About Thomas
Thomas Pugel is a licensed marriage and family therapist who brings 20 years of clinical experience to his work. He focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and effects of trauma and abuse.
Background and approach
He speaks English and works with clients across California and internationally via online options. He aims to treat everyone with respect and sensitivity.
Sessions begin by listening to what matters most to the client. Thomas then adapts conversation and a treatment plan to fit the person’s needs and goals.
The process is practical and paced to match each person’s situation. Thomas has spent two decades supporting people through panic attacks, mood shifts, social anxiety, and post-traumatic stress.
He uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques and prefers clear, straightforward dialogue. Work in sessions often includes naming patterns, learning coping skills, and practicing small changes between meetings.
People who reach out can expect calm guidance and steady support while they try new ways of handling symptoms. The therapist emphasizes collaboration and ongoing adjustment of the plan as progress unfolds.
He encourages small, achievable steps toward greater well-being. Thomas understands that reaching out is hard.
He focuses on making the process understandable and manageable. His approach is to meet people where they are and help them move toward the life they want.
Evidence-based approaches and online therapy options
Thomas uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical skills and measurable steps. One common approach emphasizes identifying unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and practicing alternative responses to reduce anxiety and low mood. This helps with panic attacks, social anxiety, and mood swings by giving specific strategies to try between sessions.Another frequently used method centers on processing the impact of trauma and abuse in manageable ways. Work like this breaks down distressing memories or reactions into smaller parts, teaches grounding and calming skills, and builds tolerance for difficult emotions so daily life feels more manageable.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist collaborates with each person to choose methods that match their needs, goals, and comfort level. Plans are adjusted as progress is made and new priorities emerge.
Online therapy is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions are useful when bandwidth is limited or a quieter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging can fit brief updates, daily check-ins, or weeks when scheduling is tight. These options help make consistent care easier to fit into a busy life.
Frequently asked questions
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How much clinical experience does he have?
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Can I work with him if I live outside the United States?
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
Also works with
- Experience
- 20 years
- Licensed
- California
- Languages
- English