Jim has been doing mental health counseling for 25 years. He received his MSW from Case Western Reserve in 1982. He studied at the Gestalt Institute in Cleveland, Ohio. Jim also received training in Cognitive Therapy and Sex Therapy at University Hospitals in Cleveland under James Pretzer, Ph.D. and Steven Levine, MD. Additionally, he has received training to treat the following disorders: ADHD and ADD in adults; Anxiety and panic attacks; Phobias; and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

While completing his Ph.D. his dissertation focused on anxiety and panic attacks. His Ph.D. was completed in 1994. After that time Jim completed training and certification in the Eye Movement and Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) psychotherapy approach. Jim uses EMDR to treat disorders related to Post-Traumatic Stress, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Panic Disorder.