Healing from the Inside Out
Many of us feel stuck, want more than just a quick, temporary fix and wish for a therapy experience that supports the possibility of long-term, lasting change. A lot of folks continue to be stuck despite their best effort. Some feel empty, depressed or detached; others feel easily overcome by emotion, unable to quiet their minds or ease the tension in their bodies. Many need help understanding what they want or need to live a more satisfying life. If you can relate to any of this, or you're looking for someone who specializes in healing complex trauma, I'm here and may be able to help you get past this stuck place.
I think most of us want to feel more connected with our self & others, with feeling alive inside, and with insight into what provides us lasting satisfaction. In therapy with me, I honor what you want to change in your life. We work to understand deeply, in a mindful way, the barriers to you getting it.
I work best with folks who: -want more satisfying lives, -struggle with maintaining positive self-esteem, -feel detached from who they are, their emotions and/or bodies, -often feel unsafe, -feel quickly overwhelmed & have trouble regulating emotion, -feel isolated/alone, or -have relationship difficulties (intimate, work, family, social, etc).
My approach is human-centered, trauma-informed, neuroscience-informed, mindful, relational and depth psychological. I'm a NARM therapist and thus, I ground my approach in the organizing principles of the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM, https://narmtraining.com/what-is-narm/). My way of working is influenced by training in NARM, years of training and ongoing interest in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, training in Gestalt Therapy, and by the treatment models Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT).
I find this work deeply moving, intellectually stimulating and life affirming. I'm honored to have the privilege to have a career where I get to be with others in this capacity and if you've read this far, I'm touched that you've taken the time to consider investing yourself into doing this sacred inner work with me. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions that might help you discern if I might be a good fit for you.
Specialized/Intensive Post-Graduate Training Programs:
-NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) Therapist Training, Complex Trauma Training Center (2025, completed)
-Advanced Clinical Seminar program, The Stephen Mitchell Relational Study Center (2022-2023, completed)
-Introductory Program in Relational Studies, The Stephen Mitchell Relational Study Center (2021-2022, completed)
-Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Two Year Distance Learning Program, Institute for the Psychoanalytic Study of Subjectivity (2019-2021, completed)
-​Gestalt Training Program (GTPXX), Gestalt Institute of Cleveland (2017-2019, completed)
-Post-Graduate Clinical Fellowship in University Mental Health, Counseling & Consultation Service at The Ohio State University (2017-2018, completed)
James P. Braga
LISW-S