About James
James Judkins is a licensed independent social worker (LISW) practicing in Iowa with 38 years of clinical experience. He focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and other intense emotions. His work also reaches concerns like sleep and eating problems, grief, and questions about life purpose.
Across a long career, he has supported people dealing with panic, obsessive-compulsive patterns, and post-traumatic stress. He also addresses issues tied to intimacy, relationships, parenting strain, and career transitions.
How James works
He brings practical strategies aimed at clearer thinking and steadier emotion. In sessions he uses approaches that include acceptance and commitment methods, cognitive behavioral techniques, dialectical behavior tools, and mindfulness practices. Trauma-focused methods are used when past events are central to current problems.
The aim is to match techniques to what a person needs in the moment. His style is direct but warm. He helps people name what is happening, try manageable skills, and track what works.
He encourages small, steady steps toward better coping and clearer goals. James also works with issues related to veterans and end-of-life concerns, and offers help around forgiveness and building self-love. He offers phone, video, chat, and text-based sessions to fit different schedules and communication styles.
James lists 5 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
- Trauma and abuse
- Anger management
Also listed
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Family conflicts
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Intimacy-related issues
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sleeping disorders
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
Training and background
| Register | LISW |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 38 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | Iowa |
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 care
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them and choosing actions that match what matters to a person. It helps with anxiety, depression, and finding direction when values feel unclear.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns. It is often used for panic, phobias, obsessive-compulsive patterns, and mood problems.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete tools for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improving interpersonal effectiveness. It can be useful when emotions feel overwhelming or when people need step-by-step skills to steady reactions.
Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will listen to a person's concerns, goals, and preferences, and then suggest methods to try. They will adjust the plan based on what helps most over time.
Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions allow face-to-face conversation and screen sharing when helpful. Phone sessions work when less bandwidth or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and messaging let people check in between sessions or use written tools if that fits their style. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and different daily routines.
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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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