Hi! I'm James McLaughlin, I'm a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. Located in the city of Sacramento. I work with individuals, couples, and families who are looking for help navigating the challenges of life. I focus on getting to the core of what may be getting in the way of fulfillment and work actively and collaboratively to re-write your life story. I'm warm and welcoming. I believe everyone deserves compassion and a helping hand. I can also be direct and challenging. My goal is to create an environment to encourage growth and change. After working a career in sales and marketing, I pursued a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology and became licensed as a Marriage & Family Therapist. Since then, I've helped populations cope with life's challenges such as trauma, addiction, grief, depression, and anxiety. My specialty is in helping people take control of the narratives of their own lives, to write the future they want to tell. In my spare time, I can usually be found running, wine tasting with my wife Sarah, and playing with my young son Dean, and dog, Noah.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In short, whatever you want! This is your time. Nobody knows you better than you. Since you likely have some goals that you want to get out of therapy, we’ll start there and work backward toward what’s standing in your way, what got you to where you are, and how you can move forward.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
My approach of choice is Narrative Therapy, which separates the person from the problem, and allows people to understand the power of narratives in their lives. A simple example may be a narrative casting you as the victim vs. a narrative casting you as in control. However, I am able to draw upon several clinical theories to suit my client's experiences and goals.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
In plain terms, I'm a generalist and am comfortable working with most situations, problems, and populations. I have extensive experience in grief and life transitions. If we're not the right fit, I can help point you in the direction of someone who may be a better fit.