Therapy for Life’s Changes: Identity, Relationships & Queer-Affirming Support

Welcome. You don’t need to have it all figured out to be here.

Whether you’re navigating a transition, feeling the weight of grief or shame, or questioning who you are and what you want, therapy can offer space to slow down and listen to what you want for you and your life.

I work with adults — especially LGBTQIA+ folks — who are moving through these kinds of moments. Together, we’ll make room for what’s been quieted, explore the patterns that shape you, and move toward something more honest and aligned.

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” ― Anaïs Nin

Hello, I’m James

James Dvorak, Licensed Psychotherapist in Los Angeles

I’m a licensed psychotherapist (LMFT #154299) based in Los Angeles, California. Before becoming a therapist, I spent over a decade working in human resources and public relations — and before that, I grew up on a farm in the Midwest. That winding path shapes the way I work: grounded, relational, and deeply curious about the stories we tell ourselves and the ones we’re still unfolding.

I specialize in supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals through grief, modern relationships, life transitions, and the complex questions of identity and meaning that often arise as our life takes shape.

My clinical training began at The Ness Counseling Center, where I provided low-fee therapy to individuals, couples, and families in collaboration with the Department of Children and Family Services. I’ve also served as a grief group facilitator at Our House Grief Support Center, and I’m currently part of the Beyond Psychology Center’s psychotherapist network. I completed my associate training under Michelle Seely, LMFT #41680, whose work in relational Gestalt and Jungian analysis continues to inform my approach.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Nebraska and a Master’s in Counseling (Marriage and Family Therapy emphasis) from California State University, Northridge.

I currently provide in-person mental health treatment in Los Angeles (Toluca Lake, California) and offer virtual sessions throughout California via Telehealth.

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” — Martin Buber

LGBTQ Therapy in Burbank and West Hollywood

How I work—what you can expect

My goal is to meet you where you are — building a foundation of trust, presence, and connection as we explore your growth together.

I integrate therapeutic approaches such as Relational Gestalt, Attachment Theory, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Jungian analysis, Somatic Experiencing, Hakomi, and Acceptance-Based Psychotherapy. These modalities support a deep, curious exploration of identity, relationships, and life’s complexities. In our work, we’ll co-investigate your present-moment experiences, paying attention to body sensations, emotions, and patterns that arise. By slowing down and cultivating awareness, we can bring clarity to what’s happening beneath the surface — and begin to make meaning that supports healing, integration, and lasting change.

Many therapeutic models weren’t built with queer experiences in mind. My work bridges that gap by integrating LGBTQIA+-affirming frameworks with depth-oriented practices that center self-trust, embodiment, and liberation.

My practice is rooted in queer-affirmative therapy and is sex-positive, kink-aware, and allied with ethical and consensual non-monogamy. I’m committed to ongoing consciousness in my work, creating a space where intersecting identities — including race, gender, sexuality, and class — are recognized, honored, and explored with care.

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” - James Baldwin

Clinical Interests

In my practice, I specialize in helping individuals, especially those that are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, navigate key areas that are essential for thriving in today’s complex world. My work often supports people facing:

Relationships and Intimacy
I help individuals build healthier, more fulfilling connections—with partners, family, or friends—by exploring emotional patterns, communication styles, and attachment dynamics.

Ethical Non-Monogamy & Open Relationships
I work with individuals practicing consensual and ethical non-monogamy or polyamory. Together, we explore emotional needs, boundaries, and the impact of jealousy, attachment, and projections—building trust and clarity in complex relational systems.

Anxiety & Stress
I help clients reduce chronic stress, manage overthinking, and work with panic, social anxiety, or generalized anxiety that may be disrupting their day-to-day life. We explore both immediate tools and deeper causes.

Grief & Loss
Grief therapy can support healing from the death of a loved one, breakups, or major life transitions. I offer a grounded space to move through sadness, numbness, anger, and meaning-making at your own pace.

