James Anacker, LMHC

About me

Thank you for considering my counseling services. I have experience providing counseling to those trying to find their way in the world. I also have experience counseling adults of all ages and those with disabilities. I am trained to provide group counseling and individual counseling. My intentions are to use evidence-based techniques as my foundation for working with you. In some ways I am more of a classical counselor implementing psychotherapy techniques such as existentialism and person centered. I like to take time to go deep and try to get to the root of problems, but at the same time I am able to use quicker methods which are also evidence based. I feel like shorter therapy may be a quick fix, but a structural and foundational change is more achievable through longer interventions. It does not have to be an either/or. We can go both long and short, but I offer no guarantees that my services will be a success. I will say any therapist that says their techniques work always are simply not being upfront. My intention is to always be upfront and honest with you. This may include me admitting that my skills and experience are not a good fit, even after we have worked together a bit. However, you needing to see someone else is possible, it does not often come to that, but it is possible.

My highest degree is a Masters degree in Counseling from Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado. I have worked the last three years with families, parents, and individuals needing support with mostly situations of domestic chaos and family struggles. This is interesting work with a variety of issues, and it has really kept me on my toes. I feel like I have seen a little bit of everything, but I would like to work more with individuals trying to find meaning in their lives among the chaos. Before my current practice, I worked as a school counselor for two years, where I encountered a wide spectrum of mental illnesses. I worked for a nonprofit disability agency which aided people with disabilities in finding success in work. I worked as a Registered Behavioral Technician to provide in home therapy to youths 21 and under who need behavioral services. I am also a National Board Certified Counselor, having met the requirements to receive this distinction. In my private practice I work mostly with people with family issues. Therapy is not easily described in general statements. There are many different methods I may use to deal with the problems that you hope to address. My theoretical orientation is existential and collaborative. I often talk about movies, books, and tv- so if you are into culture, I may be a good fit. I regularly am reading counseling literature and research to improve my skills.

I also have an orientation towards wellness and whole-ism vs just overcoming illness and compartmentalizing problems. I don't want you to just live better, but I want you to thrive and be in a position to often enjoy life. Life will always be tough as a human, but if we examine how we think about it and relate to life it can often, but not always, make a big difference for the better.

Professional experience

Additional areas of focus: Addictions, Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse, Grief, Intimacy-related issues, Sleeping disorders, Anger management, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, Adoption and Foster Care, Aging and Geriatric Issues, Attachment Issues, Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Blended Family Issues, Body Image, Caregiver Issues and Stress, Communication Problems, Control Issues, Divorce and Separation, Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Emptiness, Expats, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Fatherhood Issues, Fertility Issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and Shame, Immigration Issues, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Intellectual Disability, Isolation/Loneliness, Jealousy, Life Purpose, Men's Issues, Midlife Crisis, Money and Financial Issues, Mood Disorders, Multicultural Concerns, Narcissism, Obsessions, Compulsions, and OCD, Panic Disorder and Panic Attacks, Paranoia, Pregnancy and Childbirth, Prejudice and Discrimination, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Self-Love, Sexuality, Social Anxiety and Phobia, Workplace Issues, Young Adult Issues

Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Existential Therapy, Gottman Method, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic Therapy

License information

WA LMHC 61086334

Reviews

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