Benia Thomas , LCSW

Benia Thomas is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who earned a Master of Social Work from Fordham University in New York and a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Lehman College. As an LCSW she combines clinical training with years of hands-on work in child and family services, bringing expertise gained from roles in the New York City foster care system and work with incarcerated women managing severe mental illness. Her clinical background also includes facilitating psychoeducation and empowerment groups, providing individual counseling, and supervising Master level social workers.

Her practice focuses on a broad range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, family and relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related difficulties, parenting challenges, and compassion fatigue. She has worked with the LGBTQ+ community for over a decade and has particular experience supporting adolescents and young adults. Benia draws from multiple therapeutic methods rather than applying a single technique to every client, tailoring her approach to each person’s circumstances and goals.

She approaches therapy with warmth, openness, encouragement, and directness, blending professional experience, education, creativity, and a down-to-earth sense of humor. Benia emphasizes collaboration in the healing process, helping individuals clarify treatment goals and build practical changes that are sustainable over time.

Therapeutic approaches and accessible online care

Benia integrates client-centered therapy to create a collaborative, empathic environment where the client's perspective guides the work; this approach helps people explore values, build self-understanding, and set personal goals. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a structured method that helps identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. In addition, Mindfulness Therapy complements these approaches by teaching present-moment awareness and coping strategies that can ease emotional reactivity and support regulation.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Benia works with each person to determine which combination of methods best matches their needs, goals, and preferences, making adjustments as progress unfolds in a collaborative way.

Online therapy with Benia can take place via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for busy schedules and different communication styles. These options make it easier to access licensed professionals from home or work, maintain continuity of care during life transitions, and fit therapy into day-to-day life without sacrificing regular contact and support.