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I have been practicing therapy for the past ten plus years, but let's be honest, I was born a therapist. I have had the opportunity to learn that we all grow together and are blessed to take this mysterious journey in our own unique way. I have lived and learned experience, as well as extensive education and training. I began my adult career as a police officer and then returned to college as an adult learner. I graduated from Keuka College with my BSW and Syracuse University with my MSW and an advanced certification in trauma. I have worked with all ages and population but primarily with addiction, trauma processing, and self-esteem issues.

At the end of the day, I am here to listen, guide, and help you learn the value of your own experiences. I specialize in trauma, addiction, depression, anxiety and mood disorders but I am also familiar with self-harm, self-image, and self-esteem issues. My goal is to help you recognize your worth, set goals, learn coping skills and strategize positive daily living. If you are ready to make moves for a better tomorrow, I am ready to help. I am trained in CBT, mindfulness, DBT, motivational interviewing, with advanced specialties in trauma informed care. Let's change the narrative on tomorrow. I look forward to connecting and working with you!

I am invested in you finding a life worth living. My goal as a therapist is to help clients grow and reach their goals. To allow challenges to help them grow and understand their resilience. My areas of speciality include eating disorders, body image, anxiety, depression, and trauma. My goal is to facilitate clients to live a life that is consistent with each clients’ values, needs and priorities.

Hi, I’m James. I’ve worked as a psychotherapist developing positive client relationships since 2005.

Helping you reduce anxiety levels with breathwork and improve physical health with mindfulness and meditation techniques.

I’ve learned cognitive-behavioral treatments to assist you with overcoming addiction and anger management. And (how to) provide in-depth talk and mental health therapy for children, adolescents, adults, and families.

At Rusk Therapy, each relationship between therapist and patient is individual and implements a variety of treatments. Once a course of action is agreed upon, we’ll approach therapy by incorporating the whole mind-body approach.

That includes the relationship between mental, emotional, and physical health, along with incorporating nutrition, supplements, and exercise. Working together, you can create an improved lifestyle that supports your best life.

The process of a successful therapeutic relationship depends on your effort and our compatibility, along with clear boundaries and feeling safe.

I believe it’s essential to find the right therapist, and doing this takes a phone call, a first session, or a few sessions. I welcome you to schedule a complimentary call to explore a possible therapeutic relationship.

What inspired me to become a psychotherapist? Witnessing the challenges people face in life and being captivated by superheroes as a child. Helping others is my passion—it feels like I'm living my childhood dreams. My experience in state psychiatric centers, working with individuals dealing with severe and persistent mental health issues, solidified my desire to assist those with social and emotional needs. While working as a school counselor was rewarding, I felt compelled to offer more comprehensive services beyond psycho-educational workshops. Pursuing clinical therapy was a natural progression for me. I earned my mental health counseling degree at LIU Post and furthered my expertise with certifications and training in CBT, internal family systems, ACT, and logotherapy. These skills enable me to assist clients with reparenting, anxiety, depression, PTSD, stress management, co-parenting, couples counseling, family therapy, and emotional regulation. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), I bring an interactive and down-to-earth approach to therapy. My goal is to equip you with a practical skill set that promotes growth and fulfillment. I look forward to meeting you and helping you live the life you envision!