James Finkelstein

I'm a psychologist who doesn't believe in therapy that spins its wheels. I've worked with adults for over two decades — through addiction, grief, anxiety, trauma, and the complicated stuff that doesn't have a clean label. I'm direct, I don't dance around things, and I use humor when it helps move things forward. Most of my clients come in having already tried something else. My job is to figure out why that didn't stick and do something different. I work in Baltimore in person and virtually across Maryland and Psypact-authorized states.

My work is grounded in ACT and IFS — not because they're trendy, but because they address the root of what keeps people stuck rather than just managing symptoms. I'm active in sessions: I don't wait for insight to arrive on its own. We identify the patterns driving the problem, work on them directly, and move at a pace that challenges you without overwhelming you. I also draw from DBT, Motivational Interviewing, and mindfulness where it fits. The goal is a therapy that actually changes something, not one that feels comfortable indefinitely.

Our first session is a real conversation, not an intake checklist. I want to know what's actually going on, what you've already tried, and what a genuine win would look like for you. I'll be direct about whether I think I can help. And if I can, we'll start building an actual plan in session one. You won't be waiting until week six to feel like something is happening..