ABOUT DR. JAMES

LET'S TALK

“I have over 25 years of clinical experience helping adults, couples and families work through their difficulties and challenges. I strive to provide a warm, respectful and safe environment for my clients to feel both nurtured and challenged. Together, we explore solutions and strategies for change and healing.
I specialize in couples and sex therapy, relationship issues, sexual abuse, work stress, PTSD, depression, relational problems, parenting difficulties, crisis intervention, acculturation, bicultural and cross cultural issues, victims of crime, grief, life transition and postpartum depression. 
I draw from a variety of theoretical orientations but use an attachment and strength -based approach. I see the positive in my clients, and together we work on healing the underlying issues causing pain in their lives so that they can move to a place of freedom and authentic living.”

— Dr. James, PsyD

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

Dr. James has nearly three decades of clinical experience helping couples, individual adults and families work through their difficulties and challenges. She is particularly honored to help misunderstood and struggling young adults navigate their worlds to find their own internal source of wisdom and healing.

 THERAPEUTIC APPROACH

Dr. Jame's approach to therapy is to highlight clients' strengths, as well as the patterns and relational dynamics that prevent them from living the life they want and deserve to live. She is warm, direct and engaged in session.

Dr. James approach includes Sex Therapy, EMDR, Couples Counseling, Trauma Therapy, Psychodynamic, Family Systems and Humanistic Therapy.

TYPES OF THERAPY

• Relationship Counseling

• Sex Therapy & Intimacy Counseling

• Spiritual Counseling

• Culturally Sensitive Therapy

• POC Informed Therapy

• Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy

• EMDR

• Family Systems

• Humanistic Psychotheray

• Narrative Therapy

• Psychodynamic Therpay

• Strength-Based Approach (not looking at pathology or as being sick)

• Trauma Focused Healing Therapy

MODALITIES

• Individuals

• Couples

• Family

• LGBTQ+

• POC and Interracial Individuals and Couples

San Francisco & East Bay's Leading Couples Counseling, EMDR & Sex Therapy.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

• PTSD

• EMDR

• Sex Therapy

• Couples Therapy

• Physical/emotional abuse

• Sexual abuse

• Depression

• Work stress

• Anger management

• Immigration & acculturation

• Victims of crime

• Blended family

• Divorce issues

• Excessive use of technology

• LGBTQ issues

• POC and Multicultural Issues

• Postpartum depression

• Grief/loss

• Substance abuse

• Group therapy

• Issues

• Codependency

• Depression

• Divorce

• Domestic Abuse

• Domestic Violence

• Drug Abuse

• Gambling

• Grief

• Obesity

• Parenting Issues

• Pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum

• Racial Identity

• Sexual Identity

• Resolving Problematic Relationship Issues

• Healing Sexual Abuse

• Healing Childhood Sexual Abuse

• Sexual Addiction

• Spirituality Issues

• Work and Home Stress

• Weight Loss

• Women's Issues

• Mental Health

• Elderly Persons Disorders

• Mood Disorders

• Aviation Professionals

CLIENT POPILATIONS

• Lesbian Clients

• Transgender Clients

• Bisexual Clients

• Heterosexual Clients

• Gay Clients

• Queer Clients (LGBTQ+)

• Cancer Patients, survivors and family members

• Immigrants

• HIV / AIDS Clients

• People of Color

• Sexual Abuse Survivors

• Veterans

• Individuals and Couples

QUALIFICATIONS

• Licensed Clinical Psychologist

• License No. and State: PSY19963, California

• Trained in many modalities including EMDR/Trauma Therapy, Couples Counseling and Sex Therapy as well as above subspecialties.

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

Dr. James earned a Doctorate and Masters of Arts in clinical psychology from The Wright Institute in Berkeley, California. She holds a Masters of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Francisco and earned a Bachelors of Arts in psychology and sociology from Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

Dr. James also served as an adjunct professor at The Wright Institute's Doctoral program for five years and supervised doctoral candidates.

DR. JAMES'S GROUPS:

WOMEN SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL TRAUMA GROUP

The group provides a safe environment where you can feel heard, supported, and empowered in your journey towards healing. It's time to release shame and guilt and heal by finding your voice and claiming your strength and beauty. * It's time to stop suffering alone and be in a community that believes you, supports you and accepts you. This will be closed group for 12 weeks with a maximum of 10 women. Please call for a 20-minute phone conversation prior to arriving for the first group meeting.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GROUPS

DR. JAMES IS AN EMDR & TRAUMA INFORMED THERAPIST

San Francisco East Bay Clinical Psychologist, Author, Relationship Expert, Couples & Sex Therapist