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James Cole, LCSW

Experienced mental health professional

Provides online counseling through BetterHelp

At a glance

James is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.

4.5 stars
Clients are very satisfied with James. View 18 reviews
Speaks English
Offers Telehealth visits
Licensed in North Dakota and Minnesota

Recent reviews

Excellent listener and teacher

Reviewed November 2024

James is a wonderful therapist! In the four months I’ve been doing therapy, he is very considerate and responsive. He takes time to break things down in easy to understand ways which helps a lot in getting through issues that I bring up about personal life. James is by far the best therapist I’ve had.

Reviewed June 2024

More about James

  • 9 years' experience
  • Male
  • LCSW, LICSW

Welcome!

My name is James Michael Cole (please, call me Michael) and I am a licensed mental health professional.

I hold two Bachelor's degrees in Business and Social Work, a Master's degree in Social Work, and two clinical licenses (Minnesota and North Dakota) both in good standing with full diagnostic and treatment privileges to practice as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker.

Over the years I have had the opportunity to work in a variety of settings with folks from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and have professional experience in everything from diagnostics/prescribing treatments, triage, child welfare, SPMI (serious and persistent mental illnesses), and co-occurring disorders (substance use and mental health occurring at the same time) to couples-counseling, issues of grief/loss, both group and individual psychotherapy sessions, building skills, guest-lecturing at universities, and teaching collegiate level courses to future social workers/clinicians. Currently, I'm the owner/operator of my own small private practice.

My approach to services is eclectic in nature, which is to say that I shift my approach to meet your needs, whatever those may be. I do not believe in "cookie-cutter approaches" to this kind of work as each person is unique as are their needs and goals. I strive to be culturally informed and desire to provide competent support to all persons in need. You deserve a clinician that you can trust and who is focused on your specific needs. You deserve someone who will hold space for you, who will not cast judgement, and who will work with you to help you determine what the best path forward looks like. These things are what I strive to provide every client I see.

I am very excited to meet you and to get started on addressing the concerns/issues that brought you in to see me. Please, don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions.

Thank you!

Specialties

Stress Anxiety LGBT Family conflicts Depression Coping with life changes Relationship issues Trauma and abuse Grief Intimacy-related issues Parenting issues Anger management Self esteem Career difficulties Bipolar disorder Coaching Compassion fatigue Abandonment Adoption and foster care Aging and geriatric issues Antisocial personality Avoidant personality BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture Blended family issues Caregiver issues and stress Codependency Commitment issues Communication problems Control issues Coping with natural or human-caused disaster Dependent personality Divorce and separation Domestic violence Emptiness Family of origin issues Family problems Fatherhood issues Forgiveness Guilt and shame Infidelity Isolation / loneliness Jealousy Life purpose Men's issues Midlife crisis Money and financial issues Mood disorders Multicultural concerns Narcissism Panic disorder and panic attacks Personality disorders Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships Post-traumatic stress Prejudice and discrimination Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling) Self-love Sex addiction Sexual assault and abuse Sexuality Social anxiety and phobia Somatization Women's issues Workplace issues Young adult issues

Treatment Approaches

  • Client-Centered Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Solution-Focused Therapy
  • Trauma-Focused Therapy

Licenses

James Cole's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1235657073.

  • LCSW · North Dakota · 5244 · Expires December 2025
  • LICSW · Minnesota · 32045 · Expires December 2025

About online counseling

Affordable.
Pay a low flat fee.
Convenient.
Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
Available now.
There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.

Online counseling allows you to receive care from a mental health practitioner via phone, video chat, or instant messaging. It is convenient for those who may have trouble getting to or would prefer not to have in-person therapy appointments. Starting at $65 per week, online counseling is generally more affordable than in-person counseling. A study by researchers at University of California, Berkeley found that online counseling can be just as effective as face-to-face therapy while being more convenient, affordable, and accessible.

Reviews for James Cole

All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.

Overall rating:

4.5

18 reviews

5
4
3
2
1

Clients mention: Great Helped Easy Amazing Grateful Helpful Recommend Understanding Thank you The best

Excellent listener and teacher

Reviewed November 2024

James is a wonderful therapist! In the four months I’ve been doing therapy, he is very considerate and responsive. He takes time to break things down in easy to understand ways which helps a lot in getting through issues that I bring up about personal life. James is by far the best therapist I’ve had.

