What does it mean to be fully human?
Being fully human means experiencing a full range of feelings, including those you learned to hide in order to stay safe. It means seeking connection, making meaning from the past, and learning how you are shaped by the world you live in. Being fully human invites you to move forward with clarity and authenticity.
Counseling is not about fixing what is wrong with you. It’s a place to slow down, understand how you learned to survive, and reconnect with the parts of yourself that carry strength, love, and agency. When those patterns are met with curiosity rather than judgment, new choices can begin to take shape.
If you are ready to understand yourself with more compassion and live in ways that feel more honest and aligned, counseling can be a great place to start.
About Me
Hi there, my name’s Luke Thompson (he/him or they/them; your choice!). You can call me Luke.
As a counselor, I aim to be steady, curious, and real. Sessions with me are collaborative and relational. I’m not here to analyze you from a distance or rush you toward solutions. I’m here to help you feel understood, supported, and able to make sense of your experience at your own pace. If you were to sit with me, you would have the freedom to reflect, to feel, and to speak honestly without needing to perform or explain yourself away. My job is to give you the safety and the freedom to do so as you carry this courage into the rest of your life.
I come to this work as a licensed professional counselor (NJ #37PC01078700) with over 10 years of experience in the mental health field and significant training in humanistic and psychodynamic approaches. This means I care deeply about your inner world, your relationships, and the stories you learned about yourself over time. I pay attention to how the past shows up in the present, especially in moments when emotions feel big or confusing.
Education
- Doctorate in Counseling and Supervision, Kean University (in progress)
- Post-Master’s Certificate, Educational Administration and Supervision, The College of New Jersey
- Master’s in Counseling, The College of New Jersey
- Bachelor’s in Social Work, Juniata College
Leadership
- Minority Fellow (Doctoral), National Board for Certified Counselors Foundation
- Member-at-Large, New Jersey Counseling Association
- Member, Public Policy Committee, Society for Affective, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities in Counseling
- Member, Neuroaffirming Humanistic Counseling Interest Network, Association for Humanistic Counseling
Services
Individual Counseling
Individual counseling is a good fit when you want space to focus on your own inner world, patterns, identity, or emotional experiences, even when your concerns are connected to how you interact within relationships.
Relational Counseling
Relational counseling, called couple’s counseling when working with two partners, is appropriate when the relationship itself needs attention. I might help you attune to each other, navigate conflict, repair trust, or work within nonmonogamous or polycule structures where multiple voices and dynamics matter.
Trainings and Workshops
Trainings and workshops are designed for clinicians, students, faculty, and organizations seeking thoughtful, practice grounded learning around identity, relationships, ethics, and strengths based approaches to mental health. Youth Mental Health First Aid and personalized trainings available. See the contact form for potential topics.
Availability
As a current Ph.D. student, I’m constantly learning more about counseling, human development, relationships, identity, and change. I’ve found that my studies deepen my presence in the telehealth room and help me to be a more culturally conscious, attuned, and effective counselor.
Because my availability is intentionally limited, I offer a consistent session time that is treated as protected space. I ask that you make the same commitment by planning to attend regularly and understanding that changes to session times may not always be possible.
Individual and Relational Counseling
Fridays, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Telehealth only at this time
Trainings and Workshops
Monday-Thursday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Online via Zoom or in-person near central New Jersey
Who I Work With
LGBTQ+ Folks
I provide affirming counseling for LGBTQ+ people navigating identity development, relationships, family dynamics, and the impact of living in a world that misunderstands or marginalizes them.
Neurodivergent Folks
I support self- and clinically-diagnosed neurodivergent folks understand their experiences, needs, and strengths, while also making sense of the ways systems, relationships, and expectations have shaped their lives.
Folks Impacted by Systemic Oppression
I work with clients who have experienced rejection from family, partners, institutions, or society, and who want space to understand how power, culture, and systems have influenced their sense of self.
Folks Exploring Identity, Attachment, and Relationships
I work with adults exploring who they are, how they connect with others, and how identity, attachment, and intimacy shape their sense of self.
Folks Practicing Ethical Nonmonogamy
I work with individuals, couples, and polycules who want support around communication, boundaries, desire, trust, and navigating relational complexity without judgment.
Folks Navigating Shame, Belonging, and Social Pressure
I work with people who have been made to feel “less than” by families, communities, institutions, or culture, and who carry shame shaped by expectations or norms that were never designed for them.
How I Help
Counseling is a collaborative space where we slow down and make sense of the patterns shaping your relationships, intimacy, and inner life. I take a psychodynamic and humanistic approach, which means we look at how past experiences, relational histories, and often unseen beliefs continue to influence how you connect, protect yourself, and seek closeness. At the same time, I work from a strengths-based and socially-conscious lens, helping you understand how systems, culture, and power have shaped your experiences so that shame and self blame can loosen their grip.
I see you as the expert on your own life. My role is to walk alongside you, offer perspective, and help you notice possibilities you may not yet see. Sessions are guided by your goals, your pace, and what feels most important to explore. Over time, this work often leads to greater self trust, clearer communication, and relationships that feel more grounded, mutual, and authentic.
