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Resume2024-12-08T16:17:07-06:00

ERIC W.T. SMITH

Eric W.T. Smith & Bexar County, Texas Probate Court 1 Judge Oscar J. Kazen

About.

Eric Smith is a consultant, public speaker, and leading voice in mental health advocacy. Eric serves as commissioner with the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health, appointed by the Supreme Court of Texas and Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Eric is as a member of the Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance Board of Directors, as well as a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Texas Public Policy Committee.

At the invitation of Stanford professors Eric presented for Stanford law students on multiple occasions.

Some of Eric’s major media appearances include People magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Oprah Daily, National Public Radio, Dr. Drew’s podcast and live show, New York Daily News, and Yahoo! News.

A sample of Eric’s speaking engagements include the 2022 Judicial Summit on Mental Health in Texas and the first-ever Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health Summit in 2023. In 2024 Eric delivered the keynote presentation for the annual NAMI Kansas Conference. At the invitation of lawmakers and stakeholders over the years, Eric provided testimony in Texas, Virginia, California, Washington, Massachusetts, and Maryland.

Part of Eric’s journey is in the book You Are Not Alone, written by NAMI Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ken Duckworth. Some of Eric’s journey is also written about in Bedlam, authored by Peabody Award-winning Kenneth Paul Rosenberg, MD. Eric wrote a chapter about being incarcerated without treatment for mental illness in Navigating Bipolar Country, a book that reached #1 in Amazon’s New Releases in five categories. Eric also authored a section in Awakenings, a book that reached #1 as a New Release in Medical Mental Illness on Amazon.

Eric is the founder and owner of Eric W. T. Smith Consulting, LLC. Through lived experience, Eric offers consultation to families and individuals impacted by serious mental illness (SMI) and related matters.

Eric Smith headshot

Work.

Eric W. T. Smith Consulting, LLC

Through Eric W. T. Smith Consulting, LLC Eric brings his powerful combination of storytelling, advocacy, and knowledge that uniquely positions him as a premier lived experience voice in the realm of serious mental illness (SMI) directly to you.

To legally and ethically meet demand for Eric’s perspective and specialized knowledge, Eric formed Eric W. T. Smith Consulting, LLC. It is from Eric’s lived experience in meaningful recovery with SMI and accumulated knowledge as a respected advocate with valued insight that he provides consultation.

Eric W. T. Smith Consulting, LLC helps individuals and families directly impacted by SMI, psychosis, and related matters such as substance use disorder. Eric’s clients span across all time zones in the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii), as well as internationally.

Eric W. T. Smith’s consulting services bring valued perspective and insight to individuals and families by way of video chat or phone (client’s preference), addressing topics including but not limited to the following:

  • the role of medication in happiness and success
  • navigating and acquiring appropriate support from trusted professionals
  • the value of involuntary treatment, when needed
  • the importance of rebuilding relationships with parents/family/friends after the chaos of crises stemming from unmanaged or poorly managed SMI
  • finding opportunities for socialization, making friends, and pursuing hobbies at various points of recovery
  • the potential for recreational drug and alcohol use to hinder meaningful recovery
  • exploring ways to address challenges that arise from lack of insight into illness
  • communicating with friends/coworkers/classmates/etc about an SMI diagnosis
  • identifying and prioritizing movement toward more stability and reality (sleep schedule, not staying out late, meds, counseling, hobbies, various domains of personal development, etc)
  • building a bridge of trust and acceptance between those living with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder/psychosis/bipolar disorder, their families, treatment providers, and treatment plans

…framed upon Eric’s personal experiences in a way that you can consider applying what Eric learned from his personal experiences to your own life as a parent, caregiver, family member, friend, someone of the lived experience/diagnosed population like Eric, or anyone else with an interest in SMI and related matters.

If you are interested in becoming a client of Eric’s consulting services, please send him an email with any relevant information you wish to share with him through this website or directly at:

eric@ericwtsmith.com

Please do not include in your email to Eric any links or files to download, as Eric will not click links nor download files he receives via email unless otherwise communicated in advance.

A message from Eric:

“The consulting services I offer are something I wish were available as an option early in my recovery and in the years after that. It would have been hugely beneficial for me to talk with someone who lived through psychosis, lack of insight, addiction, mental illnesses of both the SMI variety and not of the SMI variety…someone I could directly relate with on a personal level to ask questions and get feedback or guidance in the absence of shame and judgement. I would have loved speaking with someone who attained meaningful recovery, being able to ask them questions about various aspects of their journey and then apply that to my life. It would have been helpful to talk with someone who experienced things I experienced, someone who could help me explore ways to be happy and healthy living in recovery, and learn tips for setting and achieving goals in recovery. Based on conversations I’ve had with many parents and caregivers from around the world over the years, they also tell me there is a unique value in speaking with me as someone who lived through SMI and related matters, helping them navigate systems that I had to navigate to find meaningful recovery. I am glad to be there as an option for people to consult with, whether parent, caregiver, person of the diagnosed population like me, or anyone else who can benefit from consulting with me.”

NOTE: Eric’s services are purely consulting in nature. Eric will not diagnose nor treat conditions or disorders, nor does he prescribe medication. Through Eric’s consulting, he offers a perspective that is uniquely valuable and distinctly different from a treatment provider.

FAQs

What is the process for becoming a client of your consulting services?2024-12-08T16:47:14-06:00

Typically, what happens when I bring on a new client in recovery, a mom/dad/family member/caregiver/etc first signs on as a client (or clients as the case may be when it is multiple family members/caregivers) and we discuss relevant background info to identify best paths forward.    

