CBT Therapist Directory

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James Gilligan, LCSW

LCSW specializing in trauma and addiction
  • Trauma and addiction care
  • Military and family focus
  • Gottman marriage training

About James Gilligan

James Gilligan is an LCSW - a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - with a long track record of supporting people through complex emotional and behavioral challenges. He holds a Master of Social Work from Florida International University, completed in 1998, and became licensed in Florida in 2000. Early in his career he worked within the Miami-Dade County school system, providing individual, group, and family therapy for children and adolescents.

Over time his practice expanded to include work with people experiencing severe mental illness, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depression. Since 2007 he has worked with active duty military members, offering marital counseling and individual therapy for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and related concerns. He has also worked with service members who faced domestic violence issues.

Gilligan has particular experience helping people who carry patterns from dysfunctional family systems into adulthood, and he has supported clients dealing with addictions and eating disorders. He has provided marital counseling and received training in Gottman Marriage Counseling. His clinical toolkit includes evidence-based methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and motivational interviewing, and he emphasizes practical strategies that help clients make meaningful changes in their lives.

Areas of Expertise

Also Specializes In

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderDepressionCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue

Additional Focus Areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesCodependencyCommunication problemsVeteran and Armed Forces Issues

Therapeutic Approach

Attachment-Based Therapy Client-Centered Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Gottman Method Mindfulness Therapy Motivational Interviewing

Frequently Asked Questions

How much experience does James Gilligan have?

James Gilligan has 20 years of experience.

Is James Gilligan a licensed therapist?

Yes. He holds the credential LCSW, which stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker. License details - FL LCSW SW6196.

In which languages does James Gilligan provide therapy?

James Gilligan provides therapy in English.

Where is James Gilligan located?

He is located in Florida.

How can I work with James Gilligan as my therapist?

You can work with James Gilligan through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.

Does James Gilligan work with international clients?

James Gilligan does not currently work with international clients.

How much does therapy with James Gilligan cost?

The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, just click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.

How can I get started with therapy?

Getting started with therapy is quick and straightforward. Just click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.

Therapeutic approaches and online care with James Gilligan

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early relationships shape emotions and expectations in current relationships. It helps people understand patterns of closeness, abandonment, and codependency and supports rebuilding healthier ways of relating. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; it offers practical skills to manage anxiety, depression, unhealthy habits, and stress by changing unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, EMDR, is a trauma-focused approach that helps people process distressing memories and reduce their emotional intensity, which can be useful for PTSD and other trauma-related symptoms.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. James Gilligan will work with clients to assess needs, goals, and preferences and tailor a plan that may combine these methods. Licensed professionals and therapists often integrate techniques to match each person's situation rather than relying on a single model.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can be scheduled as video calls or phone sessions, and some conversations can take place via live chat or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care around work, family, and other commitments while accessing evidence-informed therapeutic support.

Ready to start therapy with James Gilligan?

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