Benia Thomas , LCSW

Benia Thomas is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 12 years of experience. She practices in New Jersey and focuses on supporting people through stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship challenges, and LGBTQ concerns.

She trained at Fordham University where she earned a Master of Social Work and began her career in the New York City foster care system. Early work included counseling children and families and later supporting incarcerated women with severe mental illness through group and individual work. That background shaped her interest in trauma, attachment, and family dynamics.

Benia draws on client-centered, cognitive behavioral, mindfulness, and solution-focused methods. She adapts techniques to fit each person’s needs rather than using a single approach for everyone. Sessions emphasize clear goals and practical steps people can try between meetings.

She has experience supervising Master-level social workers and has worked with the LGBTQ community for over a decade. Benia identifies as a lesbian and uses that lived experience to inform her understanding of sexual orientation and identity concerns when relevant.

In sessions she aims to be warm, direct, and encouraging. Conversations often focus on identifying what matters most, building coping skills, and making small changes that add up. The goal is steady progress that feels realistic for each person’s life.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Benia commonly blends client-centered work with cognitive behavioral techniques to help people make practical changes. Client-centered therapy means sessions follow the person's priorities and pace, focusing on listening, empathy, and collaboration. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at patterns of thought and behavior and offers concrete strategies to change unhelpful habits and reduce anxiety and depression.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Benia will work together with each person to choose methods that fit their needs, goals, and comfort level. She adapts techniques over time and checks in regularly to make sure the approach feels useful and manageable.

Online therapy formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video calls let people see facial cues and hold deeper conversations. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging work well for brief check-ins, checking progress, or fitting support into a busy day. These options make it possible to keep therapy consistent while balancing work, school, or family demands.