James mentors former foster youth pro bono on College Ave in Oakland, CA. James was a child and family therapist in Tokyo, Japan where he served international children and families.
James spent several years in a wheelchair as the result of a car accident when he was young; this shaped his work serving children with unique educational and behavioral health needs.
James brings stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to the table and engages openly in conversations about race and privilege. His work has earned recognition from the United States Congress, California Senate and Assembly, and awards from the Council of California PTAs, the NASW CA, and Teacher’s Union. James was a founding Executive Advisory Board member with Breaking Barriers CA www.breakingbarriersca.org.
James graduated from the School of Social Welfare at UC Berkeley (MSW, 2001); CSU East Bay: Educational Leadership, the California School of Professional Psychology (MA, Clinical Psych), San Francisco State University: Dept. of Special Education, UNC – Chapel Hill: Practicum in ADHD and Guilford College, a Quaker College in Greensboro, North Carolina where he received a Bachelor’s of Science (B.S.) in psychology.
James has experience as fieldwork supervisor at St. Mary’s, SFSU, SJSU, CSUEB, and UC Berkeley. He was adjunct faculty in the School Psychology / School Counselor PPSC program at Brandman University and Guest Lecturer at UC Berkeley Graduate School of Education.
Virtually and in San Leandro, CA, James provides clinical supervision for candidates pursuing licensure toward LCSW or LMFT in California.
James wrote “Parent Engagement Through the Lens of Equity,” and “Kindness in a 3rd Grade Classroom,” and other articles that can be found on Flipboard Magazine. While at the Tokyo Institute of Psychiatry, James published articles related to SEL in Japanese school children, addressing suicidal behavior in teenagers by treating the family system, and alexithymia, the ability to identify and express emotions.
The 2nd Edition of his book on Student Support Teams (2026) can be found on Amazon and Rutledge Press.
With humility and deep appreciation, James continues to learn from Native American elders and healers.
