LMHC, 10 years of experience
Hi there! I’m Avia James, a Licensed Professional Counselor licensed in Pennsylvania and Florida, with over 10 years of experience supporting people through anxiety, life transitions, grief, and relationship challenges. First off, I want to say how proud I am of you for making it this far. Taking that first step toward seeking support can be really tough, and if you’ve done that, you’re already moving in the right direction. If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed by your emotions, or just not quite like yourself lately, you’re in the right place. Together, we’ll explore what’s getting in your way and uncover strengths you might not even realize you have yet. My approach is flexible and tailored to your unique needs and personality, using a variety of evidence-based tools that fit you best. What matters most to me is creating a warm, safe space where you can be honest and authentic without judgment. Therapy is a journey, and I’m here to walk alongside you, offering support, guidance, and practical skills you can use both in and outside of our sessions. Whether it’s learning to manage anxiety, navigating difficult transitions, or working through grief or relationship struggles, I’ll be with you every step of the way. Thank you so much for considering me as your counselor. I truly look forward to getting to know you and being part of your self-growth journey!
In our first session, my main goal is to get to know you—what brings you in, what you’re hoping to work on, and what’s been weighing on you lately. We’ll move at your pace, and there’s no pressure to share everything right away. I’ll ask some questions to better understand your background and what’s been going on, but I’ll also make space for whatever feels most important to you in the moment. Together, we’ll start to build a foundation of trust, identify some goals, and begin shaping a path forward that feels manageable and meaningful to you. My hope is that you leave our first session feeling heard, supported, and a little more hopeful.
What stands out about my approach is how personalized and collaborative it is. I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all method—therapy with me is about finding what works for you. I combine evidence-based techniques like CBT with creative, strengths-based strategies that help you connect the dots and build real, lasting change. I listen closely, adapt along the way, and stay in tune with what resonates most for you. My clients often tell me they appreciate how safe, supported, and genuinely understood they feel in our work together—and that they start to notice meaningful shifts not just in how they feel, but in how they show up in their lives.
I’m best positioned to support both young and older adults who are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected from the version of themselves they want to be. Whether you're in your 20s navigating identity, relationships, and big life choices—or you're later in life facing transitions, loss, or a desire to reconnect with your purpose—I’m here to walk alongside you. Many of my clients come in feeling anxious, emotionally drained, or unsure of how to move forward. Together, we’ll explore what’s weighing you down and work toward creating more clarity, calm, and confidence. I offer a warm, nonjudgmental space where you can show up as you are and begin to shift what's no longer serving you. If you’re looking to better understand yourself, manage your emotions, or simply feel more at peace in your own skin, I’d be honored to support you.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been a core part of my clinical work throughout my career. With over 10 years of experience, I’ve used CBT across a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma-related symptoms, and life transitions. What I appreciate most about CBT is its structured yet flexible approach—it allows clients to develop insight into how their thoughts influence emotions and behavior while also learning concrete skills to manage distress and shift unhelpful patterns. In practice, I often begin with psychoeducation to help clients understand the CBT model and how it applies to their unique situation. From there, I collaborate with them to identify core beliefs, automatic thoughts, and cognitive distortions that might be contributing to their distress. Depending on their goals, I may incorporate behavioral experiments, thought records, exposure tasks, or behavioral activation techniques. While CBT is evidence-based and goal-oriented, I always tailor it to fit the individual’s pace, preferences, and cultural background. I also integrate it with other modalities when appropriate—such as mindfulness-based approaches, acceptance work, or psychodynamic insight—to ensure the work feels both effective and meaningful. Ultimately, I find that CBT empowers clients to become their own therapists between sessions, which leads to lasting change and greater self-efficacy.