James Johansen, LCSW

Therapist in California

James Johansen is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people facing relationship strain, grief, LGBTQ concerns, and intimacy-related struggles.

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Licensed inCalifornia
License97882
NPI 1669947966
Experience10+ years
LanguagesEnglish

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check any license with the state board and any NPI with the national registry.

About James

James Johansen is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people facing relationship strain, grief, LGBTQ concerns, and intimacy-related struggles. He brings ten years of practice helping people untangle anger, loneliness, and questions about life purpose. James talks plainly and focuses on what a person needs right now.

He believes clients are the experts in their own stories. Sessions begin by listening closely to what matters most and what feels blocked.

Background and approach

From there he works with each person to set small, practical steps that fit their life. James uses attachment-based ideas to look at how early and current relationships affect present connections. He also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify values and take meaningful action.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy offers tools to spot unhelpful thinking, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills support emotion regulation when intense feelings arise. Work together often involves talking through patterns, trying new ways of communicating, and practicing short exercises between sessions. He supports people dealing with jealousy, commitment questions, non-monogamous arrangements, and issues tied to kink and alternative sexual culture.

James is based in California and holds the LCSW credential, which means he has clinical social work licensure. He offers a straightforward, respectful approach for people who want clearer relationships and more stability in day-to-day life.

Credentials

LCSW (California): License 97882 · expires October 2026
NPI: 1669947966 · national provider identifier

Both are public records. A state board register will confirm a license and its standing, and the national registry will confirm an NPI. This directory copies what the therapist lists and checks neither.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything James lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

LGBT
Relationship issues
Grief
Intimacy-related issues
Anger management
BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
Commitment issues
Communication problems
Control issues
Drug and alcohol addiction
Family problems
Isolation / loneliness
Jealousy
Life purpose
Men's issues
Midlife crisis
Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
Prejudice and discrimination
Self-love
Sex addiction
Sexual dysfunction
Sexuality

Approaches James names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.

Online support

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Attachment-based work looks at how past and present relationships shape current feelings and behaviors. Online sessions can be a place to notice interaction patterns, practice new ways of relating, and reflect on stable connection in everyday life. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people name their values and take small committed steps toward them; online meetings are useful for setting goals and checking progress between sessions. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a nonjudgmental, empathetic listening stance where the therapist follows the person’s lead and supports their own problem-solving. Choosing the right approach is part of the therapy process. The therapist will collaborate with the client to see which methods match their goals, preferences, and the problems they bring. Plans can change over time as needs shift, and methods can be mixed to fit the person. Online formats make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life. Video calls recreate face-to-face conversation, phone sessions work well when video isn’t possible, live chat is good for brief check-ins, and text messaging supports ongoing reflection and quick tools. These options offer flexibility for scheduling, allow shorter or more frequent contacts when useful, and let people choose the format that feels most manageable.

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Frequently asked

What concerns does James commonly help with?

He works with people facing LGBT-related issues, relationship and intimacy problems, grief, anger, and related concerns such as jealousy, commitment issues, and life purpose.

What is his therapeutic style like?

Sessions are client-centered and practical, focusing on listening first, then setting small, achievable steps. He blends attachment perspectives with values work and skills-based strategies.

How much clinical experience does he have?

He has ten years of professional experience helping people with relationship, grief, and emotion regulation challenges.

What are his credentials and location?

He holds a California LCSW, which is a licensed clinical social worker credential, and practices in California.

Can sessions be conducted in other languages or internationally?

Sessions are offered in English only and he is not accepting international clients.

Which session formats are available?

Sessions can be done via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.

How does payment and cost work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the steps to begin therapy?

Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions based on therapist availability.

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