What I Treat:

Cirriculum Vitae

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Andrea M. James, M.A., LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #152335
2210 Florencita Dr. W.
Montrose, CA 91020
(626)604-1944
andreajamesmft@gmail.com

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 18 years of clinical, behavioral health, and healthcare experience serving children, adolescents, adults, and families across medical, educational, nonprofit, and private practice settings. Specialized expertise in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, attachment and developmental concerns, and family relationship challenges. Extensive experience providing child-centered psychotherapy, parent education, and court-involved parent-child therapeutic services, including work involving resist/refuse dynamics and parent-child relationship repair.

Trained in evidence-based modalities including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT), SPACE treatment, and DIR/Floortime, with extensive experience supporting autistic and ADHD youth and their families. Skilled collaborator with schools, healthcare providers, legal systems, and multidisciplinary treatment teams.

CLINICAL SPECIALTIES

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Anxiety Disorders

• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT)

• SPACE Parent Treatment

• Attachment and Child Development

• Parent Education and Coaching

• Child-Centered Psychotherapy

• Court-Ordered and Court-Involved Parent-Child Therapy

• Resist/Refuse Family Dynamics

• Parent-Child Relationship Repair

• Autism Spectrum Disorders

• ADHD

• Emotion Regulation Difficulties

• Separation Anxiety

• Family Systems Therapy

• DIR Floortime

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Owner & Clinical Director

Andrea James LMFT Child and Family Therapy, Inc. — Montrose, California
2024–Present

• Founder and owner of specialized private psychotherapy practice serving children, adolescents, adults, and families.

• Specialize in assessment and treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, and related conditions across the lifespan.

• Provide evidence-based treatment utilizing Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT), and SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions).

• Deliver specialized parent interventions designed to reduce childhood anxiety, decrease family accommodation, and strengthen caregiver effectiveness.

• Maintain clinical emphasis on attachment, child development, and child-centered treatment supporting emotional regulation and secure parent-child relationships.

• Conduct parent education and coaching sessions focused on behavior support, anxiety reduction, and strengthening family functioning.

• Provide treatment for children and adolescents diagnosed with OCD, anxiety disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and ADHD.

• Trained in DIR/Floortime and integrate developmental and relationship-based interventions into treatment.

• Specialize in court-ordered and court-involved parent-child therapy, including cases involving resist/refuse dynamics, disrupted attachment relationships, and high-conflict family systems.

• Facilitate therapeutic parent-child sessions focused on rebuilding trust, improving communication, and repairing parent-child relationships through structured family work and reunification-oriented interventions when clinically appropriate.

Westminster Center — Pasadena, California

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
2023–2025
Clinical Director/Supervisor: Katherine Carter, LMFT

• Provided outpatient psychotherapy to children, adolescents, and parents.

• Specialized in treatment of OCD, anxiety disorders, ADHD, autism spectrum conditions, and childhood emotional and behavioral concerns.

• Worked extensively with children experiencing separation anxiety, emotion regulation difficulties, and anxiety-related impairment.

• Delivered child-centered and developmentally informed play therapy and psychotherapy utilizing family systems and evidence-based approaches.

• Conducted parent sessions focused on reducing anxiety accommodation, improving caregiver responses, and increasing parent confidence and effectiveness.

• Supported parents struggling with anxiety related to parenting through psychoeducation, therapeutic coaching, and family-based intervention.

• Collaborated with families and multidisciplinary providers to support continuity of care and treatment progress.

Professional Child Development Associates (PCDA) — Pasadena, California

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
2022–2023

• Provided DIR/Floortime® play therapy to children and adolescents ages 2.5–18 and their families within a multidisciplinary developmental treatment setting.

• Delivered developmentally informed, relationship-based psychotherapy and parent support services utilizing DIR/Floortime principles and family-centered intervention approaches.

• Worked with children presenting with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD, anxiety, depression, aggression, peer relationship difficulties, family relationship challenges, and complex developmental and medical needs.

• Collaborated with multidisciplinary providers within a developmental, family-centered model of care emphasizing individualized treatment planning and caregiver involvement.

