Themistoklis Bakelas, LCSW

Themistoklis Bakelas is a New Jersey-based LCSW who helps people facing relationship struggles, grief, low self-esteem, career stress, and depression. He aims to build a safe, trusting space where people feel heard and can begin to make practical changes. His approach is straightforward and conversational, with a focus on real steps that fit daily life.

He brings nine years of clinical experience, including work in psychiatric hospital settings. That background shaped his interest in mood disorders, Seasonal Affective Disorder, and challenges like isolation and emptiness. He also focuses on commitment issues, communication problems, divorce and separation, forgiveness, and finding life purpose.

Sessions tend to be supportive and strength-based. He uses direct questions and collaborative planning to help people identify patterns and try new behaviors. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the methods he draws on to break down unhelpful thoughts and test practical changes.

He also uses attachment-focused ideas to look at how relationships shape feelings and reactions, and mindfulness techniques to bring calm and focus to difficult moments. Motivational Interviewing and Solution-Focused Therapy inform shorter-term goals and steps when people want faster, targeted change.

All appointments are offered online by video call, phone, live chat, or text messaging. People should expect a conversational style, a mix of practical exercises, and collaborative goal-setting tailored to their situation.

Applying practical approaches to online therapy

Many people benefit from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy because it breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions. CBT helps identify unhelpful thinking patterns and test small behavior changes to see what improves mood and relationships.

Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early and current relationships shape emotional responses. It can help people understand why they react a certain way in close relationships and practice different ways of relating that feel safer and more connected.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, try methods that match those goals, and adjust strategies based on what works for the person. This means plans are shaped together and reviewed over time.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs. Video calls are useful for deeper conversations and visual cues, phone sessions work when bandwidth is limited, live chat allows quicker check-ins, and text messaging supports brief, ongoing contact. These options make it easier to maintain regular work on goals while balancing work, family, and other commitments.