Connie St. James, LMFT

Connie St. James is a licensed marriage and family therapist who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship trouble, and life transitions. She listens carefully and works with clients to clarify what is causing pain and where they want to head next. Her voice is patient and nonjudgmental, and she focuses on building confidence and practical coping skills. Connie earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State University, Northridge and a Master’s degree in Marriage, Family and Child Therapy from California Family Study Center in 1989. After completing a 3,000-hour internship and the state exams, she received her California LMFT license in 1992. Early career work included hospital, substance use, and child abuse settings as part of her internship experience. She ran small private practices in West Los Angeles and Palm Desert and later facilitated groups addressing major depression in a hospital setting. After a long period working outside counseling, she has returned to practice drawing on decades of life experience and previous clinical work. Her background includes time spent supporting people through career and relationship shifts as well as the aging process. In sessions she uses a mix of person-centered, cognitive, and behavioral ideas. Connie pays attention to feelings, thoughts, and actions so clients can see patterns that keep them stuck. She asks questions that clarify a client’s story and helps edit that story so goals become clearer. Work together is collaborative; clients set goals and decide when therapy should end. Connie aims to help people increase self-esteem, improve communication, manage grief and anger, and cope with life changes and career concerns.