- Client-centered care
- Problem solving skills
- LGBTQ+ informed
About Benia
Benia Thomas is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who brings 12 years of hands-on experience to her counseling. She focuses on practical, down-to-earth work that helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship strain, and money and financial issues. Benia speaks English and practices in New Jersey.
Benia trained at Fordham University, earning a Master of Social Work with an emphasis on children, youth, and families after completing a bachelor’s degree at Lehman College. Early in her career she worked in the New York City foster care system and later supported incarcerated women with serious mental health needs. She also provided clinical supervision for Master-level social workers.
She uses a mix of approaches instead of a single method. Benia adapts Client-Centered, Cognitive Behavioral, Mindfulness, and Solution-Focused techniques to fit each person’s situation. Sessions typically involve talking through concerns, practicing skills, and setting small goals to test change between meetings.
Benia has a long history of work with LGBTQ+ issues and identifies as a lesbian, which informs her understanding of challenges some clients face. She enjoys working with adolescents and young adults, and she emphasizes clear, direct, and warm communication in sessions.
Her style is collaborative and straightforward. Benia helps clients clarify what they want to change, then builds steps that feel realistic and sustainable. She tries to keep the process practical, hopeful, and tied to everyday life.
How Benia’s Approaches Work Online
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and understanding a person’s perspective. The therapist offers nonjudgmental support and helps clients set their own goals, which is useful for relationship concerns, identity questions, and coping with life changes.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts, feelings, and actions. It teaches practical tools to notice unhelpful thinking and try small behavior changes, which can help with anxiety, depression, and stress related to finances or work.
Finding the right approach is a team effort. Benia will talk with each person about their goals and try methods that match those goals. She adapts techniques over time and checks in to see what feels helpful, so the plan reflects the client’s needs and preferences.
Confirm the current session options before booking so you know which formats are offered. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, reduce travel time, and keep continuity when schedules change. Some formats can be shorter check-ins or avoid video when bandwidth is limited, which helps people stay consistent with sessions without reshaping their day.
Areas of focus
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does Benia address?
She helps with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and family concerns, intimacy and parenting issues, and related areas such as abandonment, attachment, and body image. Money and financial issues are also listed among her concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is warm, direct, and collaborative. She combines client-centered listening with practical techniques from cognitive behavioral, mindfulness, and solution-focused approaches.
What background does she bring to sessions?
Benia has 12 years of experience working in foster care, with incarcerated women, and as a clinical supervisor. That background informs how she supports people facing complex life challenges.
Where is she licensed and located?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with credentials in New York and New Jersey and practices in New Jersey.
Which languages are used in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions scheduled and what does cost look like?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Exact fees and scheduling details are provided during the sign-up and matching process.
How do I begin working with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.