- Focus on sleep and rest
- Skills for daily life
- Evidence-informed approaches
About James
James Gilligan is an LCSW based in Florida who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar symptoms, and problems with sleep and eating. He also supports people dealing with trauma, addiction, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, codependency, and parenting strain. He has two decades of clinical experience and practical skills aimed at helping people make real changes.
He earned a Master of Social Work from Florida International University and became licensed in Florida in 2000. Early in his career he provided individual, group, and family therapy in Miami-Dade schools. Later work included supporting people with severe mental illness and those living with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depression.
Since 2007 he has worked with active duty military and veterans, focusing on marital concerns, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and domestic violence issues. He draws on experience with dysfunctional family systems and how early attachments can shape adult relationships.
In sessions he uses practical, evidence-informed methods. He integrates Attachment-Based work, Client-Centered methods, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing when appropriate. He also uses motivational interviewing to support change.
People can expect straightforward, goal-focused conversations. The therapist emphasizes skills people can try between sessions and helps them track small steps forward. He aims to make therapy understandable and usable for daily life.
How his approaches translate to online work
Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships affect current connections and feeling safe with others. Online sessions can use this approach to untangle patterns that affect sleep, intimacy, and family interactions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches practical tools to change unhelpful patterns. CBT is often used to address anxiety, sleep problems, and low mood with clear strategies and homework to practice between sessions.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped in the past to determine which methods to try. This is a collaborative process and approaches can be adjusted as needs change.
Confirm the current session options before booking so you know what formats are offered. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. It also lets people use written or video-based tools between meetings to practice skills and track sleep or mood changes without requiring extra travel.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Credentials
Florida
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does this therapist address?
He supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar symptoms, sleep and eating problems, trauma, addictions, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting strain, and related concerns such as attachment and codependency.
What is his therapeutic style like?
He works in a straightforward, practical way and focuses on skills people can use between sessions. Conversations are goal-oriented and tailored to everyday life.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has 20 years of experience, including school-based work, care for people with severe mental illness, and a long history of work with active duty military and veterans since 2007.
What are his credentials and where does he practice?
He holds a Master of Social Work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, licensed in Florida and practices in Florida.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the country work with him?
He is not accepting international clients at this time.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin therapy with him?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.