James Pelzer

Practical, goal-focused support for life challenges

LMHC Florida

Experience: 4 years in practice
Focus areas: Addictions, Anger, Self esteem
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages: English

About James

James Pelzer welcomes people seeking practical, compassionate support for a wide range of life challenges.

Background and approach

As a Florida-based LMHC, he brings four years of formal experience since licensure and a longer history working with substance use and related concerns dating back to his early career as a Naval Drug and Alcohol Counselor.

He frames therapy around achievable goals and partners with clients to build skills for coping with depression, anxiety, grief, anger, relationship strain, and other struggles. His work blends client-centered listening with evidence-informed techniques such as cognitive behavioral strategies, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness practices.

James has provided care in community mental health, independent practice, and group, family, and individual settings, and he is comfortable addressing issues like addiction, trauma, parenting challenges, sexual health concerns, and identity-related stressors. He emphasizes practical tools, collaborative planning, and steady encouragement to help clients move toward clearer patterns of thinking, healthier behaviors, and greater self-compassion.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

James often integrates cognitive behavioral techniques with client-centered principles to help clients identify unhelpful thoughts, test new perspectives, and build concrete coping strategies for anxiety, depression, addiction, and relationship concerns. CBT provides structured ways to change thinking and behavior patterns, while a client-centered stance emphasizes empathy, active listening, and collaborative goal-setting to keep the work grounded in each person's values and priorities.

Mindfulness practices are also used to cultivate present-moment awareness and reduce reactivity, which can be helpful for stress, emotional regulation, and trauma-related symptoms. These approaches are described and tried together so the therapist and client can determine what fits best; finding the right therapeutic mix is treated as a collaborative process shaped by the client's needs, goals, and preferences.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more accessible and flexible. These formats allow work to continue around busy schedules, during transitions, or when in-person visits are impractical, and they support ongoing skill-building and check-ins between sessions.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns can I bring to therapy?

James works with a broad set of concerns including addictions, anger, self-esteem, depression, stress and anxiety, relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, parenting challenges, bipolar disorder, and coping with life changes.

What is his therapeutic style and approach?

He combines a client-centered stance with cognitive behavioral techniques and other evidence-informed methods like mindfulness and motivational interviewing to build practical skills and collaborative goals.

How much clinical experience does he have?

James holds four years of post-licensure experience as an LMHC and has worked in counseling roles since 2000, including as a Naval Drug and Alcohol Counselor and in community and independent practice settings.

What credentials and location should I know about?

He is a licensed mental health counselor in Florida with the credential FL LMHC MH14950 and practices from that state.

Can I work with him if I live outside the United States?

International clients are not currently accepted; he provides services to clients located in Florida.

What session formats are available for online work?

Sessions can be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different preferences and schedules.

How are fees and payments handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with him?

To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

AddictionsAnger managementSelf esteem Depression

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuse GriefIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesBipolar disorderCoping with life changes

Additional focus areas

Communication problemsDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFatherhood issuesGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSMen's issuesVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMulticultural concernsPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-love

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

4+ years

Licensed

Florida

Languages

English