- Warm and direct
- Goal focused
- LGBTQ informed
About Benia
Benia Thomas is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in New Jersey who centers her practice on practical, collaborative therapy. She emphasizes a warm, direct style and works with people to set clear, realistic goals. Benia draws on 12 years of experience supporting a range of concerns, including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and family issues, and LGBTQ+ related matters.
Benia began her career in the New York City foster care system and later worked with incarcerated women who had severe mental illness. She has led psychoeducation and empowerment groups and has provided individual counseling. She also served as a clinical supervisor for master-level social workers.
Her approach mixes client-centered conversation, cognitive behavioral ideas, mindfulness, and solution-focused strategies. She tailors techniques to fit each person rather than using one fixed method. Sessions generally focus on identifying concrete steps clients can take, and on building skills that make changes more durable.
Benia often supports adolescents and young adults and brings over a decade of professional experience with LGBTQ+ communities. She describes herself as encouraging, pragmatic, and occasionally humorous while keeping work steady and goal-oriented. People who want straightforward, empathetic guidance tend to respond well to her style.
Therapy with Benia typically starts by clarifying what a person wants to change. From there she and the client map short-term goals and practical strategies. This makes it easier to track progress and adjust the plan as needs evolve.
How her therapeutic approaches translate to online therapy
Benia uses client-centered therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy in ways that fit online work. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening carefully, reflecting what matters to the client, and helping people clarify their own goals. This approach supports emotional understanding and works well when someone needs dependable, compassionate listening.Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts and behaviors influence feelings and teaches practical tools to change unhelpful patterns. CBT is useful for anxiety, depression, and many everyday challenges because it emphasizes specific skills and homework between sessions.
Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Benia will discuss options and collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their goals, needs, and preferences. That partnership helps tailor a plan and adjust techniques as progress is made.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life by reducing travel time and allowing appointments from different locations. It can also accommodate shorter check-ins or work-friendly scheduling when needed, helping therapy become a practical part of everyday routines.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
12+ years
Credentials
New York, New Jersey
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Benia help with?
She helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and family issues, parenting challenges, trauma and abuse, and LGBTQ related concerns among others.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her sessions are collaborative and practical. She uses a warm, direct manner and helps clients set clear, realistic goals.
What experience does she bring to therapy?
She has 12 years of experience, including work in the New York City foster care system and counseling incarcerated women, plus time supervising master-level social workers.
What credentials and region does she practice in?
Benia is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in New York and New Jersey and she practices out of New Jersey.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with clients outside the United States?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are fees and payments handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start therapy with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.