About James
Dr. James Ruby brings a practical, person-focused approach to counseling. He draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and client-centered methods to help people make choices that match their values.
He speaks plainly and aims to create a calm space where people can talk about relationship strain, grief, anxiety, substance concerns, and life transitions. James is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with 22 years of experience. He practices from Hawaii and offers sessions in English.
How James works
He accepts international clients and works with adults facing issues like career stress, parenting challenges, intimacy concerns, depression, ADHD, and compassion fatigue. His approach balances looking at the past with taking meaningful action in the present. He helps people notice unhelpful thoughts, test new ways of behaving, and commit to steps that reflect their priorities.
Sometimes he suggests brief exercises or short tasks between sessions to build momentum. James pays attention to emotional, cognitive, physical, and spiritual dimensions that affect wellbeing. He aims to help clients recover strengths that can get lost in hard times.
Sessions are delivered through video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs. People who come to James often want clear, down-to-earth guidance and a nonjudgmental setting for hard conversations. He encourages questions and a collaborative pace so each person can find workable next steps.
To begin, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule sessions based on availability.
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.
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Grief
Also listed
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Forgiveness
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Training and background
| Register | LMHC |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 22 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | Hawaii |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
How his approaches work online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take small steps toward those values while learning to live with difficult thoughts and feelings. It is often used for anxiety, depression, life transitions, and persistent stress. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening, empathy, and meeting people where they are so they can explore their goals at their own pace; this approach supports issues like relationship problems, self-esteem, and grief.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. Together they decide which techniques to try and adjust them over time to match progress and changing needs.
Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a quieter voice check-in is preferred. Live chat and text messaging provide brief check-ins, reflection between sessions, or support when scheduling a full session is difficult. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, caregiving, or travel schedules while keeping a steady pace of support.
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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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