• Provided therapeutic support to families involved with the Interdisciplinary Feeding Team, addressing feeding and nutrition-related concerns associated with developmental differences and medical complexity.

• Facilitated parent education and coaching to strengthen co-regulation, developmental understanding, and family functioning.

Family Service Agency of Burbank — Burbank, California

School-Based Therapist / Special Education Therapist
2019–2022

School-Based Therapist

2019–2021

• Maintained caseload of 20-25 elementary, middle, and high school students within Burbank Unified School District.

• Provided weekly psychotherapy services via telehealth during COVID-19 restrictions.

• Facilitated in-person elementary group therapy during summer programming.

Special Education School-Based Therapist

2021–2023

• Provide weekly school-based psychotherapy to students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) at Burroughs High School.

• Maintain average weekly caseload of approximately 20-25 students.

• Focus treatment on social-emotional goals, emotional regulation, school functioning, interpersonal skills, and mental health stabilization.

• Collaborate with school personnel, parents, and multidisciplinary teams to support student progress and educational success.

Women’s Clinic & Family Counseling Center — Los Angeles, California

Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee & Associate
2003–2005

• Maintained psychotherapy caseload averaging 10 clients.

• Provided therapy to adults, adolescents, couples, and families.

• Treated presenting concerns including depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, eating disorders, body dysmorphic disorder, adjustment disorders, personality dynamics, and parenting concerns.

• Conducted individual, couples, and family therapy within community mental health setting.

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center — Beverly Hills, California

Administrative Coordinator, Metabolic Support Team – Gastroenterology
2002–2005

• Directed the Mealtime Mates Program, training and supervising 25 volunteers assisting medically fragile inpatients with eating difficulties.

• Chaired multidisciplinary oversight committee of physicians, nurses, speech pathologists, social workers, and occupational therapists.

• Developed patient assessment systems, volunteer training procedures, and referral processes.

• Coordinated clinical and administrative activities for physicians and allied healthcare professionals managing inpatient TPN services.

Windsor Healthcare Management, Inc. — Los Angeles, California

Director of Admissions and Marketing
2000–2002

• Developed marketing and physician outreach strategies for skilled nursing facility.

• Served as liaison between physicians, hospitals, families, and corporate leadership.

• Coordinated admissions, medical and financial screening, and family meetings.

• Increased organizational revenue by 18% within eight months.

Center for Discovery — Lakewood, California

Counselor / Marketing Coordinator
Eating Disorder Residential Program
1999-2000

• Conducted group therapy, family interventions, milieu management, and clinical documentation as awake-overnight counselor. 

• Coordinated assessments, insurance authorization, and admissions processes.

• Conducted professional outreach and public speaking.

Rader Programs, Inc. — Oxnard, California

Admissions Coordinator / Marketing Coordinator
Eating Disorder Treatment Center
1997–2000

• Coordinated admissions and consultation services for nationwide treatment programs.

• Conducted clinical consultations and family interventions.

• Managed insurance authorization and discharge planning.

• Supervised admissions staff and served as liaison between medical and administrative departments.

• Conducted lectures and community education on eating disorders in hospitals, clinics, schools, and universities.

EDUCATION

Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology
Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy
Pepperdine University — Culver City, California
2004

Master of Arts in Psychology
Pepperdine University — Culver City, California
2000

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
State University of New York at Potsdam — Potsdam, New York
1994 — Summa Cum Laude

TRAINING & ADVANCED CLINICAL CERTIFICATIONS

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder & Anxiety Treatment

• International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)
  Pediatric Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) Certification in ERP for OCD

Denver, CO

• Cognitive Behavior Institute
  Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD
  Four-Day Intensive Training Workshop Certificate

• S.P.A.C.E. (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions)
  14-Hour Clinical Training Workshop with Eli Leibowitz

Trauma & Parent-Child Treatment

• Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for Traumatized Children
  University of California, Davis

• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
  Medical University of South Carolina

Developmental & Play-Based Treatment

• Center for Connection – Play Strong Institute
  Play Therapy Certificate Program
  500 Clinical Training Hours (In Progress)