Tonya Pleasant , MD, LCPC

Tonya Pleasant brings more than 25 years of experience in the counseling and mental health field, supporting people from diverse backgrounds as they work toward meaningful change. She earned a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling and a Bachelor of Science in Family Therapy and Community Development from the University of Maryland, College Park, and she combines that academic foundation with decades of hands-on practice to guide clients toward their goals.

She holds the credentials MD and LCPC - MD indicates a medical degree and LCPC stands for Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor - and is licensed to practice in Maryland. Over the course of her career she has helped individuals identify priorities, build practical coping strategies, and track measurable progress. Her approach emphasizes collaboration, respect for each person s unique strengths, and a focus on achievable growth.

Tonya describes her primary therapeutic methods as Adlerian therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Adlerian therapy is a growth-oriented model that highlights personal strengths, creativity, and the capacity to change, while Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people see how thoughts influence feelings and actions so they can develop new patterns of behavior. In sessions she listens carefully, offers coping and behavior-change techniques to try, encourages clients to draw on their abilities, and marks progress along the way as goals are reached.

Practical therapeutic approaches for online care

Tonya integrates evidence-informed methods that translate well to online formats. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns and related behaviors, useful for anxiety, stress, and mood concerns. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, active listening, and support for a person s own capacity to grow, which can foster a strong therapeutic relationship whether sessions are remote or in person. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy encourages acceptance of difficult emotions while clarifying personal values and taking committed action toward those values, a helpful approach for managing chronic stress and life transitions.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Tonya works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She tailors techniques and pacing based on what the client finds most helpful and practical.

Online therapy offers flexibility in how and when people meet with a licensed professional. Video calls and phone sessions recreate live conversation, while live chat and text-based messaging allow shorter or more frequent check-ins that can fit busy schedules. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care and access support from home, work, or while managing caregiving and other responsibilities.