Works with
- Anger
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
- Depression
How Tonya works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- MD, LCPC
- Licensed in
- Maryland
- Years in practice
- 25
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Tonya
Tonya Pleasant is a Maryland-based clinician with 25 years of experience helping people manage strong emotions like anger, stress, and anxiety. She speaks plainly and works to make therapy feel practical and manageable. Tonya draws on several proven approaches to help clients meet the goals they set for themselves.
She begins by listening carefully to what matters most and where change is needed. Sessions focus on practical skills - new ways to think about situations, steps to change unhelpful behaviors, and simple coping tools to use between meetings.
Background and approach
Tonya highlights each person’s strengths and looks for small, measurable steps toward the outcomes they want. Her background includes a Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Bachelor of Science in Family Therapy and Community Development. She holds an MD and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, LCPC, in Maryland.
That mix of training and long experience shapes a straightforward, goal-oriented style. People come to her for many concerns, including parenting stress, caregiver strain, relationship and communication problems, grief, addiction, sleep and eating difficulties, and career or life-purpose questions. Anger and intimacy-related issues are also areas she addresses directly.
Sessions move at a steady, practical pace. Tonya helps people test new ways of responding in real life and then refines those strategies together. The overall aim is clearer thinking, better coping, and measurable progress toward goals clients set for themselves.
What Tonya works with
Everything Tonya lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Tonya's practice.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Communication problems
- Divorce and separation
- Forgiveness
- Life purpose
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-love
- Women's issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Tonya lists
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Psychodynamic 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.
Therapeutic approaches you can use online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, ACT, helps people notice unhelpful thoughts without getting stuck in them. It emphasizes values and small actions you can take to live in ways that matter to you, which can help with anger, anxiety, and life transitions.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, focuses on the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions. In sessions you learn to spot patterns that lead to distress and practice specific techniques to change them, useful for anxiety, depression, sleep and eating problems.
Client-Centered Therapy centers on the person's own goals and strengths. The therapist listens without judgment and supports you as you discover solutions that fit your life, which works well for self-esteem, relationship concerns, and caregiving stress.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with you about your needs, goals, and preferences and together you will pick strategies to try. That collaborative process makes it easier to adjust methods if something isn’t helping.
Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs. Video is useful for in-depth conversation and learning new skills, phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is limited, and messaging or live chat work well for brief check-ins or ongoing support. These options make therapy more flexible and easier to fit into work, caregiving, or school routines.
Questions people ask about Tonya
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, anger, depression, addictions, relationship and communication problems, grief, parenting and caregiver stress, and related concerns.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is practical and goal-focused. She listens first, then offers skill-building steps and behavior-change techniques to try between sessions.
What is her professional background?
She has 25 years working in counseling and mental health and holds an MD and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor credential.
Where is she based and licensed?
She practices in Maryland and is licensed there as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the U.S. schedule with her?
International clients are not currently accepted; sessions are offered to people based in her licensed region.
How are sessions delivered and what does it cost?
Sessions are available by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. Cost varies by location and therapist factors and uses a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.