Lana James

I’m Lana James, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with training in EMDR. I work with adults and couples who want to better understand themselves, strengthen their relationships, and challenge patterns that may be contributing to unhappiness. My areas of focus include anxiety, depression, self-esteem, identity, sexuality, relationship concerns, and the personal challenges that can arise around college, career, self-care, and life transitions.

I also support couples and partners navigating premarital concerns, newlywed life, parenting, blended families, interracial and interfaith relationships, and ethical non-monogamy. My practice is LGBTQ+ affirming, sex-positive, and kink-informed, and I strive to create an inclusive environment where clients can openly explore their identities, experiences, and relationships.

Using approaches such as ACT, CBT, DBT, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Gottman Method, attachment-based, relational, mindfulness-based, narrative, and somatic therapies, I help clients build on their strengths while developing healthier ways of relating to themselves and others. My goal is to provide an affirming, empowering space where meaningful growth and connection can take place.

My approach is inquisitive, empowering, and affirming. I believe therapy works best when it is collaborative and tailored to the individual or couple rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach. Together, we’ll explore the experiences, beliefs, emotions, and relationship patterns that may be influencing your current challenges while also recognizing the strengths you already bring to the process.

I draw from evidence-based and integrative approaches including ACT, CBT, DBT, IFS, attachment-based therapy, Gottman Method, mindfulness, narrative therapy, schema therapy, relational therapy, and somatic techniques. Depending on your needs, our work may focus on developing coping skills, strengthening communication, improving emotional awareness, challenging unhelpful patterns, or creating deeper and healthier connections.

Whether you’re working through anxiety or depression, exploring identity and sexuality, building self-esteem, or navigating challenges with a partner, I aim to create a space where you feel respected and supported. I’ll work alongside you to help you develop greater insight, strengthen your existing resources, and make changes that feel authentic and sustainable.

In our first session, you can expect a welcoming and collaborative conversation focused on understanding what brings you to therapy and what you hope to gain from our work together. We’ll discuss your current concerns, relevant experiences, strengths, relationships, and goals while beginning to identify patterns that may be contributing to distress or disconnection.

For couples and partners, we’ll begin exploring the relationship dynamics that brought you to therapy, including communication patterns, areas of conflict, strengths within the relationship, and the changes you would like to work toward. For individual clients, we’ll focus on understanding your experiences and identifying the areas where you would most like to see growth or change.

You’ll also have space to ask questions and determine whether our therapeutic relationship feels like a good fit. My goal is for you to leave the first session feeling heard, respected, and supported, with greater clarity about your goals and how we can work together toward meaningful change.