James Hibma, LISW

James Hibma is a licensed independent social worker with 32 years of experience offering help for stress, anxiety, relationship strain, anger, career concerns, and depression. He speaks English and welcomes international clients who prefer online work. His approach is straightforward and respectful, focused on clear goals the client sets.

He uses cognitive behavioral techniques to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try practical, small behavior changes. He also draws on client-centered methods, listening carefully and shaping sessions around what matters most to each person. Sessions are conversational and aimed at solving the problems people bring in day-to-day life.

James tailors the plan to each person's needs instead of using a one-size-fits-all script. He helps people break big concerns into manageable steps and checks in on progress along the way. That might mean practicing new reactions to stress, testing different approaches to conflict, or planning steps toward career or life-purpose goals.

He has worked with many common family and relationship issues, including blended family challenges, divorce and separation, infidelity, and family-of-origin concerns. He also addresses caregiver stress, control issues, anger management, money and financial worries, and men’s midlife concerns.

For those coping with specific symptoms, James works with panic attacks, social anxiety and phobia, seasonal affective disorder, guilt and shame, and depression. He aims to make sessions practical and usable so people can try changes between meetings.

To begin, clients follow the site’s matching steps and schedule sessions in a format that fits their life.

How James Uses CBT and Client-Centered Work Online

James uses cognitive behavioral approaches to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try small behavior changes that reduce stress and anxiety. CBT techniques are practical and often involve short exercises and experiments to test what works for panic, social anxiety, and mood shifts.

He also uses client-centered methods that prioritize listening and shaping sessions around what matters most to the person. That means the therapist follows your lead, reflects what he hears, and helps you set goals that feel relevant and realistic for your life.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. He will talk with you about your needs, goals, and what you prefer, then suggest techniques to try together. This collaborative process helps narrow down which strategies fit your situation and can be adjusted as you go.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging so you can pick what fits your schedule. Video works well for longer sessions and visual connection, phone calls can be easier when bandwidth is limited, live chat is good for quicker check-ins, and messaging lets you write between meetings. These options aim to make therapy more flexible and easier to fit into daily life.