About James
James Johansen is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people facing relationship strain, LGBTQ concerns, grief, and intimacy issues. He speaks plainly and aims to make the first step feel doable. He brings ten years of professional experience to sessions and focuses on practical change over jargon.
James works with people struggling with anger, isolation, jealousy, or questions about commitment. He also supports those exploring kink, BDSM, or non-traditional relationship styles, and people wrestling with life purpose or midlife shifts.
Background and approach
He meets clients where they are and looks for small, manageable ways to reduce daily stress. In sessions he centers the person’s own knowledge of their life. He listens first, then helps identify patterns that get in the way.
Together they try out different ways of coping, communicating, and setting boundaries that fit real life. James draws on approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment-based ideas, and cognitive-behavioral techniques. That mix helps with managing emotions, improving communication, and making clearer choices about relationships and values.
He offers video, phone, chat, and text-based options so people can pick what fits their schedule. James practices in California and conducts sessions in English. He aims for a respectful, straightforward style that focuses on concrete next steps.
How James’ approaches translate to online therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying values and taking small actions that matter. It helps people move toward a life they value even when difficult feelings show up. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early connection patterns affect present relationships and helps people build clearer expectations and safer ways of relating. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks down unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and offers practical tools to change them, which can ease anxiety, anger, and communication problems.Finding the right approach is part of the work. James will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what feels useful. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as progress is made, keeping the process collaborative and goal-focused.
Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video calls are useful for full conversations and visual cues. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for a shorter check-in. Live chat and texting work well for brief reflections, day-to-day support, or when typing feels more comfortable. These options help fit therapy into busy schedules and different life demands.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Also works with
- Anger management
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Family problems
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sexuality
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Existential Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
- Systemic Therapy
- Experience
- 10 years
- Licensed
- California
- Languages
- English