- Stress and anxiety
- Relationship concerns
- Life transitions
About Connie
Connie St. James is a licensed marriage and family therapist who helps people coping with stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, low self-esteem, and life transitions. She also supports clients facing grief, anger, career choices, depression, and concerns about codependency. Connie writes plainly and listens carefully so people can talk through what matters most to them.
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 from California Family Study Center in 1989. She completed a 3,000-hour internship that included work in psychiatric, substance-use, and child-abuse settings and passed California's written and oral licensing exams to become an LMFT in 1992.
After her internship she ran a small private practice in West Los Angeles, then practiced and ran groups addressing major depression in Palm Desert. She later paused active licensure while living and working in other fields, including a long career in real estate, and drew on counseling skills in everyday life and work.
Now in later life, Connie has returned to counseling and blends empathy with practical techniques. She focuses on understanding each person’s story, including feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, and she helps identify patterns that get in the way of satisfaction and change.
Sessions are collaborative and paced to the client. Connie aims to help people clarify goals, notice unhelpful thinking or behavior, and build steps toward feeling more confident and motivated.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online work
Connie uses evidence-based techniques that emphasize understanding thoughts and behaviors and supporting personal growth. Cognitive approaches focus on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking that fuels anxiety or low mood, which can help with worry, self-esteem, and decision-making. Behavioral techniques look at actions and routines, offering small, practical steps to reduce avoidance and build habits that support goals.Finding the right blend of methods is part of the process. Connie works collaboratively with each person to choose approaches that match their needs, goals, and preferences. Together they review what helps and adjust the plan as progress is made.
The original profile does not list specific online session formats, so confirm current options before booking. In general, online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Licensed professionals can adapt cognitive and behavioral exercises for remote sessions so clients can practice skills between meetings and track small changes over time.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Experience
3+ years
Credentials
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does this therapist address?
Connie helps people with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, low self-esteem, coping with life changes, grief, anger, career decisions, depression, and codependency among other concerns.
How would you describe the counseling style?
The approach is patient, empathic, and non-judgmental. Sessions focus on listening to your story and working together to clarify feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.
What is the therapist's background and experience?
Connie has three years of documented counseling experience and many additional years using therapeutic skills in other professions and life roles.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California.
Which languages are offered and can international clients work together?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How does pricing work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working together?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.