Tonya Pleasant, MD, LCPC - Therapist in Maryland

About Tonya

Tonya Pleasant greets readers with a practical, steady presence. She aims to help parents and families manage stress, anxiety, and the everyday pressures that come with caregiving and parenting. Her approach is straightforward and goal-oriented, focusing on skills that can be used between sessions so families see real changes over time.

She trained at the University of Maryland, College Park and holds an MD and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor credential - MD LCPC LC1574.

Background and approach

Tonya has worked in counseling and mental health for 25 years. That experience informs a calm, experienced way of listening and helping people sort priorities and set achievable steps. In sessions she uses practical therapy tools from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, among other methods.

She blends listening with concrete coping strategies, communication tools, and behavior-focused exercises. Parents often leave with specific ideas to try at home. Tonya also focuses on family concerns beyond parenting.

She addresses relationship stress, grief, self-esteem, addictions, sleep and eating issues, career shifts, and compassion fatigue. Additional areas include caregiver stress, communication problems, divorce and separation, forgiveness, life purpose, seasonal affective disorder, self-love, women's issues, and young adult concerns. She offers sessions that fit busy schedules, and explains what to expect before starting.

The emphasis is on practical progress and steady support rather than quick fixes.

Therapeutic approaches for online family and parenting support

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people notice thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them. It teaches values-based steps so parents and caregivers can act in ways that match their priorities even when things feel hard. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify unhelpful thoughts and shifts behaviors that keep problems going. It uses simple, practical exercises to change patterns that affect mood, sleep, eating, and daily routines. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) works to improve emotional connection and communication in relationships by helping people name and respond to feelings more clearly.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, needs, and preferences and recommend strategies that fit those priorities. Sessions often combine elements from different methods so the plan suits the family's situation.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to meet - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. This makes it easier to fit sessions around parenting schedules, work, and caregiving duties. It also allows steady, ongoing support and quick check-ins that can help people apply new skills between meetings.

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.

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.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does Tonya help with?

She works with stress, anxiety, family and parenting concerns. She also helps with self-esteem, depression, addictions, grief, relationship and intimacy-related issues, and related areas listed in her profile.

What is her therapeutic style like?

Her style combines listening with practical tools. Sessions emphasize skill-building from approaches like CBT and ACT alongside emotion-focused techniques.

How much experience does she bring?

She has 25 years of experience in counseling and mental health settings, which guides her practical and steady approach to helping families and individuals.

What are her credentials and where is she located?

She holds MD and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor credentials listed as MD LCPC LC1574 and practices in Maryland.

Which languages are sessions offered in?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available?

She provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging as session formats.

How is cost handled for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use 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 schedule based on the therapist's availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Stress, Anxiety
Family conflicts
Parenting issues

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 25 years
Licensed: Maryland
Languages: English

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