ABOUT JAMES
Meet your therapist
I Love Stories
I believe in the healing power of stories. Once you really understand yourself and your story, you can take control of your life and find fulfillment. And there is no mythic adventure more heroic than a love story.
I grew up in DFW and learned from a young age that mental health problems don't care how much money you have. Most of the friends and loved ones I've gotten close to in my life have been high-functioning perfectionists who struggle with depression or anxiety.
I've often found myself as a trusted confidant to them, since I've always been good at keeping secrets. In return, they’ve taught me how to be generous, compassionate, and goal-oriented. Even still, I’ve always struggled with self-compassion.
My Love Story
Participating in couples counseling as a client opened my heart. In spite of our occasional gritted teeth, my wife and I learned in therapy how to support one another more effectively, while still honoring ourselves and our own pain. We learned how to take true accountability without dissolving into shame. And in experiencing one another’s love, we learned how to love ourselves more fully and to live better.
Love Stories Counseling is my answer to all those friends and loved ones who have helped shape me into the optimist I am today: I understand first-hand that if you can own your authentic story and share it with your partner, they will probably accept you as you are, win or lose. And as Brené Brown says,"When you own your story, you get to write the ending."
Love is contagious. My personal relationship counseling experience helped me understand that loving yourself allows you to become healthier and feel more fulfilled, which makes a person want to pay that generosity forward to make the world a better place. And I aim to pay it forward.
My Career
I began my counseling career in 2017 as an addiction and trauma recovery specialist at an inpatient rehab. I then transitioned into private practice in 2018, where I developed specializations in EMDR, betrayal and sexual trauma recovery, LGBTQ issues, and providing therapy to other mental health therapists.
I earned my Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from University of North Texas, and my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Dallas. My education emphasized phenomenological studies and humanistic psychology.
My Approach
My sex therapy approach is grounded in the latest scientific research findings, as reported by Emily Nagoski (Come As You Are) and Lori Brotto (Better Sex Through Mindfulness). Their work takes complex ideas and makes them simple and actionable, so that you can make effective changes in your life.
My general counseling approach is grounded in Gestalt therapy, which means I prioritize helping you build self-awareness so you’ll have more power to make the choices you want to make in the future. And at my heart, I am a trauma recovery therapist: Treating old wounds is what usually lets people get out of their own way so they can accomplish their goals.
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I tend to implement “parts work” using a model similar to internal family systems (IFS). I also employ mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), as well as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to teach you effective tools for regulating your nervous system and emotions. I can help you take accountability without taking too much or too little responsibility, and I can help you develop and maintain healthy boundaries in your relationships.
My Personal Life
I am a huge geek and nerd. I’m a Dungeon Master, and I’ve been playing Dungeons & Dragons since I was 13 years old. I meet regularly with a group of friends where we tell heroic stories together, saving the world from evildoers and discovering magical secrets. I spend a lot of time reading D&D source books for inspiration. My favorite video game is Final Fantasy VIII, and my favorite board game (other than D&D) is Root. I love science fiction, fantasy, and super heroes, and I try my best to keep up with films and TV shows in these genres.
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I am also a musician and artist. I used to produce and facilitate artist development workshops as well as mixed media performances for the Dallas arts community. I even released an album in 2019 with my band Jean Connery. These days I’m diving deep into audio production in my home studio, and I hope to release more music over the next few years.
Now Let's Hear Your Story
If you've read this far, there's probably a good vibe here, and you should book a consultation with me! You can do that by clicking the button below, by filling out the form at the bottom of this page, or you can email or call me at (469) 759-0253.
Thank you for taking the time to read this far, and for taking these brave steps toward growth and recovery. I’m looking forward to helping you write the next chapter of your story together.