Dr. Thomas Kadela, LCSW

Dr. Thomas Kadela is an LCSW - a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - with 30 years of assessment and treatment experience. He combines long-standing clinical practice with full-time work at the Department of Veterans Affairs and service as a United States Army National Guard Behavioral Health Officer, neither of which he formally represents here, and maintains a small online caseload of one to two clients at a time.

His earlier work emphasized children and families, and his career has included university teaching at both graduate and undergraduate levels, published work in professional journals, and board certification in his discipline. He has practiced and supervised care across inpatient, outpatient, and residential settings and has held leadership roles such as Chief Clinical Officer of National Programs, State Director, Chief Administrative Officer, Training Director, and Supervisor of Specialty Programs.

Dr. Kadela approaches therapy as a collaborative partnership that respects the individual expertise each person brings about their own life. He offers flexible formats ranging from executive coaching or a sounding-board style informed by Gestalt ideas to focused evidence-based psychotherapies targeting depression, trauma, anxiety, sleep disturbance, communication challenges, anger, addictions, and related concerns.

He is formally trained in multiple therapeutic methods, including Cognitive Processing Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, cognitive behavioral approaches for depression, insomnia, and chronic pain, Social Skills Therapy, Anger Management, Solution Focused Brief Psychotherapy, and Problem Solving. He favors a holistic perspective that attends to body, mind, and spirit and blends practical skills with attention to values and functioning.

Dr. Kadela is a US Army combat veteran who has presented workshops and keynote speeches at professional conferences. He welcomes inquiries to discuss approach and availability.

Evidence-Informed Approaches for Online Care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people clarify their values and take meaningful action even when uncomfortable thoughts or feelings arise. It is often used for anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and situations where shifting responses to difficult experiences is a goal.

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathic listening and partnership, giving space for the person to lead the pace and content of sessions. This approach supports self-exploration, confidence, and relationship or identity concerns by fostering acceptance and understanding from the therapist.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying and changing patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to problems like anxiety, depression, and sleep difficulties. CBT typically involves practical skills and exercises that clients can use between sessions to support lasting change.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the process. Dr. Kadela collaborates with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, and adapts strategies over time based on what is most helpful.

Online therapy with licensed professionals offers flexible access to care through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life transitions, and engage in treatment from locations that work best for the client.