About James
James Gilligan is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in Florida who helps people manage stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma, grief, and mood concerns. He has two decades of clinical experience and aims to make therapy practical and straightforward for people feeling overwhelmed. He uses clear, talk-based sessions where clients set goals and develop steps to reach them.
He listens for patterns from early relationships and current life that keep problems going.
How James works
Treatment focuses on skills people can use between sessions to improve mood, sleep, and communication. Gilligan trained at Florida International University, earning a master’s degree in social work, and became licensed in Florida in 2000. Early in his career he provided individual and group work in schools and later worked with people who had serious mental illness and mood disorders.
Since 2007 he has worked with active duty military and has experience addressing marital concerns, anxiety, depression, PTSD symptoms, domestic violence, and issues connected to dysfunctional family systems. He also supports people facing eating disorders and substance use challenges. His clinical approach draws on attachment-based ideas, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, EMDR, and a client-centered stance.
Sessions tend to blend practical skill teaching with attention to how past relationships shape present feelings and behaviors. People who choose him typically want clear steps, steady listening, and tools to cope with life changes, relationship strain, parenting stress, or work-related pressures.
James lists 8 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.
Also listed
- Abandonment
- Anger management
- Attachment issues
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Coaching
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Sleeping disorders
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
Training and background
| Register | LCSW |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 20 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | Florida |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
Therapeutic approaches and online options
Attachment-based therapy looks at how early relationships shape current feelings and behavior. It helps people understand patterns like abandonment, codependency, or difficulty trusting others and then practice different ways of relating.Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, focuses on the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It teaches concrete skills to change unhelpful thinking and behavior, which can reduce anxiety, depression, and problematic habits.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will review symptoms, goals, and preferences and then recommend one or a mix of methods. This collaborative process helps tailor sessions to what a person needs at that time.
Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video sessions allow face-to-face conversation for in-depth work, phone calls can be easier when bandwidth is limited, live chat supports shorter check-ins, and messaging lets someone continue work between sessions. These options make it possible to fit therapy into busy days, travel, or different schedules while keeping the focus on practical change and skill building.
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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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