Dr. Thomas Kadela , LCSW

Dr. Thomas Kadela is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with roughly 30 years of experience in assessment and treatment. He combines long-standing clinical practice with roles in public service - working full time with the Department of Veterans Affairs and serving as a United States Army National Guard Behavioral Health Officer - and he also identifies as a US Army combat veteran. Through an online practice he limits his availability to one or two clients at a time, offering a more relaxed, conversational setting while continuing professional work in institutional and community contexts.

He works with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, sleep problems, anger, depression, addictions, LGBT issues, relationship and family struggles, grief, intimacy difficulties, parenting and fatherhood issues, self-esteem, career questions, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and coping with life changes. His background includes prior specialization in children and families as well as experience across inpatient, outpatient and residential programs, supervision roles, and academic teaching at both graduate and undergraduate levels.

Dr. Kadela frames therapy as a collaborative partnership in which the client is an expert on their own life. He can provide executive coaching, serve as a sounding board using gestalt-style methods, or pursue structured evidence-based therapies that include between-session practice when appropriate. He is formally trained in a number of specific approaches, including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), several cognitive behavioral therapy adaptations such as CBT for depression and insomnia, social skills training, anger management, solution-focused brief therapy, and structured problem solving.

Believing in a holistic balance of body, mind and spirit, he aims to help people regain smoother, more comfortable functioning when one area is out of balance. He has presented workshops and keynote talks, contributed to professional publications, and held leadership positions such as training director and chief clinical officer during his career. He welcomes inquiries from those interested in working with him and is open to discussing fit and next steps.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Care

Dr. Thomas Kadela draws on several evidence-based approaches that adapt well to online formats. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify their values, accept difficult internal experiences, and commit to meaningful actions; it is useful for anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and developing practical skills to change them; it is effective for depression, anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes an empathetic, nonjudgmental relationship in which the therapist follows the client's lead to build self-awareness and personal growth, which can support relationship, identity, and self-esteem concerns.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Dr. Kadela works collaboratively with each person to select or combine methods based on the client's needs, goals, and preferences, with adjustments over time as progress is observed. Clients are invited to participate actively in shaping the work.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call or phone, and brief check-ins or ongoing communication can occur via live chat or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life changes, and access licensed professionals from different locations while preserving the therapeutic connection and structure needed for meaningful progress.