James Votaw, LMHC
Massachusetts · 18 years in practice
James Votaw is a licensed mental health counselor practicing in Massachusetts.
License and registration
- LMHC, Massachusetts
- 7554 · expires December 2027
- NPI
- 1477676872 · national provider identifier
- Years in practice
- 18
- Languages
- English, Japanese
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the license with the issuing state board, and the NPI with the national registry.
About James
James Votaw is a licensed mental health counselor practicing in Massachusetts. He holds a Master of Arts in clinical mental health counseling and has 18 years of experience in outpatient and emergency settings. He works in English and Japanese and focuses on helping adults manage stress, anxiety, and life transitions.
He aims to create a straightforward, comfortable space where people can talk about what is burdening them. He listens first to understand each person’s experience and perspective.
Background and approach
From there he helps set practical goals and steps that feel doable. James uses a mix of approaches including cognitive behavioral strategies, mindfulness practices, motivational interviewing, and hypnotherapy as tools to reduce negative thoughts and unhelpful behaviors. He looks for concrete ways to shift patterns and build healthier routines.
Common concerns he addresses include depression, self-esteem, grief, sleeping problems, anger, and addictions. He also works with more specific issues such as phobias, obsessive-compulsive worries, post-traumatic stress, immigration-related stress, and men’s issues. Sessions may involve talking through recent events, learning new coping skills, practicing mindfulness, setting small behavior changes, or using focused relaxation techniques.
His goal is to help people find more hope and enjoyment in daily life while building practical skills for the long term.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything James lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Sleeping disorders
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Control issues
- Guilt and shame
- Immigration issues
- Men's issues
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Social anxiety and phobia
Approaches James names
- Hypnotherapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.
Online support
Approaches that translate well to online care
James blends cognitive behavioral work with client-centered attention and sometimes uses hypnotherapy techniques. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing practical behavior changes to reduce anxiety and depression. Client-centered therapy emphasizes listening closely to your experience and building goals together. Hypnotherapy in his practice involves guided relaxation and focused attention to support new ways of thinking and coping, often used for habits, phobias, or sleep difficulties.Deciding which approach to use is a collaborative process. He starts by learning what matters most to you and then suggests methods that match your goals, needs, and preferences. Over time the plan can shift based on what proves most helpful in sessions.
Online therapy offers flexibility that many people need. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues, while phone sessions work when bandwidth is limited or a camera is not wanted. Live chat or text-based messaging can fit quick check-ins, shorter updates, or support between longer sessions. These options make it easier to schedule care around work, family responsibilities, and daily life.
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Questions people ask
What concerns does he help with?
He helps with stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, grief, sleep problems, anger, addictions, career stress, and relationship and family concerns.
What is his therapeutic style like?
Work is collaborative and practical with an emphasis on understanding your perspective and setting concrete steps to change thoughts and behaviors.
How much experience does he have?
He has 18 years of clinical experience, including outpatient therapy and work as an emergency room crisis clinician.
What credentials and location are on record?
He is listed as MA LMHC and practices in Massachusetts.
Which languages are offered for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Japanese.
Can international clients work with him?
He does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Sessions are available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How do I begin therapy with him?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.
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