I do not require that I meet with mom/dad/family member/caregiver/etc before I meet with someone diagnosed/recovering, although that is the path most chosen by new clients.

There is only one step before scheduling time to meet with me, and that is completing a new client agreement via DocuSign email. Each individual who meets with me for consultation is considered a client.

Please let me know if you would like to move forward as a client, and if so I’ll send the new client agreement(s) via email.  

What are some key parts of your journey that often translate into help for individuals and families impacted by serious mental illness (SMI) and related matters?2024-12-08T15:58:41-06:00

Some key points of my life before effective treatment and meaningful recovery:

  • I was a high school dropout
  • I failed at college at my first attempt
  • I was addicted to various recreational substances
  • I was not to able to complete a community college degree
  • I was so psychotic that it resulted in three involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations (each lasting for 3 or more months)
  • I lost interest in life, hobbies, friendships, relationships, and pursuing goals

Some key points of my life after effective treatment and meaningful recovery:

  • I went back to get a university degree, and thrived with a 4.0 GPA from the time I was a sophomore undergraduate and through the end of graduate school
  • I am featured in major media such as People magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Dr. Drew’s podcasts and live show, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) first-ever book You Are Not Alone, among others
  • I regularly speak and present for Stanford law students at the request of Stanford professors
  • I am on the Board of Directors with the Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance (S&PAA)
  • I am appointed as commissioner by the two highest courts in Texas to the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental health (JCMH)
  • I serve on the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) with the Texas JCMH

Consultation with me is an experience unlike any other. My clients share with me their challenges and goals, and I offer insight to help guide them based on my powerful storytelling that is sought after in academia, major media, public speaking, and other meaningful collaborative efforts. I love working with people to help pursue outcomes they desire based on their respective goals.

Do you provide consulting services to a specific geographic area?2024-12-08T15:58:03-06:00

I am open to providing my consulting services to those living throughout the United States and internationally.

Who is a good candidate for your consulting services, and who is not a good candidate for your consulting services?2024-12-08T15:57:18-06:00

People who are a fit for my services include parents/caregivers/family members of those affected by psychosis and related matters, and those on a journey of recovery.

People who are not a fit for my services are individuals currently experiencing crisis-level psychosis and/or active addiction to the point that engaging in productive conversation is not yet possible for them.

Timing and circumstances at any given point can be the difference between whether or not someone is an appropriate candidate for my consulting services.

How are your consulting services different from a therapist?2024-12-08T15:56:24-06:00

My consulting services are based on my history of in-demand knowledge as a respected advocate with lived experience in the realm of serious mental illness (SMI) and related matters such as addiction. It is from this lived experience in meaningful recovery with valued insight that I provide assistance.

The established history of my perspective being sought after at the highest points of academia, major media, public speaking, and other meaningful collaborative efforts reflects my value as a source of help to individuals and families impacted by SMI and related matters.

The specific topics I focus on during consultation are driven by each client’s points of interest.

I bring my passion for engaging and honest storytelling directly to individuals and families to help promote meaningful recovery and navigation of chaotic circumstances in a way that is distinctly different from that of a therapist, with a unique value not readily found elsewhere.  

A therapist helps through a clinical lens of diagnosis and/or treatment. I do not diagnose nor treat.

How do your clients meet with you?2024-12-08T15:54:40-06:00

My consulting services take place via video chat or phone, client’s preference.

Who are your clients?2024-12-08T15:53:06-06:00

My clients are individuals, parents, caregivers, family, and others who are impacted by or interested in serious mental illness (SMI) and related matters such as addiction.

Experience.

A Sample of Eric’s Engagements

AOT conference Las Vegas @ LINQ hotel

Written about in Bedlam by Peabody Award-winning and duPont Columbia Award-winning Dr. Ken Rosenberg

Spoke at the Texas State Capitol for a conference sponsored by the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas, NAMI/NAMI Texas, Treatment Advocacy Center, and the Texas Council of Community Centers

WAMU (Washington DC’s local NPR station)

First national AOT symposium, Columbus Ohio

Treatment Advocacy Center’s white paper about AOT–was part of the team that created AOT at Northeast Ohio Medical University

Quoted by The NY Times bestselling author and  Pulitzer Prize-winning Ron Powers in his online blog, “No One Cares About Crazy People”

CURESZ Foundation (written content for their print and web publication)

SARDAA (Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America)

Healing Minds NOLA

Psychology Today

NAMI Santa Barbara County Public Policy Committee

Testified at Virginia Senate Joint Subcommittee to Study Mental Health Services in the Commonwealth in the 21st Century, also known as the Deeds Commission

Addressed Stanford University law students (mental health law class)

Treatment Advocacy Center–consultant

Authored article published at the Treatment Advocacy Center: “Personally Speaking: Assisted Outpatient Treatment Saved My Life”

Guest on The Dr. Drew Podcast, Episode 466

The 6th International Conference on Law Enforcement and Public Health

Greenburger Center for Social and Criminal Justice

Guest on Schizophrenia: Three Moms in the Trenches (podcast)

Testified at Sacramento County Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board

Interviewed by New York Daily News

Guest on Dose of Dr. Drew

Washington State Senate Behavioral Health Subcommittee to Health & Long Term Care Committee

Interviewed in Treatment Advocacy Center documentary “Stopping the Revolving Door”

Featured in American Psychiatric Association’s SMI Adviser AOT training modules

Please do not include in your email to Eric any links or files to download, as Eric will not click links nor download files he receives via email unless otherwise communicated in advance.

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