Dr. Stephen Bentley, LPCC

Dr. Stephen Bentley is a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) with 32 years of experience. He focuses on helping people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, trauma, addictions, depression, ADHD, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, and related life challenges. He aims to meet each person where they are and build a practical working relationship to support change.

He uses a person-centered way of working that emphasizes acceptance and respect. Sessions begin by looking at the client's needs and goals, then shaping a plan together. He combines approaches such as cognitive behavioral techniques, attachment-based ideas, emotionally-focused work, and mindfulness to match the situation.

Bentley has worked in hospitals, provided crisis intervention, led groups and individual therapy, and served as a director and supervisor for clinical practice. He has helped people facing physical trauma, abuse, loss, addiction, autism-related concerns, and complex medical or caregiving stressors.

In recent years he has incorporated tele-health into his practice and sees that remote sessions can be an effective option for many people. He emphasizes treating everyone with sensitivity and avoiding stigmatizing labels as part of a respectful therapeutic relationship.

Clients who choose to work with him can expect a straightforward approach that blends practical coping skills with attention to emotions and attachment patterns. He describes his role as an agent of change and focuses on supporting people through the steps that lead to clearer thinking and improved daily functioning.

How his approaches translate to online therapy

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns of closeness and trust in relationships. Online sessions can be used to notice how people describe their close relationships and to practice new ways of connecting. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions interact and teaches practical skills for changing unhelpful patterns. CBT fits well into a remote format because it often uses structured exercises and homework that are easy to share between sessions.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful. Together they can try methods and adjust the plan so the work stays relevant to daily life and specific problems like anxiety, trauma-related reactions, or coping with chronic stress.

Tele-health has practical benefits for fitting therapy into a busy schedule. It can reduce travel time, make it easier to keep appointments during work breaks, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. Because session formats are not exhaustively listed in the biography, confirm the current options before booking so you know which ways of meeting are offered.