James Gilligan, LCSW

James Gilligan is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in Florida who helps people facing stress, anxiety, addiction, grief, depression, and relationship and intimacy concerns. He brings 20 years of experience and a practical, down-to-earth style to sessions. He also supports people dealing with parenting strain, sleep and eating problems, anger, and career stress.

James trained at Florida International University and has worked across school, community, and military settings since the early 2000s. Early in his career he provided individual and group support in Miami-Dade schools. He later worked with people diagnosed with serious mental illness, including bipolar disorder and major depression.

Beginning in 2007 he worked with active duty military and focused on marital concerns, anxiety, PTSD, domestic violence issues, and problems that come from growing up in dysfunctional family systems. That experience led him to develop practical skills for addressing addictions, eating disorders, and communication problems.

In sessions he uses a blend of methods to match each person’s needs. His approach pulls from attachment-based ideas, cognitive behavioral tools, dialectical behavior strategies, EMDR, and client-centered listening. He aims to help clients make concrete changes they want to see in their lives.

James describes his work as collaborative and goal-oriented. He helps clients name one or two clear targets, learn tools that fit their daily life, and track small changes over time. He speaks English and practices in Florida as an LCSW.

How these approaches translate to online therapy

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early relationships shape current patterns. Online work with this approach involves talking through those patterns and practicing new ways of connecting and communicating. It can help with anxiety around closeness, abandonment fears, and attachment-related worries.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, centers on noticing thought and behavior patterns and trying small experiments to change them. Online CBT sessions often include homework, short exercises, and step-by-step plans to reduce anxious thinking or depressive routines.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will collaborate with the client to pick methods that fit the person’s goals, needs, and daily life. That choice can change as work progresses and new priorities emerge.

Session logistics should be confirmed before booking since formats are not listed in the biography. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into work days, reduce commute time, and keep regular check-ins when schedules are busy. It can also allow for shorter focused check-ins when time is limited or phone-based options when bandwidth is low. Ask about the current session options when you schedule.