- 20 years experience
- California LMFT
- Supports panic concerns
About Thomas
Thomas Pugel is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 20 years of professional experience in California. He focuses on helping people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, depression, or the aftermath of trauma and abuse. He aims to create a respectful, sensitive, and compassionate space where concerns can be talked through openly.
He adapts conversations and plans to fit each person’s situation. That means he listens first, then suggests practical steps that match someone’s day-to-day life. He acknowledges that starting therapy takes courage and offers steady support through that process.
Over two decades of work have involved many different kinds of stress and mood concerns. He has helped people manage social anxiety and phobias, and he has specific experience with panic disorder and panic attacks. His approach is practical and focused on what changes are useful now.
Sessions aim to identify the patterns that keep problems going and to build skills for handling them. Thomas uses straightforward language and avoids jargon so people can apply ideas between sessions. He also works with the emotional impact of trauma and helps people find ways to cope and move forward.
He welcomes conversations in English and accepts international clients. Before a first session, he recommends using the site’s Start Therapy button to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule according to availability.
Approaches that help with panic and anxiety
Thomas uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on skills and real-world practice. One approach involves learning to notice and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors that feed anxiety; this helps reduce the frequency and intensity of panic symptoms and supports mood regulation. Another approach emphasizes gradual exposure to feared situations or sensations in a paced way so people can relearn that those situations are manageable and less threatening.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist listens to a person’s goals and preferences, then recommends methods that fit those needs. That decision is collaborative and may evolve as progress is made.
Practical benefits of online therapy include fitting sessions into a busy schedule and reducing travel time so it is easier to keep regular appointments. If you prefer, confirm the exact session formats before booking since the biography does not list formats explicitly. The focus is on making therapy workable in daily life while helping people build skills to handle panic, stress, and anxiety.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does he address?
He helps people dealing with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, and depression. Additional focus areas include mood disorders, panic disorder and panic attacks, post-traumatic stress, and social anxiety and phobia.
What is his therapy style like?
His style is practical and down-to-earth, with straightforward conversation and clear steps to try between sessions. He tailors the dialog and treatment plan to each person’s needs.
How much experience does he have?
He brings 20 years of professional work experience to his practice. That experience includes supporting people with a range of anxiety and mood concerns.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - LMFT - and practices from California.
What languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English and he also accepts international clients.
Which session formats are offered?
The original biography does not list specific session formats, so please confirm current session options before booking.
How does pricing work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working together?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist’s availability.