Reviewed June 2024

He's an amazing guy! His thoughtful feedback and ability to listen at the same time has made him my favorite therapist. I've had a few in the past via traditional therapy, but James definitely has understood me best.

Reviewed February 2024

A great fit

Reviewed January 2024

My therapist is the kindest person I've ever talked to. He's incredibly patient and makes me feel genuinely welcome. His compassion and understanding create a trusting and positive therapeutic environment that has a profound impact on my well-being.

Reviewed January 2024

James has been the best thing to happen to me the second we connected. I’m grateful for finding him & being able to be the person I am today emotionally. Thank you James.

Reviewed November 2023

He's great...and that is all I have to say

Reviewed November 2023

Awesome therapists who keeps it real but also respect my concerns. James is awesome at providing suggestions to help on their journey for mental health recovery.

Reviewed August 2023

Michael has been very helpful in working through things in my life - he is a good listener, patient, and provides meaningful support and feedback. He is kind and has a sense of humor, but also also holds you accountable, which is appreciated. Easy to talk to and very responsive and flexible- would highly recommend. Thank you, Laura

Reviewed July 2023

He gives you a chance to talk and get things out. He is a really good listener and helps me identify different ways to think about my challenges. He's like the cool uncle that makes you laugh too.

Reviewed June 2023

James has helped me in more ways than I’m thankful for. I didn’t know what to expect when I started but I’m happy I did. I’ve heard that it sometimes it doesn’t work out when trying to find a therapist. I’m lucky that I found him on my first try.

Reviewed June 2023

Ive been extremely grateful to have James as a therapist! He has helped me in tremendous ways by just letting me word vomit and to helping me figure out the root cause of the word vomit. He has also helped me identify how to work certain situations and to know if it it deserves my energy or time. His tools of how to explain how "I" feel has been a big help to communicating thoroughly. As simple as it seems its easy to make others fee attacked when not using the "I" term. He has Also helped and showed me a technique to reduce high anxiety and how to visualize to relaxation. Easy to talk too, friendly, and overall a great person to work with. He never forces to speak about certain topics and gives the time and trust that is needed to open up about pass traumas. He is the first therapist who treats me as a equal and as a adult. I appreciate when he tells me his own stories at it helps me relate to him and feel more trusting with him. He never makes therapy about himself, and has different approaches on how things can be handled. I am genuinely happy to have someone who is knowledgeable in the advice he is giving and the patience he has!

Reviewed March 2023

Michael is very courteous. He listens very carefully and has an honest, unbiased feedback. He is respectful.

Reviewed March 2023

James has so far been a big help during a difficult time.

Reviewed February 2023

He's a great listener. Genuinely wants to know more about you. He helped me with changing my perspective on life.

Reviewed January 2023

Michael is awesome and never pushes to speak on things you are not ready. He gives amazing guidance and ways to cope based on who i am and working with me.

Reviewed January 2023

I. ABSOLUTELY. LOVE. THIS. MAN. He’s so open about his own life which makes me feel even better to be open about mine. He feels like my best friend and we’ve only had two live sessions. A best friend with professional advice. He’s so understanding and doesn’t make me feel bad about what I’ve done or what I’ve been through. He truly cares about the well being of his clients. I cannot express enough how phenomenal he is. 5 stars. 10/10 would recommend.

Reviewed January 2023

He has been great at listening and giving me helpful feedback! He is educated and has realistic suggestions. He has beed responsive and engaged . I have enjoyed his help.

Reviewed January 2023

How was your experience with James?

Frequently asked questions

Does James Cole offer telehealth visits?

Yes. James Cole works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.

What language(s) does James Cole speak?

James Cole speaks English.

How many years of experience does James Cole have?

James Cole has 9 years of experience.

Where is James Cole licensed to practice?

James Cole is licensed to practice in North Dakota and Minnesota.

Does James Cole accept clients outside of the United States?

No, James Cole does not accept clients outside of the United States.

Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."

What treatment approaches does James Cole offer?

James Cole offers clients Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapy.

How can I communicate with James Cole?

James Cole can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.

How do I get started with James Cole?

Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.

Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.

And recovery is possible.

Messaging
Live Chat
Phone
Video

When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.