What to Expect
✔ Unconditional positive regard
✔ Collaborative and relational work
✔ Space for honest reflection
✔ Support for meaningful change
✔ Respect for your pace
What Not to Expect
✗ Quick fixes or shortcuts
✗ Being told what to do
✗ Judgment or disapproval
✗ Discomfort without purpose
✗ Staying stuck or stagnant
Insurance and Fees
I aim to be clear and transparent about fees. I currently accept the following insurance plans listed below. If you are out of network, I can provide a monthly superbill for possible reimbursement, depending on your plan.
Whether you are in-network or out-of-network, download this free Insurance Verification Guide to help clarify coverage with your insurance company.
Aetna Affordable Health Choices® Limited Benefits Insurance Plan (SRC only)
Aetna Choice® POS (Aetna HealthFund®)
Aetna Choice® POS II (Aetna HealthFund®)
Aetna Choice® POS II (Open Access)
Aetna HealthFund® Aetna Health Network Only℠ (Open Access)
Aetna HealthFund® Aetna Health Network Option℠ (Open Access)
Aetna Health Network Only℠ (Open Access)
Aetna Health Network Option℠ (Open Access)
Aetna Open Access® Elect Choice® EPO (Aetna HealthFund®)
Aetna Open Access® Managed Choice® POS (Aetna HealthFund®)
Aetna Premier Care Network (APCN) – Choice POS II/Open Access Managed Choice
Aetna Premier Care Network (APCN) – Open Access Aetna Select
Aetna Premier Care Network Plus (APCN Plus) – Multi Tier – Choice POSII
Aetna Premier Care Network Plus (APCN Plus) – Choice POS II
Aetna Premier Care Network Plus (APCN Plus) – Open Access Aetna Select
Aetna Premier Care Network Plus (APCN Plus) -Multi Tier – Open Access Aetna Select
Aetna Premier Care Network Plus (APCN Plus) Multi-Tier – New Jersey AWH – Choice POSII
Aetna Premier Care Network Plus (APCN Plus) Multi-Tier – New Jersey AWH – Open Access Aetna Select
Aetna Select℠
Aetna Select℠ (Open Access)
Aetna Voluntary Plans
Aetna with Innovation Health Aetna Select
Aetna with Innovation Health POS
Aetna with Innovation Health PPO
Elect Choice® EPO (Open Access)
Employee Assistance Program (Must call EAP for Authorization #)
HMO
Managed Choice® POS
Managed Choice® POS (Open Access)
National Advantage™ Program
North Carolina State Health Plan
Open Access Aetna Select℠ (Aetna HealthFund®)
Open Choice® PPO
Open Choice® PPO (Aetna HealthFund®)
QPOS®
Savings Plus Multi-Tier of Metro, NY (POSII/OAMC)
Savings Plus Multi-Tier of New Jersey (POSII/OAMC)
Savings Plus Multi-Tier of New Jersey – (OAAS/OAEC)
Savings Plus Multi-Tier of New Jersey-HMO/HNO
(NJ) Aetna Whole Health℠ – New Jersey – Open Access Elect Choice Multi-tier
(NJ) Aetna Whole Health℠ – New Jersey – Open Access Managed Choice Multi-tier
(NJ) Aetna Whole Health℠- New Jersey -Choice POSII Multi -Tier
(NJ) Aetna Whole Health℠- New Jersey- Aetna Select Multi – Tier
List of providers coming soon! For now, search for “Lucas Thompson” on Cigna’s Health Care Provider Registry after entering your plan information or logging in to your account.
Advantage EPO
Advantage EPO HSA NJPA
Advantage EPO NJ
Advantage EPO NJPA
Advantage EPO with BlueHPN
CWA Unity Direct
Direct Access
EPO with BlueHPN
EPO/EPO Plus
Garden State Plan
HMO
HMO NJPA
Indemnity
Medicare Blue Supplement (Medigap)
NJ Direct
NJ Direct HDHigh
NJ Direct HDLow
NJ Educators Health Plan
Omnia
Omnia NJ
Omnia with BlueHPN
Patient-Centered Adv EPO
POS
POS NJPA
PPO
If you are not a member of the accepted insurance plans, private pay options are available at $200/session for individual counseling or $250/session for couple’s or relational counseling. I can provide a monthly superbill for possible reimbursement from out-of-network insurance plans.
Counseling should be accessible to all, so I offer a limited number of sliding scale slots. Rate is determined by need. You may be asked to verify financial need.
Getting Started
Getting started can feel uncomfortable, especially if counseling is new to you. Most people reach out with some uncertainty, mixed feelings, or questions about what this will actually be like. That is expected, and you do not need to have everything figured out before you begin.
The first step is completing the contact form. From there, we can schedule a 15-minute consultation call if you would like one. This call is a chance to ask questions, talk about what brings you in, and decide together whether working together feels like a good fit. There is no pressure to commit during this conversation.
Before the first session, you will complete a short set of intake forms through a secure online portal. Sessions are held via telehealth. The first session is focused on helping you settle in, understand how counseling works, and begin identifying what you would like support with. We move at a pace that feels manageable, with the understanding that meaningful change often starts with small, steady steps.
Contact Me
