Counseling & Therapy Services in Orange County, CA
Are you feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or worn down by the same painful patterns, no matter how hard you try to “hold it together”? Maybe you’ve been managing for a long time on your own, and something in you knows it’s time for deeper support.
I’m James Brillon, LMFT #100807 / LPCC #5081, a therapist serving adults and couples in Orange County, CA, with offices in Los Alamitos and Costa Mesa, and online throughout California. I specialize in helping people heal from anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship pain, addiction, and narcissistic abuse using an integrative, relational and trauma-informed approach.
On this page, you’ll find an overview of the counseling services I offer. Each one has its own detailed page you can explore when you’re ready.
You don’t have to figure this out alone. Let’s take the first step together. Call so we can schedule a consultation.
James Brillon, LMFT, LPCC
Addictions and Compulsivity
I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all therapy. Your story, history, and nervous system are unique, so the way we work together should be too. My approach integrates:
- Relational, attachment-focused therapy – understanding how your relationships have shaped how you see yourself and others
- Trauma-informed care – including EMDR and body-based work when appropriate
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – to work with the patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors that keep you stuck
- Mindfulness and self-compassion – learning new ways to relate to yourself with less judgment and more kindness
Whether we’re working on long-standing trauma, a painful relationship dynamic, or the exhaustion of anxiety and depression, therapy is a place to feel seen, understood, and supported as you create real change.
Therapy Services I Offer
Below is a brief overview of my core services. You can click through to each page to learn more about how I work with that concern.
In individual therapy, we focus on you – your story, your patterns, and the parts of you that are hurting or feel lost. Together, we explore what’s getting in the way of living the life you want, and work toward greater clarity, self-compassion, and freedom.
Individual therapy can help with anxiety, depression, grief, life transitions, trauma, identity questions, or simply a sense that “something needs to change” even if you can’t name it yet.
Depression can make everything feel heavy – getting out of bed, staying present at work, connecting with people you love, or even caring about the things that used to matter. You may feel numb, hopeless, or ashamed that you “can’t just snap out of it.”
In depression counseling in Orange County, we work to understand the roots of your depression, including past experiences, current stressors, and the beliefs you’ve absorbed about yourself. We’ll move at a pace that feels safe as you begin to feel more energy, meaning, and connection return to your life.
Anxiety can show up as racing thoughts, constant worry, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or a sense of dread you can’t shake. You may feel like your mind is always scanning for what could go wrong, and your body never really comes to rest.
In anxiety counseling, we’ll look at how anxiety shows up in your thoughts, body, and relationships. Using tools from CBT, mindfulness, and trauma-informed care, we’ll help your nervous system find more regulation so you can respond to life with greater calm, flexibility, and choice.
Trauma & PTSD Therapy
Trauma isn’t just what happened to you — it’s also what happened inside you as a result. Old experiences can live on as intrusive memories, emotional numbing, startle responses, body tension, or relationship patterns that don’t make sense on the surface.
My trauma and PTSD therapy work draws from EMDR, attachment-focused therapy, and somatic awareness to help your brain and body complete what was once overwhelming. The goal isn’t to erase the past, but to loosen its grip so you can feel more present, grounded, and alive in your current life.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy is an evidence-based approach used to help people heal from trauma, anxiety, and other distressing experiences that the brain hasn’t fully processed.
EMDR uses guided bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements or hand buzzers) while you safely recall aspects of a memory. Over time, these memories tend to feel less charged, less overwhelming, and more integrated, so they no longer dominate your present. EMDR can be helpful for single-incident trauma, complex trauma, and some addiction-related concerns.
Relationships can be a source of deep connection — and deep pain. You may feel stuck in the same arguments, walking on eggshells, or more like roommates than partners. Or maybe you’re preparing for marriage and want to build a stronger foundation.
In couples counseling in Orange County, we work together to improve communication, repair trust, reduce conflict, and increase emotional and physical intimacy. Premarital counseling can help you explore expectations, values, and patterns before they become bigger problems, giving you tools to navigate the inevitable challenges ahead.
Addiction and problematic substance use often begin as ways to cope with overwhelming feelings, stress, or pain — but over time they create their own suffering. You may feel ashamed, out of control, or unsure whether things are “bad enough” to ask for help.
My addiction counseling work includes support for drug and alcohol addiction, disordered drinking, and other compulsive behaviors. Together, we’ll explore underlying trauma, anxiety, depression, or relational wounds, develop relapse prevention strategies, and find safer, more sustainable ways to regulate your emotions and build a life that doesn’t require numbing.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps you understand how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact — and how to interrupt patterns that keep you stuck. It is practical, structured, and evidence-based.
I use CBT to help with anxiety, depression, panic disorder, PTSD, insomnia, stress, substance use, and more. We’ll identify automatic negative thoughts, challenge unhelpful beliefs, and practice new responses so you can experience more freedom and flexibility in daily life.
Some relationships leave deep, invisible wounds: chronic self-doubt, confusion, walking on eggshells, and feeling like you lost yourself trying to keep the peace. If you’ve experienced gaslighting, emotional manipulation, or a cycle of idealization and devaluation, you may be recovering from a narcissistic relationship.
In narcissistic relationship recovery therapy, we focus on helping you understand what happened, rebuild trust in your own perceptions, reconnect with your body’s signals, and relearn what healthy love can feel like. This work often includes trauma, attachment, and boundary healing — and ultimately, a return to your own voice and sense of self.
In-Person & Online Therapy in California
I offer in-person therapy in Los Alamitos and Costa Mesa, and online therapy throughout California. Whether you’re looking for weekly support, focused trauma work, or a place to sort out a specific concern, we’ll collaborate on a plan that fits your needs, schedule, and goals.
You don’t have to figure this out alone. Let’s take the first step together. Call so we can schedule a consultation.
Los Alamitos Office
5212 Katella Avenue, Ste 103B
Los Alamitos, CA 90720
Costa Mesa Office
3001 Red Hill Ave #216
Costa Mesa, CA 92626