

Browse 8372 therapists in California.
Hi, I’m a therapist who believes you don’t have to navigate life’s challenges alone. My approach is client-centered, meaning we’ll work together to focus on your goals and what matters most to you. I strive to create a safe, supportive space where you feel comfortable being open and truly heard. Whether you’re dealing with stress, depression, trauma, grief, anxiety, or life transitions, I’m here to walk alongside you every step of the way.
Are you struggling to have harmony in your relationships? Does having ease in your life seem like a far-fetched dream? Are you feeling overwhelmed with the state of the world and all you have to do? Welcome, you're in the right place! I have been in your shoes and the first (or twenty) step is always the hardest. As someone who has learned to balance multiple cultures, I know what it can feel like to straddle various parts of your identity. I have first hand experienced feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, angry, and at a complete loss for how to navigate the intensity of my emotions. This has informed my practice and work with clients where I strongly believe that our emotions guide us to understanding ourselves in a new light. Asking for help can be difficult, especially in a culture that values productivity over personality.
Do you feel overwhelmed, scattered, or stuck in cycles of anxiety and procrastination in your relationships, parenting, or work? Many adults I work with—queer and straight—lose track of time, underestimate tasks, and struggle to quiet their minds. This can lead to emotional reactivity with loved ones and lingering guilt or self-doubt without knowing why. These patterns are often linked to ADHD. I’m James Sharkey, LMFT in California. I believe ADHD isn’t a personal failure, but a gap in understanding how your brain works. Together, we build tools for focus, emotional regulation, and a more balanced, meaningful life.
As an African American social worker educated in Alabama, I bring both cultural awareness and a deeply grounded, compassionate approach to my practice. My goal is to create a safe, affirming space where clients can explore their experiences, build resilience, and move toward meaningful change.
My style is collaborative, empathetic, and empowering—I believe in meeting clients where they are while helping them identify their strengths and develop practical tools for growth. I draw on evidence-based practices through a trauma-informed and person-centered lens, supporting clients in navigating challenges such as anxiety, depression, life transitions, identity, and recovery.
Having trained and practiced in diverse communities, I understand the importance of cultural context, lived experience, and social environment in shaping one’s well-being. Whether you’re seeking support for personal growth, healing from trauma, or strengthening coping strategies, I’m here to walk alongside you in the process of building a more balanced and fulfilling life.
When I was a kid, I often got in trouble for being too loud with asking questions and calling adults out on things that didn’t seem fair to me. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been an advocate of some kind. A career in social work, then, made total sense to me when I discovered the field as an undergraduate at San Jose State.
Two more degrees and a license later, I still carry the spirit of that little girl, fighting for the underserved. I have a long history of diagnosing and treating adults with severe and chronic mental illness. I take my work very seriously and it’s important to me to help my clients heal, grow, and thrive.
My clients seek my services as a way to recuperate from lifetimes of overworking themselves into worthiness. I guide them toward unlearning the things that taught them they weren’t enough. I give them the tools they need to create wellness and wholeness in a way that’s unique to who they are.
Through my private practice and my brand, Therapy is a Lifestyle, I want to help you see yourself in new ways - without the lens of your trauma. I specialize in anxiety disorders, EMDR, and other trauma-informed approaches to help you do that.
Let’s take the journey toward your recovery, together. Being here is your first step!


Headway makes it easy to find support for your mental health — from finding the right provider, to understanding costs, to scheduling with ease.