Connie St. James , LMFT

Connie St. James brings a warm, steady presence to people facing anxiety, relationship challenges, career crossroads, and the many adjustments that come with aging. Many seek her out when decisions feel overwhelming or when stress and low self-esteem interfere with daily life. She combines lived experience with formal training to guide clients toward clearer thinking and improved coping.

Connie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Northridge in 1987 and a Master’s degree in Marriage, Family and Child Therapy in 1989 from the California Family Study Center, now known as Phillips Graduate University. After completing a 3,000-hour internship and passing state written and oral examinations, she received her California license as a Marriage and Family Therapist in 1992. LMFT indicates a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a credential for professionals trained to address relationship and family dynamics.

During her internship, Connie worked with people experiencing dissatisfaction across personal and work relationships and trained in a psychiatric hospital, a drug and alcohol treatment center, and a facility serving abused children. She later maintained small private practices in West Los Angeles and Palm Desert and facilitated hospital groups focused on major depression. Life circumstances led her to pause clinical work for a period while she supported family and pursued other professional interests, including a long career in real estate.

Now in her own winter years, Connie draws on more than six decades of life experience alongside her education and earlier counseling work. Her approach integrates person-centered, cognitive, and behavioral ideas. She is described by many as patient, empathic, and non-judgmental, creating space for clients to tell their stories, explore feelings and thoughts, and identify unhelpful patterns. Sessions focus on clarifying goals, examining thoughts and behaviors that contribute to distress, and building practical strategies so clients can move toward greater satisfaction and confidence.

Evidence-Based Methods and Flexible Online Care

Connie often draws on person-centered therapy, which emphasizes empathy and a non-judgmental stance to help individuals explore their feelings and values and build self-awareness. This approach supports work on self-esteem, life purpose, and relationship concerns.

She also uses cognitive and behavioral techniques to identify unhelpful thoughts and patterns of behavior and to develop practical strategies for managing anxiety, stress, and mood. These methods are goal-oriented and can be useful for addressing depression, anger, and coping with life changes.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Connie works collaboratively with clients and licensed professionals to determine what fits best based on a person’s needs, goals, and preferences, and she adjusts the plan as progress and priorities evolve.

Online therapy with Connie is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which makes it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules and to connect from different locations. These options provide flexibility for people balancing work, caregiving, or mobility considerations while pursuing consistent therapeutic support.