Benia Thomas, LCSW

Benia Thomas is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in New Jersey. She draws on 12 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and relationship concerns. Benia is open and direct in sessions and aims to work alongside clients to clarify goals and take practical steps forward.

She trained at Fordham University where she earned a Master of Social Work with an emphasis on children, youth, and families, after completing a bachelor’s degree in social work at Lehman College. Early in her career she worked in the New York City foster care system and later offered counseling and psychoeducation to incarcerated women with severe mental illness.

Benia has also provided clinical supervision to master-level social workers. Over more than a decade she has worked professionally with the LGBTQ+ community and brings that experience to conversations about identity, intimacy, and related stresses. She notes lived experience as a lesbian as part of her perspective when supporting clients with LGBT concerns.

Her approach mixes client-centered work with techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and solution-focused methods. She adapts methods to match each person’s situation rather than using a single fixed model. Sessions typically focus on clear goals and practical strategies that can be applied between meetings.

People who choose her often want a straightforward, collaborative therapist who combines clinical experience with a down-to-earth manner. Benia aims to help clients understand what they are facing and make changes that last.

How Benia Uses Therapy Approaches Online

Benia blends client-centered work with cognitive behavioral techniques to help people identify what matters to them and make clear changes. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and collaboration so clients set the agenda and goals. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and teaches practical skills to manage anxiety, mood, and relationship patterns.

She treats the choice of approach as a joint decision. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. Together they adjust methods over time so the work fits real-life needs rather than a fixed plan.

Confirm the session formats available before booking, as current options are listed with the therapist. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It can also let someone work with a licensed professional who has relevant experience without needing to change locations. If a different approach seems needed, she will discuss alternatives and next steps during early sessions.