James Chia, LGPC

James (he/him) believes that mental health and wellness is a basic right to which all individuals should have access.

In his career, James has worked with individuals from early adolescence to late adulthood, specializing in mental health issues such as mood and anxiety disorders, grief, interpersonal relationships issues, substance use, and issues of oppression in marginalized communities during his time at an LGBTQIA+ outpatient medical center in Baltimore.

Having been an international student, James also seeks to serve individuals from the international community who are facing the challenges of adapting to life abroad.

 As a graduate of the MS (Counseling) program at Johns Hopkins University, James aims to facilitate a safe space for you to process and work through life’s experiences and challenges in a way that honors your cultural needs, values, and identities. From a person-centered, strengths-based, and collaborative approach, James utilizes a range of techniques inspired by the likes of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Adlerian Theory, Mindfulness, and Expressive Arts approaches to support you in your therapeutic journey.

James emphasizes the intersectionality of your identities and roles, and how they interact with the different environments you have in your life, equipping you with the tools and techniques to effectively navigate potential challenges and improve the relationship you have with yourself and others. It is his hope that through therapy, you might align with a more congruent self to face the obstacles life puts in your path and emerge thriving.

James believes that love is what connects us to ourselves and the people around us, and that food is the perfect vessel for conveying that across cultures. In his free time, he enjoys cooking and experimenting with new recipes to share that love with the people in his life.