Jim West | Male Therapist Orlando for Child, Teen, Adults

How can a male ADHD child counselor help children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder?

A male ADHD child counselor can offer support and guidance with compassion tailored to the unique needs of boys and girls with ADHD. They help children manage symptoms, develop coping strategies, improve self-esteem, remove negative thought patterns, and navigate challenges at school and home through specialized techniques, ultimately aiding in the healing process.

Jim’s Bio

Education, Experience, Specializations, Community Involvement & Memberships

Education

Jim received his Master’s Degree in Counseling from Liberty University in Virginia. He subsequently attended additional coursework at the University of South Florida and obtained his license with the state of Florida and the National Board for Certified Counselors. 

Jim is also a State-Qualified Clinical Supervisor who supervises Registered Mental Health Interns for state licensure. He is also the president of Total Life Counseling Center. He received his B.S. in Youth Ministry and incorporates those techniques into Counseling to accelerate the connection with students and earn their influence sooner.

Previous Experience

James West is a licensed mental health counselor who deals with mental health conditions primarily with children, adolescents, and young adults ages 6 and up in Orlando, Winter Park and Central Florida.

Private Practice And Salvation Army

Alpha Counseling Center in Lakeland from 1994-1996 while working with the Salvation Army’s Transitional Living program. Jim was responsible for training families in job placement, life skills, and parenting, as well as helping them establish stable housing.

Florida Baptist Children’s Home-Day Treatment

Oppositional Defiant teenagers and children with histories of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and neglect.

Winter Haven Hospital’s Behavior Health Division

One of the best community mental health centers in the country, where he was a clinician for 3 years, working extensively with ADHD children, oppositional children, court referrals, parent training, anger management groups, social skills training, and depressed children. Later, Jim was offered a promotion into administration as Utilization Management Coordinator and managed the Behavioral Health Network (BNET) for Polk, Highlands and Hardee County until November 2003. BNET is a program for kids requiring intensive therapeutic services beyond the scope of traditional outpatient therapies and has been quite successful at keeping most of those enrolled out of residential or inpatient programs.

Total Life Counseling Center

Jim West is the president/owner. Since 2007, Jim has expanded its staff and now has offices in Metro Orlando, including Metro West, Winter Park, East Orlando and Clermont. Additionally, Jim has always considered creative experiential treatment approaches to reach those who might not respond to traditional therapies.

Connects quickly with students

Jim has a unique way of bonding with children and adolescents through Play Therapy, PowerPoint Presentations, Interactive Games, Recreation Therapy and staying current with the constantly changing world of children & adolescents. Jim also stays current with adolescents through his 13 years of experience in youth ministry in speaks to students at school assemblies, youth groups and conventions.

Local and National TV & Radio

Jim is a child, teen, college student & family expert and is asked to advise on local & national TV & Radio, including the Daily Buzz, Fox 35, Channel 13, NBC, CNN, Fox News, CBS, ABC, Oprah Winfrey Network, and more.

School Consultations & Staffing

Jim has been invited to provide consultation to several private and public schools in Florida. Some local schools include Lake Highland Preparatory, First Academy, Pinecastle Christian Academy, Ocoee Elementary, Clarcona Elementary, Foundation Academy, and more. His consultations include conflict resolution, accommodations for ADHD, character building, student retention, and school improvement programs. He also advocates for students with their IEP or Individualized Education Plan & 504 Plans and has spoken at several schools in the Orange County district, including Colonial High School. Dr. West’s expertise and experience in child, teen, and young adult counseling make him a valuable resource for school consultations and staffing.

Seminars for Counselors, Teachers, Schools, Parents

With Jim West Child, Adolescent and Young Adults Expert in Orlando, East Orlando, Winter Park & Clermont International Communicator: Jim has been invited to speak for private school accreditation boards over the past 6 years, including ACSI, Children Home Society, National School Social Workers & FACCS. He has spoken to thousands of teachers over the years and influenced private schools to provide special programs for students with learning disabilities and accommodations for ADHD. His recordings at seminars are often the top requested recordings, providing a safe place for counselors, teachers, schools, clinical social workers, and parents to learn and discuss important topics related to mental health and education.

Retreats:

Jim provides retreats for schools as well to help students resolve conflicts and repair past hurts.

Summer Camps:

Since 2004 incorporating a Challenge Ropes Course and Equestrian program has helped students mature significantly, socially and emotionally, increase confidence, become calmer, more compliant, improved leadership skills, and a more positive influence on their peers.

Speaking Engagements:

He is asked to speak across the state of Florida to the following organizations to list a few :

• University Behavioral Center and Central Florida Behavioral Hospital (Inpatient Adolescent Hospital) to hundreds of therapists, psychologists, parents and counselors.
• Central Florida Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CFAMFT)
• ACSI (Association for Christian Schools International) in Southern California and Florida-Featured Speaker several years in a row for Annual Teachers Accreditation Conference
• FACCS (Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools) Florida-Featured Speaker several years in a row for Annual Teachers Accreditation Conference.
• Orange County School Nurses, Hunters Creek Middle School, Clarcona & Ocoee Elementary, and Thornbrook, more
• Seminole County Guidance Counselors Conference
• Private Schools: Lake Highand Prep, The First Academy, Foundation Academy, Venice Christian School, The Crenshaw School, St. Petersburg Christian School, and many more.
• Jim also is a state approved Qualified Clinical Supervisor for therapists completing their 2 year internship to become a Florida State licensed counselor.
• Adrenaline: Youth Group of Horizons Community Church-Gotha Florida
• Jim and his team speak for Sports Organizations like the WWE, NBA, and MLB.

Community Involvement

Jim was the producer of Sunday Night Live (Virginia) and Standing Room Only (a Saturday Night Live-type program for High School Students in Lakeland), as well as Club 77. Club 77 was a Smoke-Free, Drug-Free, and alcohol-free club for High School and college-age students. Sunday Night Live and Standing Room Only were run by college students, and the actors were teenagers entertaining other teens. These programs have built incredible self-confidence and developed talents and leadership skills for many teens. 

Jim has kept in touch with some of the teens who were involved in these programs. Most are now adults involved in their community, mentoring adolescents in some way. Jim is in the process of developing similar programs in Orlando.

Leadership Social Skills Support Group:

Jim is a professional counselor and leads a social skills support group for ages 6-10, 11-13, and 14-17. This group covers anger management, social skills, dealing with perceptions, greeting people, starting conversations, resolving conflicts, apologizing, and managing social anxiety. The group utilizes interactive games to build trust and focus and teach appropriate social skills. Short PowerPoint presentations are also used to maintain attention and focus. The group also processes healthy ways to express feelings of frustration or hurt. The Leadership Social Skills Support Group also covers group therapy and anger management strategies to help participants effectively manage and express their emotions.

Professional Memberships:

• LMHC – State of Florida’s Department of Health
• NBCC – National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC)
• AACC
• Psychology Today Verified
• GoodTherapy.org Credentials Verified