James Berghuis

My communication style

My training in motivational enhancement and ACT reflects my communication style. I strive to engage with clients in a way that is respectful, collaborative, supportive, and empathic. I am also comfortable being direct as needed. I listen for and reinforce client statements that reflect their motivation to make desired changes.

My journey to mental healthcare

I have always wanted to work in a helping profession. In college, I found that the area of psychology stood out to me in terms of my interests and skills. I feel honored to be able to listen to clients share their stories with me and to help them learn how to step back, question, and sometimes rewrite the unproductive parts of their stories.

My goals for you

I start with a good history to find out what experiences led them to therapy. Sometimes clients come in with clear goals, and other times I do values work with clients to help them identify what they want to address first. Goals can also shift over time. Identifying SMART goals can be helpful for tasks to do between sessions and to track progress.

Our first session

My goal for the initial session is to provide a safe environment for clients to share their experiences that led them to seek therapy and begin to establish a therapeutic relationship. I will gather information and explain what my approach to working with them would be. My hope is that at the end of the initial visit, the client will feel validated

I identify as...

• Male
• Caucasian or White
• Spiritual