James Rusk, LICSW
Narrative-focused LICSW guiding practical change
Details
| Name | James Rusk |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LICSW |
| Based in | West Virginia |
| Licensed in | West Virginia |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 17 |
About James
James Rusk is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with 17 years of clinical experience. He works with people facing stress, anxiety, grief, addiction, depression, bipolar challenges, relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting strain, career questions, and issues tied to identity and self-worth.
James centers his work on Narrative ideas - the stories people tell about their lives - and borrows from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people notice what matters.
Background and approach
Sessions focus on what someone is living through now and how past and future stories shape feeling and behavior. He uses clear, simple language and invites practical steps that fit everyday life. In sessions James treats clients as partners.
He asks questions, listens for patterns, and helps reframe unhelpful narratives without pushing a list of shoulds. He aims to help people become more willing to engage with their experience and take small actions that reflect their values. His approach blends Narrative perspectives with client-centered attention and cognitive tools when needed.
That mix helps with coping during life changes, managing compassion fatigue, and addressing intimacy or career concerns. James also brings existential questions into the conversation when people want to tackle meaning, purpose, and direction. James practices from West Virginia and offers remote care to people outside the region.
He speaks English and draws on years of agency, independent practice, and medical-setting experience to adapt sessions to each person’s needs.
What this therapist works with
His listing names Stress, Anxiety, Family conflicts, Grief among the things James works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Coping with life changes
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Compassion fatigue
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in his listing among his approaches.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by James among the ways he works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by James among the ways he works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by James among the ways he works.
- Existential Therapy: Listed by James among the ways he works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by James among the ways he works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by James among the ways he works.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Listed by James among the ways he works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask James directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how he works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking James directly how he uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How Narrative and ACT work in online sessions
James uses Narrative ideas to help people notice the stories that guide their choices and feelings, then looks for small changes in those stories that reduce suffering and increase agency. This approach is useful when someone wants to rethink relationships, identity, or the meaning attached to life events.He also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which teaches practical skills for staying present with difficult feelings and taking actions that match personal values. ACT is often helpful for anxiety, grief, addiction patterns, and coping with major life transitions.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. James treats therapy as a collaborative process and will help clients test different methods based on their goals and preferences. Together they decide which ideas and practices feel most useful and adjust as needed.
Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect. Video calls let people read nonverbal cues and have deeper conversations. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or when a quieter check-in fits the day. Live chat and text messaging are useful for brief reflections, homework, or staying supported between meetings. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives and to try methods that match how a client prefers to communicate.
Common questions about this listing
What kinds of concerns can James help with?
He helps people with stress, anxiety, grief, addictions, depression, bipolar challenges, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting strain, career questions, self-esteem, LGBT concerns, compassion fatigue, and coping with life changes.
What is his therapeutic style like?
His style is collaborative and straightforward. He uses questions and reflection to reshape the stories clients tell about themselves without pushing judgment.
How much experience does he have?
He has 17 years of clinical experience working in agencies, independent practice, and medical settings.
What credentials and region does he practice from?
He holds a WV LICSW and practices out of West Virginia.
Which languages are supported and can international clients work together?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are accepted.
What session formats are available?
He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different needs and schedules.
How does cost work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What steps do I take to begin working with him?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with James are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including James where he has space. Ask about fees, and whether he holds a licence or registration where you live.
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