Profile / United States
James Gilligan, LCSW
Florida
LCSW in Florida - Anxiety and Trauma
See online therapy options- CBT methods
- EMDR experience
- Military and veteran focus
About James
James Gilligan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Florida with 20 years of experience. He helps people manage stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem, relationship and intimacy concerns, eating and sleeping problems, parenting strain, anger, career changes, bipolar disorder, depression, and compassion fatigue.
He trained at Florida International University, earning a Master of Social Work in 1998, and became licensed in Florida in 2000. Early in his career he worked in Miami-Dade schools providing individual and group support to students. He later worked with people diagnosed with severe mental illness, including bipolar disorder and major depression.
Since 2007 he has worked with active duty military and veterans, offering individual therapy and support for marital and domestic violence issues. He has experience helping people who grew up in dysfunctional family systems and who carry that trauma into adult relationships and parenting.
His practice includes work with addictions and eating disorders, and he has provided marital counseling using the Gottman Method. James uses a mix of methods in sessions, such as cognitive behavioral approaches, dialectical behavior techniques, attachment-based work, EMDR, and motivational interviewing skills.
Sessions focus on practical steps people can try. He aims to identify unhelpful thoughts and habits, rehearse different responses, and support changes people want to make in daily life.
How his approaches translate to online sessions
James uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice thinking patterns, test smaller behavior changes, and create step-by-step plans for daily life. CBT is practical work that focuses on specific problems like anxiety, sleep disruption, or managing cravings. Attachment-Based Therapy is used to look at how early relationships affect current reactions and connection issues; it focuses on understanding relational patterns and trying new ways of relating. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is offered as a tool to process memories that continue to cause strong emotional reactions, often used for trauma and abuse.Finding the best approach is collaborative. He will review your history and goals and then try methods that fit your needs. That process can include short skill-building exercises, behavioral experiments to try between sessions, or memory-processing work when appropriate.
Confirm current session options before booking. The practical benefits of online work include fitting sessions into a busy routine, avoiding travel time, and allowing shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. Talk with the matching questionnaire responses to clarify which online formats are available and what will work best for you.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
Florida
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does he address most often?
He works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, mood disorders, relationship and intimacy issues, plus eating and sleeping problems.
How does he use CBT in sessions?
He uses cognitive behavioral techniques to identify unhelpful thoughts and habits and then tests new ways of responding in daily life.
What is his professional background?
He earned a Master of Social Work from Florida International University in 1998 and has 20 years of practice experience working in schools, community settings, and with military populations.
What credential does he hold and where does he practice?
He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in Florida and practices from that state.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people from other countries work with him?
He does not accept international clients.
How are session costs handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.