James Wankel, LCSW, LISW-CP

James Wankel is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, practicing in North Carolina. He helps people who are coping with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, ADHD, and life transitions. He aims to create a space where people feel heard and respected while they work toward clearer goals.

Wankel uses straightforward conversation to understand each person's story before suggesting practical steps. He draws on client-centered work that focuses on the person's experience and on cognitive behavioral tools to notice and change unhelpful thinking and behavior. Mindfulness techniques and motivational interviewing are used when someone wants to build new habits or stay motivated through hard changes.

His practice includes attention to issues like communication problems, body image, chronic pain or illness, and difficulties tied to identity or social isolation. He also addresses substance use and relapse concerns alongside recovery planning. Sessions tend to focus on immediate problems and on developing simple, usable skills for daily life.

Wankel brings five years of clinical experience and holds an LCSW and an LISW-CP. He works from a multicultural perspective and emphasizes respect for diverse identities and experiences. He invites people to start where they are and take manageable steps toward clearer functioning and greater confidence.

To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule based on the therapist's availability. The process is designed to make it straightforward to connect and begin practical work on the issues that brought someone in.

How his approaches translate to online work

James often uses client-centered therapy online, which means sessions begin with the therapist listening closely to the person's concerns and priorities. This approach helps shape goals that feel relevant and realistic for daily life.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is another approach he uses to identify and change patterns of thinking and behavior that make stress, anxiety, or addiction harder to manage. CBT methods online can include setting small experiments and practicing new skills between sessions.

Mindfulness techniques are offered to help people notice stress responses and calm their attention. These practices are brief and practical, aimed at reducing overwhelm and improving focus during ordinary moments.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t worked before. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust as needed over time.

Session format options are not specified here, so confirm current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow brief check-ins when a full session is not needed. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises, homework, and tracking tools to work well in remote sessions.