and affairs within relationships. Jay tailors his approach to each client, recognizing that there is no single “right” solution—and that growth often comes from exploring multiple paths forward.

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Jay is currently completing his Master’s degree in Couple and Family Therapy at Pacific Lutheran University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Washington Tacoma. He is a student member of both AAMFT and WAMFT and remains committed to ongoing learning and professional development.

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Jay identifies as a white, cisgender, heterosexual man with lived experience navigating neurodiversity, homelessness, chronic illness, and anxiety. These experiences inform his empathy and deepen his understanding of how systems, stressors, and identity intersect. He is also an active ally to women’s rights, LGBTQIA2S+ communities, and racial justice movements.

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Jay is especially drawn to working with clients who are navigating depression, anxiety, trauma, neurodivergence, and couple or family conflict—and who are open to reflection, growth, and discovering new perspectives. He values being challenged by his clients and sees therapy as a space for mutual engagement, learning, and hope.

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Outside of therapy, Jay enjoys spending time in nature, reading across topics such as psychology, spirituality, and history, and playing tabletop role-playing games with friends and family. At home, he shares life with four cats—and a long-running household tradition involving a 1970s rockstar-inspired toy named Brad, who frequently appears in surprise locations.