James Archer, AMFT
Preferred pronouns: he/him
Areas of expertise:
Trauma + PTSD
Anxiety + Fear
Self-Worth + Identity
Spiritual awakening + Integration
Approach:
I draw from Internal Family Systems (IFS), EMDR, and Effortless Mindfulness. I believe that what brings most people into therapy makes complete sense, given what they’ve been through. Nothing needs to be forced away or fixed. We work with it instead. My goal is to help clients develop a kinder relationship with themselves, gently release what they’ve been carrying, and reconnect with the clarity and stillness that’s been within all along.
“The truth is that you already are what you are seeking.”
Who I help:
I work with adolescents (ages 12+) and adults who feel stuck in cycles of anxiety, fear, and disconnection. I work with people who sense there's a deeper, more authentic version of themselves available, but can't quite get there on their own. Many of my clients come in carrying the weight of unresolved trauma, struggling with stress, internal conflict, and self-limiting beliefs that show up in their relationships, their work, and their sense of who they are. I work best with clients who are not just looking for symptom relief, but who want to do the deeper work of healing and becoming their true, confident, creative, and loving Self.
How I help:
Most clients arrive knowing something is blocking them, but not quite knowing what. Together, we get curious about the beliefs, patterns, and protective walls that developed in response to painful past experiences. Rather than fighting them, we learn to understand and work with them. As that happens, something steadier begins to emerge: a clearer, calmer sense of who you actually are beneath the fear and conditioning. My job is to help you access this inner peace and clarity, and help you live from that.
What my clients say about working with me:
My clients say that my compassionate and calm presence helps them feel safe to explore their inner world when working with me. They say that I’ve helped them identify blind spots and shift long-held patterns. And after working with me, they say they feel more grounded, less reactive in relationships, and more connected to a sense of inner clarity and purpose.
Off the clock:
I love nature, meditating, ecstatic dance, tech, business, dumb TV and film, great TV and film, comedy, NBA, F1, MMA, reading, writing, travel, and eating and laughing with my fiancée, family, and friends.
James has Telehealth openings.
Education:
Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy, Touro University Worldwide
Bachelors in Sociology (Minor in Business), University of California San Diego
Special Training:
Certified Effortless Mindfulness Facilitator, Level 3 — Loch Kelly
IFSCA Stepping Stone Training
IFSI Online Circle Training
EMDR Basic Training
IFSCA Stepping Deeper Training
Licensure:
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist (AMFT), California #160954