About Thomas
Thomas Pugel is a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in California. He has 20 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, and depression. He aims to listen first and respond with respect and sensitivity.
He focuses on practical conversations that fit each person's needs. Sessions are shaped around what is most helpful to the individual. Thomas adapts pace and topics so people can feel steady as they make changes.
Background and approach
Over two decades he has worked with people facing mood disorders, panic and panic attacks, post-traumatic stress, and social anxiety and phobia. That background gives him familiarity with common patterns and ways to reduce overwhelming feelings. Thomas describes his role as a steady guide through difficult moments.
He uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques and builds a plan with each person. The goal is clearer thinking, fewer intense reactions, and better daily functioning. He emphasizes collaboration and straightforward communication.
Expect respectful listening, practical steps to try between sessions, and regular check-ins on what is working. Thomas supports people as they move toward more manageable stress and improved mood.
Evidence-based techniques and online care
Thomas uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on clear steps and measurable change. One approach emphasizes skills to reduce anxiety and manage panic attacks, teaching breathing, grounding, and behavioral steps to lower intense reactions. Another approach addresses trauma-related symptoms by helping people process distressing memories and build stabilizing routines to reduce overwhelm and improve daily functioning.Finding the right therapeutic approach is a collaborative process. Thomas will discuss options, try techniques together, and adjust plans based on how a person responds. He works with each client to set goals, test practical strategies, and pick methods that fit their needs and preferences.
Online therapy is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation for deeper work, while phone sessions can be easier when internet bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging make brief check-ins and quick support possible between sessions. These formats help people fit therapy into work, family, and travel schedules while keeping the focus on steady progress.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Also listed
- Experience
- 20 years
- Licensed
- California
- Languages
- English
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