Dr. Evan Thomas, PhD, LMFTS (he/him)
CREDENTIALS SNAPSHOT
PhD, Human Development & Family Studies (MFT Concentration) — Virginia Tech, 2020
MS, Child and Family Development (MFT Concentration) — Purdue University, 2016
BS, Psychology (Cum Laude) — University of Georgia, 2012
LMFTS — Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor, South Carolina (#7891)
AAMFT Approved Supervisor
Associate Professor & Department Chair, Converse University MFT Program
Former Chair, AAMFT Queer and Trans Advocacy Network (2023–2025)
Welcome — I'm glad you're here.
Deciding to start therapy takes courage, and finding the right therapist matters. So let me share a little about who I am, how I work, and what you can expect if we work together.
I've been a therapist for over 13 years. I opened Thomas Counseling Services in 2020 with a clear purpose: to create a space where people who have often felt unseen or misunderstood — by systems, by communities, and sometimes by the people closest to them — can do meaningful, honest work on their lives.
My practice specializes in three areas: LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy, substance use, and couples and relationship work. These aren't just boxes I checked on a directory listing. They represent the through-lines of my clinical career, research, and advocacy — areas I've spent over a decade studying, presenting on nationally, and showing up for in the therapy room.
My Approach
I work systemically. That means I don't just look at what's happening in front of you right now — I look at the larger picture: your family of origin, the relationships that have shaped you, the cultural and community contexts you move through, and how those systems interact to create the patterns you're trying to change.
I also work collaboratively. You set the agenda. You define the goals. You move at the pace that feels right. I'm not here to hand you a diagnosis and a treatment plan — I'm here to think alongside you, ask the questions that might be hard to ask yourself, and help you access the clarity and strength you already have.
My work draws on a range of approaches, including Family Systems, Narrative Therapy, the Gottman Method, Motivational Interviewing, Structural Family Therapy, and Trauma-Focused models. What I use depends entirely on what you need.
My Background
I grew up with a deep interest in people and systems—understanding why families function as they do, why communities face challenges, and what truly helps. This curiosity guided me to pursue graduate studies in Marriage and Family Therapy, beginning at Purdue University (MS, 2016) and later at Virginia Tech, where I earned my PhD in Human Development and Family Studies in 2020.
Early in my career, I worked in community mental health in northwest Indiana—leading LGBTQ youth groups, providing home-based family therapy, and collaborating with child protective services. These experiences grounded me in the complex realities of people's lives long before I opened my private practice.
Since 2019, I've been part of the faculty at Converse University in Greenville. I currently serve as an Associate Professor and Department Chair of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program. I oversee graduate clinicians, teach courses in family therapy, ethics, and substance use, and serve on thesis and dissertation committees. Training future therapists keeps me sharp and ensures my practice remains research-informed and reflective.
My Work Beyond the Therapy Room
I have always believed that effective therapy and advocacy are closely connected. Many of my proudest accomplishments extend beyond the therapy room:
- AAMFT Queer and Trans Advocacy Network (QTAN): I served as Chair from 2023 to 2025, collaborating with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy to influence policy, create resources, and champion the needs of queer and trans clinicians and clients at the national level.
- Gender-Affirming Care Guidelines: I co-edited "Gender-Affirming Care: Guidelines for Working Systemically with Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Expansive Clients" (AAMFT, 2025), providing a key resource for therapists working with trans and gender-expansive individuals and families.
- Research on Substance Use and Appalachian Communities: My peer-reviewed research explores the intersection of substance use, rural mental health, and community factors—especially in Appalachian regions where stigma and limited access cause additional harm. My work appears in Pastoral Psychology and the Journal of Rural Mental Health and has been presented at national conferences like AAMFT and the Appalachian Studies Association.
- Family Therapy Magazine: I have authored articles on topics such as queer-affirming ethics and social justice in systemic practice for Family Therapy Magazine, AAMFT's flagship publication.
- AAMFT Minority Fellowship Program: I was selected as a fellow in both the Youth and Doctoral cohorts and now serve as a mentor to current fellows.