Dr. James English, IL Psychologist 071.005714

Dr. James English is a licensed psychologist in Illinois with thirty years of experience helping people work through relationship struggles, grief, depression, anxiety, and stress. He offers calm, direct support and practical tools to help people change thoughts and behaviors that get in the way of daily life.

He favors approaches drawn from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, and the Gottman Method. Sessions focus on identifying strong emotions, noticing the thoughts that follow, and practicing small, testable changes to improve how people feel and relate to others.

The work often begins with clear goals and simple skills practice. Clients learn strategies for managing overwhelming emotion, improving communication, and breaking unhelpful patterns. Exercises may include thought records, behavior experiments, emotion regulation skills, and guided conversations about relationship patterns.

Dr. English brings three decades of clinical experience to common concerns like parenting stress, intimacy-related issues, addiction challenges, sleep and eating problems, bipolar mood concerns, and coping with life changes. He also addresses more specific topics such as abandonment, blended family conflicts, shame and guilt, and young adult issues.

Conversations are collaborative and goal-oriented. Dr. English helps people track progress and adjust plans when needed. He aims to create a respectful space where people can learn new ways of thinking and relating that fit their daily lives.

How CBT and Attachment Work Online

Dr. English commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Attachment-Based Therapy when working remotely. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people spot automatic thoughts that worsen mood and behavior, then try small experiments to test new ways of thinking and acting. It is often used for depression, anxiety, stress, sleep and eating concerns, and coping with life changes.

Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationship patterns influence current bonds and emotional responses. It helps people and partners understand why they react certain ways and build more secure ways of connecting, which can improve intimacy and reduce relationship conflict.

Choosing an approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will ask about your goals, symptoms, and preferences and then suggest techniques to try. Plans are adjusted over time based on what helps most, so the fit is refined together rather than assumed up front.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for longer sessions and skills work that benefit from face-to-face interaction. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for straightforward check-ins. Live chat and text messaging suit brief check-ins, skill reminders, or people who prefer not to use video. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, parenting, and busy schedules.