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BL Portrait of Benjamin Lighter
Online therapist

Benjamin Lighter

Compassionate counselor offering practical coping tools

Credentials
LPC
Experience
3 years
Licensed in
Alabama
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Benjamin

Benjamin Lighter uses an approachable, client-centered style to help people manage everyday struggles. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Alabama with three years of experience. Ben focuses on practical steps people can take to feel steadier when stress, anxiety, or depression make life harder.

Ben often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking and change small behaviors that improve mood. He also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills for managing intense emotions and Mindfulness Therapy to reduce reactivity.

Background and approach

Motivational Interviewing helps when people want to make lasting changes but feel stuck. Sessions are conversational and goal-oriented. Ben aims to make the room feel calm and straightforward.

He listens, then offers tools a person can try between sessions to notice progress. Common areas he addresses include low self-esteem, coping with life changes, grief, addictions, and sleep or eating difficulties. He also works with issues like panic attacks, mood disorders, guilt and shame, and compassion fatigue.

Ben provides several formats for online sessions so people can choose what fits their life. If someone prefers short check-ins or longer conversations, he can match the approach to their needs and schedule.

Therapeutic approaches that translate well to online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and building trust so people can decide their own goals; it helps when someone needs a calm space to talk through feelings and choices. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical exercises to reduce anxiety and lift mood. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, offers clear skills for managing strong emotions and improving reactions in stressful moments.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t worked before. Together they adjust methods over time so the work stays useful and achievable.

Online sessions using video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life. Video helps keep conversations similar to in-person sessions, while chat and messaging allow brief check-ins and ongoing support between meetings. These options give flexibility so people can pick the format that feels most comfortable and practical.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Concrete skills for riding out strong emotion, tolerating distress, and handling relationships without things escalating. The skills are practised in daily life, so between-session support by message or phone fits naturally.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does he help with?
He works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, grief, addiction, and sleep or eating problems.
What is his general therapy style?
He favors a client-centered, conversational approach that focuses on practical tools and skills people can use between sessions.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He is a Licensed Professional Counselor with three years of counseling experience in Alabama.
What are his credentials and practice location?
He holds the LPC credential with licence number AL LPC LPC05082 and practices in Alabama.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats does he use?
He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different preferences.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability and sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to the therapist's availability.

Next step

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