- 32 years experience
- Person-centered approach
- Supports adoption concerns
About Stephen
Dr. Stephen Bentley greets people with a straightforward, respectful approach. He emphasizes forming a working relationship first and listens to what each person needs. He uses that relationship to guide practical steps toward change and supports people through stressful life moments.
He has 32 years of experience in a variety of settings, including hospitals and crisis intervention. He has served as a director and supervisor of a practice for more than ten years and has been with the same company for two decades. That background means he is familiar with acute and longer-term needs people bring to therapy.
In sessions he leans on a person-centered stance and works to be accepting and nonjudgmental. He combines cognitive behavioral ideas, humanistic perspectives, psychodynamic thinking, and rational-emotive techniques to tailor the work to each person. The goal is practical change rather than labels.
Dr. Bentley has supported people facing addiction, trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, anger, ADHD, autism, relationship and intimacy issues, and career or parenting stress. He also lists adoption and foster care among his focus areas and can address attachment and abandonment concerns.
He has found tele-health useful since the COVID-19 era and encourages people who feel ready to take steps toward a more fulfilling life. The tone in sessions is respectful, sensitive, and compassionate while aiming for real progress.
How therapeutic approaches work online
Dr. Bentley uses Attachment-Based ideas to notice patterns in close relationships and help people understand how early bonds affect current stress and trust. That approach can be useful when attachment, abandonment, or relationship themes are present.He also draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing small behavior changes to reduce anxiety or depressive feelings. CBT is often practical for symptoms like worry, low mood, and problematic habits.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. He works collaboratively to choose methods that match a person's goals, needs, and preferences rather than applying one fixed model. Clients and therapist check in together about what helps and adjust the plan over time.
The biography mentions tele-health as an effective tool since COVID-19, but specific session formats should be confirmed before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time so conversations can happen from wherever someone is based. Ask about the available formats when you schedule to find the best fit.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
32+ years
Credentials
Kentucky
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does he help with?
He helps people with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, ADHD, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, parenting strain, and many other life challenges.
What is his therapeutic style?
He practices a person-centered style and blends approaches such as cognitive behavioral methods, psychodynamic ideas, and mindfulness to meet the client's goals.
How long has he worked in therapy?
He brings 32 years of clinical experience, with roles in hospitals, crisis work, and over a decade as a director and supervisor.
What credentials and location are listed?
He is listed as LPCC and practices in Kentucky as KY LPCC.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English, and he is open to working with international clients.
What session formats are used?
The biography notes tele-health has been used effectively since COVID-19; confirm current session formats before booking to see what is available.
How does cost and billing 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 schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.