Benia Thomas , LCSW

Benia Thomas is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a Master of Social Work degree from Fordham University in New York, where she emphasized work with children, youth, and families. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Lehman College in the Bronx. Her clinical training and early career began within the New York City foster care system, supporting children and families through complex transitions and care planning.

She later worked with incarcerated women experiencing severe mental illness, leading personal empowerment and psychoeducation groups and providing individual counseling. In addition to direct practice, she served as a clinical supervisor, offering guidance and oversight to Masters-level social workers. These varied roles shaped a practice grounded in practical experience with individuals, families, and community systems.

Benia’s clinical focus includes stress, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, family and relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, and LGBTQ+ related issues. She especially enjoys working with adolescents and young adults. As a lesbian with more than ten years of professional experience serving the LGBTQ+ community, she brings particular understanding of challenges that often appear in that context. She approaches therapy as a collaborative process, drawing on multiple methods to tailor treatment to each person. Her style is warm, direct, and encouraging, combining professional experience, creativity, and a down-to-earth sense of humor to help clients make sustainable changes.

Approaches for Online Care and Practical Benefits

Benia frequently draws from client-centered therapy, which centers the therapist-client relationship and prioritizes the client’s own goals and experiences. This approach helps people feel heard and supported while exploring personal values, relationships, and identity. She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and adjust unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors - an approach often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. Mindfulness therapy is another tool she employs, teaching present-focused awareness and simple practices that can reduce rumination and improve emotional regulation.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Benia works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adapting the plan as progress unfolds. This collaborative orientation helps tailor sessions to what will be most useful for the individual.

Online therapy through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging offers flexibility for scheduling and makes it easier to access consistent support from licensed professionals. These options can help people maintain therapy during busy periods, manage geographical barriers, and choose the communication style that feels most comfortable for them.