James Whalen, M.S.Ed

Before entering my doctoral program in 2022, I worked with children and adolescents as an educator in private and charter schools across New England for five years. My past experiences as a mentor and teacher, alongside my current clinical training, allow me to connect with clients through integrating practice and theory. In addition to my time in academia, I have years of international travel and work experience in Europe, Asia, and South America. This international exposure gives me a real-world basis for my cultural competencies and humility when working with clients of diverse cultural heritage.

My approach in therapy is to, first and foremost, build a unique and trusting space for clients to explore and pursue their goals. Everyone’s needs and motivation styles are different and therefore demand the application of appropriate theories to suit. My training has provided me with knowledge of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic approaches, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and humanistic and existential theories. I am also interested in Jungian Dream Analysis and have received an initial certification from the Assisi Institute in Mystic, CT.

I work well with children and adolescents struggling with academic or behavioral issues, ADHD, ASD, anxiety, OCD, and depression. I believe in a proper balance of supportive care and encouraging positive patterns to help my clients achieve their therapeutic goals.