Gender Identity & Sexual Orientation
I provide affirming LGBTQIA+ therapy for those exploring or deepening their relationship to gender identity or sexual orientation. Whether you're coming out, transitioning, or questioning, we’ll create a space rooted in curiosity, affirmation, and safety.

My current rate is $145 per 50-minute session.
I have a deep clinical interest and evolving specialization in grief and loss, LGBTQIA+ issues, relationships, identity and sexuality, and life transitions. Furthermore, I find engaging in the exploration of existential stress that often comes with such challenges and experiences to be of increasing value to clients in therapy.
I currently do not work with any insurance companies, however, clients who wish to use insurance for their therapy will be provided with a monthly statement that may be used to submit a claim for out of network coverage.
The length of therapy varies from person to person. Typically, we start by engaging in weekly sessions and may adjust to every other week or monthly session, depending on how we feel about the therapy progress. However, we will discuss this in collaboration during our initial session and will continue to check in on this topic throughout our work together.
I work with a variety of people, including adults, older adults, emerging adults, teens and couples. As a queer-identifying clinician, I also enjoy working with individuals who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community and the challenges of such intersections, including identity and sexuality, stress, relationships, and depression, among others.
I have clients that prefer in-person therapy and others that prefer online. As a result, I see clients in person in Toluca Lake, California and online via telehealth throughout the state of California.
We'll schedule a 15-30 minute consultation to determine if we're a good match. We'll discuss your therapy goals and how I can support you before deciding to move forward. If we do, we'll collaborate on the initial session details so that you feel confident in our future work together.

Commonly Asked Questions

Whether this is your first time exploring therapy or you’re seeking a fresh approach, I welcome you. If you would like to connect and see if we may be a good fit for working together, book a time with me here or if you prefer, fill out the form below and tell me a little bit about you and what you hope to address in therapy. From there, we’ll schedule a free 15-30-minute consultation on Zoom to learn more about each other. If we are not a good fit, I will help get you to the right place.

I try to respond to all messages within 24-48 hours.

“To be human is to need others, and this is no flaw or weakness.” - Dr. Sue Johnson

Schedule A Free Consultation

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Recommended Resources

Books

This book by David Richo offers practical guidance on emotional maturity, focusing on self-awareness, personal growth, and building healthy relationships through responsibility, self-compassion, and mindfulness.
A collection of poems by Yung Pueblo (Diego Perez) focused on introspection and reflection of self and growth. A book that I come to often for inspiration and connection to self.
Steeped in meditative practices and guidance, poet and teacher, Stephen Levine, offers a gentle invitation to be with awareness, slowing down and being with with is; presence.

Podcasts

In this episode of the “Sex and Psychology” podcast, Dr. Justin Lehmiller, a psychologist and researcher, and Dr. Kate Balestrieri, a psychologist and sex therapist, discuss how and why a decline in sex and intimacy may show up in long-term relationships. The episode also delves into how a decline in desire can be addressed and rediscovered by getting curious.
In a two-part series, Tara Brach, a psychologist and teacher, discusses our body's language and finding deep connections to our somatic experiences through everyday presence.
In the podcast Sounds True: Insights at the Edge, host Tami Simon speaks to Terry Real, a family therapist, to discuss building emotional intimacy and communication skills through relationship challenges.
Relationship expert and therapist, Esther Perel, sits down for dinner with a group in various open and poly relationships. What ensues is colorful and insightful dialogue on how relationships work in the modern day Western world.

Videos

Jeff Foster, a spiritual teacher and author, discusses our negative cycle of internal dialogue and holding and acknowledging the emotions of sadness, hurt, and anger, rather than judging and locking them out aiding in our healing and growth.
KC Davis, a therapist and author, discusses the morality that we are often assigning to care tasks in our everyday life, especially when we are struggling and experiencing periods of anxiety, depression, and grief, among many others.
In this filmed interview, world-renowned Jungian psychoanalyst, Dr James Hollis, explores the call from within to change your life. He asks searching and demanding questions such as: What is your soul's deepest desire? What does it mean to psychologically grow up? Why is change so difficult and so frightening?