Stephen Benoit

I’m a licensed clinical counselor who enjoys helping people work through life’s hard transitions and find a healthier, more grounded way forward. I work especially well with men who want support with challenges like weight loss, reducing or abstaining from alcohol or pornography, improving communication in marriage, and overcoming anxiety, self-criticism, and negative thought patterns. My background includes a PhD in psychology focused on the neuroscience of obesity and addiction, along with master’s degrees in psychology and clinical counseling. I offer telehealth counseling to clients in Virginia and strive to create a space where you feel safe, understood, and supported from the very first session.

My approach is compassionate, practical, and nonjudgmental. I draw from mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and person-centered counseling to help with concerns such as anxiety, depression, mood disorders, addictions, binge eating, impulsivity, men’s issues, and relationship challenges. For those who want it, I’m also glad to incorporate faith and spirituality into the counseling process. My goal is to help you build insight, learn useful tools, and make meaningful changes that support your emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.

My approach is warm, practical, and nonjudgmental, blending mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and person-centered care. I work with concerns including mood disorders, addiction, binge eating, impulsivity, men’s issues, marital and premarital counseling, and other major life stressors. When requested, I also integrate faith and spirituality into the counseling process.

Clients can expect the first session to feel like a conversation focused on getting to know them, understanding what brings them to counseling, and identifying what they hope will improve. We will talk about current concerns, important life circumstances, emotional or relationship patterns, and any relevant history that may help guide treatment. My goal is to create a space that feels safe, respectful, and free of judgment, so clients can begin sharing at a pace that feels comfortable.

The first session is also a chance to start building a plan together. We may discuss therapy goals, what approaches might be most helpful, and a few practical tools or next steps to begin moving forward. Clients do not need to have everything figured out before they begin. The purpose of the first meeting is simply to start where they are, feel heard, and begin building a path toward meaningful change.