- CBT methods
- DBT skills
- EMDR use
About James
James Gilligan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Florida with 20 years of practice. He helps people who struggle with anger, stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, and parenting stress. He also supports those coping with bipolar disorder, sleep and eating problems, and career challenges.
He trained at Florida International University, completing a Master of Social Work in 1998, and earned his Florida LCSW in 2000. Early work included school-based services in Miami-Dade County where he offered individual, group, and family therapy. That period shaped his practical approach to everyday problems.
From 2007 he worked with active duty military and veterans, focusing on marital concerns, individual therapy for anxiety and PTSD, and helping people who had experienced domestic difficulties. He has experience with severe mental illness including bipolar disorder and major depression and has supported people with schizophrenia.
His practice uses a mix of approaches rather than one fixed method. He draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Client-Centered, and Attachment-Based techniques. Sessions tend to be straightforward and focused on practical skills and steps people can use between meetings.
He also brings experience working with addiction and eating disorder concerns and has trained in Gottman marriage counseling methods. Many people see him when patterns from difficult family histories affect current relationships and behavior.
How his approaches translate to online sessions
Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships affect how people react now. It helps when anger comes from fear of abandonment or from patterns learned in family life. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the person's experience in the room and supports them to find their own solutions. It can help when someone needs a steady space to talk through feelings without pressure.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches concrete skills to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It is often used for anxiety, anger, and depression by breaking down situations and testing different responses. Together these methods can reduce reactivity and build clearer communication habits.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences and together they will pick methods that fit the person's needs. That collaborative decision happens early and can be adjusted as therapy continues.
Session formats are not listed in the provided biography, so confirm the current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. They also make it simpler to keep momentum between sessions by practicing skills in real time and reporting back at the next appointment.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
Florida
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of anger-related problems does he help with?
He works with anger that shows up as losing temper with close people, building resentment, and trouble managing frustration at work or home.
What is his therapeutic style like?
He uses practical, skill-based sessions that draw from CBT and DBT and focuses on changes people can apply between meetings.
How much experience does he have?
He has 20 years of clinical experience, including work in schools and with active duty military and veterans since 2007.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, FL LCSW, and practices in Florida.
Does he offer sessions in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the US work with him?
He does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for?
Costs vary by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.