Works with
- Anger
- Stress, Anxiety
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Depression
How Benia works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in
- New York, New Jersey
- Years in practice
- 12
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Benia
Benia Thomas is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in New Jersey. She uses a practical, down-to-earth style to help people manage stress, anxiety, anger, and life transitions. Benia draws on a mix of approaches to meet each person's needs and keeps sessions straightforward and goal-focused.
She earned a Master of Social Work from Fordham University and a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Lehman College. Early in her career she worked in the New York City foster care system, supporting children and caregivers through difficult changes.
Background and approach
That early work shaped her understanding of family dynamics and attachment concerns. Benia later worked with incarcerated women who had severe mental illness. There she led psychoeducation and empowerment groups and provided individual counseling.
She also served as a clinical supervisor for master-level social workers, offering guidance on clinical cases and professional development. Her practice commonly addresses grief, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and family problems, parenting challenges, and LGBTQ concerns. She emphasizes clear goals and practical steps so changes feel manageable and lasting.
Anger and communication problems are often addressed through concrete strategies and self-awareness work. Benia describes herself as warm, encouraging, and direct. She partners with people to clarify goals and then uses techniques from different methods to fit the situation.
Sessions are collaborative and focused on what will make everyday life better. Therapy is offered in English and delivered online through a mix of video calls, phone, live chat, or text messaging. Her twelve years of experience inform a flexible approach tailored to each person’s circumstances.
What Benia works with
Everything Benia lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Benia's practice.
- Stress, Anxiety
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Depression
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Attachment issues
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Benia lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Approaches that translate well to online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and responding to each person's concerns without judgment. It helps people feel heard and clarify their goals so therapy can follow what matters most to them. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and uses simple exercises to change patterns that keep problems going. It is useful for anxiety, depression, anger, and stress.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn't worked before. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust them as progress is made, so the plan fits the client's life and needs.
Online therapy offers practical ways to fit sessions into a busy schedule. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation; phone sessions are an option when video is not convenient; live chat and text messaging work well for shorter check-ins or ongoing support between sessions. These formats make it easier to maintain consistent work on goals while balancing school, work, or family time.
Questions people ask about Benia
What concerns does this therapist help with?
Common issues include stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, relationship and family problems, parenting challenges, LGBTQ related concerns, anger, and self-esteem.
What is the therapist's style in sessions?
Sessions are described as warm, encouraging, and direct. The therapist works collaboratively and uses practical steps to help clients meet their goals.
What background does the therapist have?
She has twelve years of practice experience and began her career in the NYC foster care system, later working with incarcerated women and supervising master-level social workers.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - LCSW - with licensure in New York and New Jersey, and she practices from New Jersey.
Which languages are offered for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Therapy is delivered online via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different scheduling needs.
How are fees and subscriptions handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with this therapist?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.