PuttingFamilyFirst

The therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp and we will earn a commission if you use our link - at no cost to you.

LT Portrait of Linda Thomas
Online therapist

Linda Thomas

Supportive clinical social worker for practical solutions

Credentials
LISW-CP
Experience
30 years
Licensed in
South Carolina
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Linda

Linda Thomas is a licensed independent social worker in South Carolina with three decades of experience. She offers straightforward, practical help for people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, depression, and major life changes. Her approach aims to make everyday challenges easier to manage and to help people find clearer priorities and coping steps.

She trained in a Master of Social Work program at Florida State University and began her career with hands-on internships, including work with the Public Defender's Office and an addictions detox facility.

Background and approach

Early on she helped launch one of the first HIV support groups in Atlanta and later provided contracted services for the Department of Defense on military bases in Germany, Norway, and Greenland. Over the years she has worked in many settings, including psychiatric assessments in an emergency department at a Charleston university.

That variety shaped a practical style that draws on several therapy methods. In sessions she uses tools from acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to help people change unhelpful patterns and clarify values. Mindfulness practices and dialectical behavior therapy skills also appear in her work when people need emotion regulation or stress management tools.

Motivational interviewing techniques help when someone is trying to make a change, such as addressing substance use. Linda blends these methods to fit each person’s situation. She works with issues commonly connected to family and parenting concerns and also brings experience with grief, trauma, caregiving stress, bipolar disorder, and relationship problems.

Linda conducts sessions in English and accepts international clients by providing multiple online formats.

Therapy methods and how they work online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people notice what matters to them and take small steps toward those values while accepting difficult emotions. It is useful for anxiety, depression, and life changes where clarity about priorities matters.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep problems stuck and offers practical exercises to shift them. It is commonly used for anxiety, panic, mood issues, and coping with stress.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) provides clear skills for managing intense emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness. It can help with anger, relationship strain, and situations where emotion regulation is a priority.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals and preferences, try methods that fit the situation, and adjust as progress unfolds. Clients and the therapist choose skills and strategies together so therapy feels useful and doable.

Online sessions offer flexibility for busy families and individuals. Linda uses video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to provide options that fit different schedules and comfort levels. These formats make it easier to keep regular work on skills, follow up between meetings, and maintain continuity when travel or life changes occur.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.

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 kinds of problems does she address?
She helps with stress, anxiety, addictions, depression, relationship and family issues, grief, trauma, parenting concerns, and many related areas listed in her profile.
What is her therapy style like?
Her style is practical and skills-focused, using clear exercises and conversational work to change unhelpful patterns and build coping strategies.
How long has she been practicing?
She has 30 years of professional experience, including work in addiction treatment, HIV support groups, military contracting, and university emergency psychiatric assessments.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds the LISW-CP credential and practices from South Carolina, with past work in other U.S. locations and overseas military bases.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts clients internationally.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions are provided through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.

Next step

Talk to Linda

  • Takes a few minutes to look through
  • Nothing to set up just to read
  • Stop at any point