James Clarke, LMFT

I came to this work through my own challenges. In my mid-twenties I got caught up in chasing what I thought I wanted — and lost sight of what mattered most to me. A daily practice of mindfulness and compassion, along with my own therapy, helped me learn how to not get so carried away by my wants and fears — work that's still ongoing. Eventually I decided to make a career of what I'd been practicing, and found my way to Antioch's clinical psychology program where I specialized in spiritual and depth psychology.

Since then I've spent years working with people through a wide range of challenges — anxiety, depression, addiction, and the deep questions around what your life is actually about. Therapy with me is a place to reflect, understand what's driving your patterns, and work deliberately toward what you want.

Sessions are interactive. I draw from humanistic-existential therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy — practical tools and skills alongside the deeper work of understanding yourself. We look closely at the patterns you've been repeating, so you can find more effective and authentic ways of being in the world.

Before I became a therapist I worked as a recording and mixing engineer, and I still think of it as early training for this job — long hours of careful listening, and helping people bring something true into form. Outside the office, you'll usually find me making music, in the gym, or out in nature — and eating my way through Los Angeles.