About James
Dr. James Chavers helps people who are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stuck in a relationship, or coping with big life changes. He is straightforward and warm, and he aims to create a calm space where people can talk, make sense of hard moments, and try new ways of coping.
He is a California psychologist and holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from Antioch University Santa Barbara. Dr. Chavers has nine years of professional experience in a range of settings.
How James works
His background includes work in jails and prisons, community health clinics, and college counseling centers. His practice addresses concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma and abuse, grief, sleep problems, anger, and self-esteem. He also supports people with sexuality and gender concerns including LGBT issues and gender dysphoria, as well as intimacy-related topics and alternative sexual cultures like BDSM and kink.
Dr. Chavers uses a mix of practical methods to suit each person. He commonly draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, cognitive behavioral approaches, mindfulness practices, client-centered methods, and motivational interviewing.
Sessions focus on what matters to the person, building skills, and taking small steps toward goals. People who choose him can expect a respectful, nonjudgmental style that also offers honest feedback when needed. He describes therapy as a collaborative effort and aims to stand alongside clients as they work through challenges and transitions.
James lists 7 ways of working on the entry:
What James works with
The areas below are the ones James selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
- Stress, Anxiety
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
Also listed
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Anger management
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Bipolar disorder
- Body image
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Co-morbidity
- Communication problems
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- Grief
- HIV / AIDS
- Immigration issues
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexuality
- Sleeping disorders
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Training and background
| Register | CA Psychologist |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 9 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | California |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
Approaches that translate well to online care
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy focuses on identifying what matters most to a person and taking committed steps toward those values. It can help with anxiety, depression, and coping with life transitions by teaching people to notice thoughts and act despite them. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people find and test unhelpful thinking patterns and build new behaviors. It is useful for anxiety, sleep problems, mood concerns, and managing strong emotions. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and improve focus; it pairs well with both ACT and CBT for stress and emotion regulation.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will listen to your goals, preferences, and daily life, and then suggest strategies to try. That process is collaborative and may include mixing methods so the plan fits your needs.
Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to match different needs. Video is useful for deeper conversation and visual connection. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or for a shorter check-in. Live chat and text messaging let people share thoughts between sessions and fit therapy into busy schedules. These options make it easier to keep continuity of care and to fit sessions around work, family, and other commitments.
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Common questions
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A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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