“When you sit with me, you get the same person you’d get watching a football game with friends.”
Alfred Thomas, Jr., Licensed Professional Counselor Talk to me for 15 minutes, free
Straight answers
I'm personable, transparent and direct, so here are the things most people want to know first.
- What does it cost?
$120 for a 60-minute session, $100 for 45. The first conversation is free. Every rate is listed here.
- Do you take insurance?
Some plans, for individual therapy. If you pay out of pocket, I'll give you a superbill to send to your insurer.
- Are you going to tell me what to do?
No. I work best with people who want a partner in improving their well-being, not someone to hand them instructions.
- Do I have to come in?
No, everything is online. You need to be in Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa confirm Iowa, South Carolina, Vermont or Washington State during your session, and be 16 or older.
- Will hypnotherapy make me lose control?
The opposite. It's about gaining control at a subconscious level. Here's what it really is.
Let's normalize therapy. Especially for Black men, who deserve a therapist who understands their lived experience.
That's a commitment I make as a Black male therapist with over 18 years in this work. I welcome clients of every background. More about me.
Fifteen minutes. No charge.
A short conversation to see whether we're a fit. You'll know pretty quickly.
Book a free consultationI was supposed to be a software engineer.
That was the plan when I started college. Then I met calculus. Truthfully, I was not good at it, and I struggled just to pass.
So I pivoted to psychology, which had always interested me. That turn led me to becoming a licensed mental health professional, and more than 18 years later I'm still glad calculus won.
What you get in session
I tell every client the same thing: you're getting my true personality. The same one you'd get if you saw me out with friends watching a football game. I'm personable, I'm transparent, and I'm direct.
You won't get a therapist who nods and asks how that makes you feel for 45 minutes. You'll get honest feedback from someone in your corner.
How I work
I draw on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and clinical hypnotherapy. In plain terms: we look at how your thoughts, feelings and choices connect, we figure out what you actually want to change, and you leave with tools you can use between sessions.
When I'm not working
I'm with family and friends. I'm a huge Clemson football fan and catch games whenever I can. I also game from time to time.
Alfred
For William.
DRAFT: needs Alfred's OK to publish, and his own words
Big Oak Counseling and Consulting is named in honor of my best friend and first cousin, William E. Ladson, Jr., who passed away in 2020 after a battle with colorectal cancer.
Alfred: why "Big Oak"? Was it a nickname, or what he was to the people around him? Two or three sentences about who William was.
Optional: how losing him shapes the way you work with grief, and with men who put off getting help.
The practice
Big Oak is a fully virtual practice. It exists to make good therapy easier to reach: no commute, no waiting room, and no guessing about cost.
Consulting: is this a current offering? If yes, one paragraph on who it's for. If not, we drop it.
Practical work on real problems.
I work with individuals ages 16 and older, and with couples. Everything is online, from wherever you have privacy and a decent connection.
- Anxiety and stressWe look at the patterns of worry, avoidance and pressure, and build ways to respond differently.
- DepressionUnderstand what's keeping you stuck and take workable steps out of it.
- Trauma and PTSDRoom for hard experiences, at a pace that respects what you need.
- GriefLoss doesn't run on a schedule. We work with where you are.
- AngerLearn what's underneath it and what to do with it.
- Addiction, phobias and life transitionsChange is easier with a plan and someone holding you to it.
Who I work best with
My ideal client isn't looking for someone to tell them what to do. They want a partnership, they're open to self-reflection, and they want practical tools.
How it goes
- A free 15-minute consultation. We talk, you get a feel for my personality, and we decide whether it's a fit.
- A 60-minute intake. We go through what's bringing you in and set goals.
- Ongoing sessions. 45 or 60 minutes, by secure video.
Hypnotherapy isn't what you've seen on stage.
You lose control.
You gain control, at a subconscious level.
I'm a Board-Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist. I use hypnotherapy alongside talk therapy to reach the patterns that sit underneath conscious thought, most often for trauma, phobias and anxiety.
Other uses? Smoking, sleep, performance. Only list what you actually treat.
What a session looks like
Alfred: walk through one 60-minute session start to finish. What does the client do, what do you do, are they awake, will they remember it, does it work over video?
Getting started
Hypnotherapy has its own free 30-minute consultation, so you can ask anything before committing. Sessions are 60 minutes at $200, or three prepaid sessions for $550.
What it costs.
No "contact me for pricing." These are my self-pay rates, in full.
| Service | Length | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Therapy consultation | 15 minutes | Free |
| Hypnotherapy consultation | 30 minutes | Free |
| Initial intake evaluation | 60 minutes | $150 |
| Individual therapy | 45 minutes | $100 |
| Individual therapy | 60 minutes | $120 |
| Couples therapy | 60 minutes | $200 |
| Hypnotherapy | 60 minutes | $200 |
| Prepaid hypnotherapy package | Three 60-minute sessions | $550 |
The fine print, in plain English
- Insurance
I accept select plans for individual therapy. List plans by name; note any that are state-specific
I don't accept insurance for couples therapy. Hypnotherapy: self-pay only?
- Superbills
If you're paying out of pocket and want out-of-network reimbursement, I'll give you a superbill to submit to your insurer.
- Cancellations
Cancel at least 24 hours before your session starts. After that, you're charged the full session fee.
- Good Faith Estimate
If you're uninsured or not using insurance, you have the right to an estimate of what your care will cost. See cms.gov/nosurprises.
Sliding scale or reduced-fee spots: yes or no? If no, we say nothing.
Let's talk first.
It's free and there's no obligation. You get a feel for my personality, and we decide together whether working with me makes sense.
- Pick a time. 15 minutes for therapy, 30 for hypnotherapy.
- Tell me the basics. A few details about you, the state you're in, and whether you plan to use insurance or self-pay.
- We meet by video. Ask me anything.
Choose a time LINK: his secure booking / client portal URL
Rather call? (803) 995-0933
Your information goes through a secure client portal, not through this website.