Licensed to practice in California and accepts 9 insurances. Specializes in Addiction, Anxiety, Depression and 7 more.

Dr. James Bakst, Psy.D.

(he/him)

LP, 15 years of experience
No reviews yet

New to Grow

VirtualAvailable

About me

I am a licensed psychologist with extensive experience working with adults experiencing a wide range of mental health, relationship, stress, and life-transition concerns. My approach is practical, collaborative, and individualized, drawing primarily from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, trauma-informed care, supportive psychotherapy, and skills-based interventions. I strive to provide a comfortable and nonjudgmental space where clients can better understand the patterns affecting their lives, develop effective coping strategies, and make meaningful, lasting changes.

Get to know me

In our first session together, here's what you can expect

In our first session, you can expect a relaxed and collaborative conversation focused on getting to know you, what brings you to therapy, and what you would like to work on. We will talk about your current concerns, relevant background, and goals for treatment, while also giving you an opportunity to ask questions and decide whether my approach feels like a good fit for you.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

I bring a calm, practical, and nonjudgmental approach to therapy, along with the ability to connect with people from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences. I am direct when needed, but also compassionate and collaborative, and I try to balance insight and reflection with concrete strategies clients can actually use in their day-to-day lives.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

My ideal client is an adult who may be dealing with anxiety, depression, stress, relationship difficulties, life transitions, or simply feeling stuck and wanting things to be different. I work best with clients who are open to looking at their thoughts, behaviors, and patterns, willing to consider different perspectives, and interested in developing practical tools they can use outside of therapy. You do not need to have everything figured out, but being willing to engage in the process and work toward meaningful change is important.

Specialties

Top specialties

Other specialties

Bipolar Disorder

Identifies as

Man

Serves ages

Teenagers (13 to 17)

Licensed in

Location

Virtual

My treatment methods

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

I use CBT to help clients identify how their thoughts and beliefs influence their emotions and behavior, particularly when those thinking patterns are inaccurate, rigid, or unhelpful. I work with clients to challenge those patterns, develop more balanced ways of thinking, and practice practical coping and problem-solving skills they can use outside of therapy.

Motivational Interviewing

I utilize Motivational Interviewing to address ambivalence and increase insight, psychoeducation to improve understanding of mental illness and risk, and concrete behavioral or coping-skills work to help clients manage symptoms, stress, interpersonal conflict, and relapse warning signs.

Trauma Informed Care

I use trauma-informed care by recognizing how past traumatic experiences may affect a client’s current emotions, behavior, relationships, and responses to treatment. I try to provide a safe, respectful, and collaborative environment while avoiding unnecessary re-traumatization and helping clients develop greater stability, coping skills, and a sense of control.

New to Grow
This provider hasn’t received any written reviews yet. We started collecting written reviews January 1, 2025.