James Rusk, LICSW

James Rusk is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) who helps people facing stress, anxiety, addiction concerns, grief, and changes in life direction. He also supports those dealing with relationship and intimacy issues, parenting strain, career questions, mood disorders such as depression and bipolar, and compassion fatigue. He works from a viewpoint that personal meaning and the stories we tell about our lives shape how we feel now.

Rusk favors a talking style that treats the client as the expert on their life. He draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), client-centered approaches, cognitive behavioral ideas, existential questions, and mindfulness practices to explore what matters most. Sessions focus on noticing patterns, testing small changes, and clarifying values rather than applying a rigid checklist.

His background includes 17 years of clinical work across agency, private practice, and medical settings. That experience shapes an adaptable approach to common problems like anxiety, addiction, and grief. He aims to help people move from struggling against their experience to acting in ways that reflect their priorities.

In sessions he listens for the stories that keep someone stuck and looks for practical shifts that fit daily life. Work can include noticing thoughts and emotions, practicing present-moment skills, and identifying steps toward valued goals. He frames therapy as a collaborative project rather than a set of directives.

Rusk practices in West Virginia and sees clients in English. He is available to work with international clients as well. Prospective clients should confirm current session options before booking.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings while focusing on actions that match their values. It’s useful for anxiety, addiction concerns, and navigating major life changes. Client-Centered Therapy centers the person’s own perspective and pacing, offering a nonjudgmental space to talk through struggles and make decisions that feel right. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and tests small changes to reduce distress and improve day-to-day functioning.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which combination of ACT, client-centered listening, CBT, or mindfulness fits best. Goals, preferences, and real-life constraints guide which methods are used and how they are adapted during online sessions.

Confirm the specific session formats offered before booking, since formats are not listed here. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule by removing travel time and allowing sessions during lunch breaks or between commitments. It can also let people practice skills in the settings where they actually live, try brief check-ins when needed, or choose audio-only contact when bandwidth or focus makes video difficult. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises, homework, and mindful practices so they work across different online arrangements.