Works with
How Stephen works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LPCC
- Licensed in
- Kentucky
- Years in practice
- 32
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Stephen
Dr. Stephen Bentley is a licensed professional clinical counselor with over 32 years of experience. He focuses on helping people who feel overwhelmed by anger, stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, and major life changes.
He speaks plain language and aims to build a respectful, working relationship from the first session. He uses a person-centered style that puts the client's needs first. That means he starts by listening and identifying what feels most urgent.
Background and approach
He combines practical tools from cognitive behavioral therapy with insight from psychodynamic work and humanistic approaches to help people understand patterns that keep them stuck. Clients who prefer a calm, steady therapist will find a straightforward approach here. Dr.
Bentley emphasizes acceptance, sensitivity, and compassion while avoiding stigmatizing labels. He has worked in hospitals, led groups, done crisis intervention, and supervised a practice for more than a decade, so he is used to varied clinical settings and concerns. Telehealth became a regular part of his work during the COVID-19 period, and he now offers therapy by video, phone, chat, and messaging.
That lets people fit care into busy schedules and choose a format that suits their needs. He describes his role as an agent of change and aims to support people through practical steps toward a more manageable life. Dr.
Bentley practices in Kentucky as an LPCC and works with a broad range of concerns including anger management, trauma and abuse, ADHD, relationship and intimacy issues, caregiver stress, and complicated grief.
What Stephen works with
Everything Stephen lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Stephen's practice.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Trauma and abuse
- Depression
- ADHD
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Avoidant personality
- Blended family issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Dependent personality
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hoarding
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Traumatic brain injury
- Trichotillomania
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Stephen lists
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
How attachment, CBT, and person-centered work online
Dr. Bentley uses Attachment-Based ideas to help people notice and change how past relationships shape current reactions. That can be useful for anger, intimacy problems, and relationship patterns.He also draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which focuses on identifying thought and behavior patterns that keep problems going and testing new, healthier responses. CBT is helpful for anxiety, depression, anger management, and coping skills.
His person-centered emphasis means sessions begin with the client’s concerns and priorities. He works together with people to choose techniques that fit their needs and goals, adjusting the plan as progress is made.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video is good for face-to-face conversation and reading nonverbal cues. Phone can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for a shorter check-in. Chat and messaging let people keep work moving between sessions or choose a format that feels less formal.
These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and to continue work through transitions or when travel is difficult. Licensed professionals can help determine which format and approach will be most helpful based on symptoms, goals, and personal preferences.
Questions people ask about Stephen
What problems does this therapist help with?
He helps people facing anger, stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, ADHD, and related concerns.
What is his therapeutic style like?
He uses a person-centered style that starts with listening. He blends cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, and humanistic ideas to create practical plans.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He brings 32 years of experience, including hospital work, group therapy, crisis intervention, and more than ten years as a director and supervisor.
Where is he licensed and based?
He is a Kentucky LPCC, listed as LPCC in Kentucky and practicing there.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English, and he also accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be conducted by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and preferences.
How does cost and billing work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.