Therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp. We will earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you use our links to buy.

Therapist profile

James Pelzer

LMHC Florida 4 years of experience

Practical counseling for life transitions

Continue with James

Review online therapy options on BetterHelp.

James Pelzer
  • Client-centered care
  • CBT tools
  • Focus on coping

About James

James Pelzer is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) based in Florida who helps people cope with life changes and related struggles. He greets new visitors with a straightforward, down-to-earth style. Sessions are presented with clear goals and an emphasis on practical steps forward.

He brings years of experience in substance-use work from earlier roles in the Naval drug and alcohol program and has continued that work across community mental health and private practice settings. That background informs his approach to addictions, anger, grief, relationship concerns, and parenting stress.

James favors a client-centered way of working that keeps the person and their priorities central. He pairs that with cognitive behavioral techniques to identify unhelpful patterns and try out small, doable changes. Mindfulness and solution-focused ideas also appear when they suit a client's goals.

Sessions typically aim for clear, realistic goals that feel manageable. James emphasizes practical tools people can use between meetings, such as breathing or thought-challenging exercises and short behavioral experiments. The work is collaborative and paced to what the person wants to change.

He has four years of post-licensure experience as an LMHC and continues to draw on earlier military and community practice roles. People who want a pragmatic counselor who focuses on everyday coping skills may find his style matches their needs.

Approaches that fit online sessions

Client-Centered Therapy puts your goals first and asks what matters to you most. In online work this means sessions focus on your priorities and decisions rather than a preset plan. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify thoughts and actions that keep problems going and tests small changes to see what helps. It often uses short exercises you can practice between meetings to build new habits and reduce symptoms.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work together with the client to choose which methods to try based on goals, needs, and what feels comfortable. That shared decision-making helps adjust techniques as progress is made or circumstances change.

Confirm the specific session formats before booking, as the biography does not list formats. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into busy routines, reduce travel time, and allow for brief check-ins when a full in-person visit is impractical. It also lets people try approaches like CBT and mindfulness exercises in the context of their everyday environment, which can help apply skills more quickly.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

AddictionsAnger managementSelf esteemDepression

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesBipolar disorderCoping with life changes

Additional focus areas

Communication problemsDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFatherhood issuesGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSMen's issuesVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMulticultural concernsPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-love

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

4+ years

Credentials

Florida

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this counselor address?

He works with a wide range of concerns including addictions, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting strain, trauma and coping with life changes.

How would therapy feel in session?

The style is client-centered and practical, focusing on the person's priorities and using clear steps to address problems.

What is James Pelzer's background?

He began work as a Naval drug and alcohol counselor and has experience in community mental health and private practice settings over many years.

What credentials and region are listed for this therapist?

He is a Florida Licensed Mental Health Counselor (FL LMHC) practicing in Florida.

Which languages are supported for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

Are international clients accepted?

International clients are not currently accepted.

How are session costs handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with this therapist?

Use the Start Therapy button, fill out a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Back to all therapists

James PelzerContinue with James