Meet James Bachmann
18/9/6 | By: James Bachmann
Hello! My name is James Bachmann, but I go by Jay. I am an LPC in Virginia and am currently working towards licensure in Maryland, with hopefully DC coming next. I am so excited to join the Monarch team and work closely with those struggling with eating disorders, self-image, and being their authentic self.
I was born and raised in Virginia, but I had the awesome opportunity to live internationally in France when I was younger because of my dad’s work. I loved seeing a different part of the world and experiencing different cultures. My favorite example is for the New Year. The French make something called a “gateaux de roi,” which translates to “King’s Cake.” Unlike the cakes you see in New Orleans, the French cake is a flaky pastry with a hidden prize inside. If you happen to get that slice, you are the king for the day! At the same time, moving and experiencing so much change came with its own challenges. One of the hardest parts was coming back home. I realized that, while I was away, everything and everyone around me had changed. At times, I felt disconnected from a place that I believed should feel familiar, when in reality, it all felt very different. I learned a lot from the experience about how impactful difficult transitions can be and how important it is to find a sense of belonging. To further cement my journey towards the field of mental health, in high school I struggled with my own mental health challenges, with two close friends struggling with their own as well. I ended up being their main support; just a teenager trying to figure out how to help someone through an eating disorder and suicidal thoughts was not something a teenager should be doing. So I asked for help, and it made a world of difference.
My friends’ and my struggles led me to want to know more about how I could help others. So, I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Richmond in 2021, along with a minor in Business Administration. In 2021, I moved on to graduate school at The George Washington University. After three years of working and attending school, I earned my Master’s degree from GW’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program in 2024!
While in graduate school, I worked full-time with teenagers as a Behavioral Health Specialist in a Partial Hospitalization Program. I spent my days building close connections with clients, teaching grounding skills, working through crises, and being a consistent source of support during some difficult moments in their lives. That experience taught me how important it can be to have someone who continues to show up, especially when everything else feels unpredictable.
During graduate school, I also interned at Newport Healthcare at the PHP and IOP levels, where I worked with clients experiencing a wide range of mental health challenges. I had the opportunity to engage in individual, group, and family therapy, and I learned so much from working with such a diverse group of clients. I also began to understand just how closely our mental health and our relationship with our bodies can be connected. For many of the people I worked with, struggles with eating, confidence, and self-image were inseparable from the challenges they were experiencing with their mental health. Seeing that connection, and recognizing the importance of consistent care and support, became an essential part of how I approach working with people.
After graduation, I continued working with Newport at the Residential level of care, supporting clients who needed 24/7 supervision and consistent care. Once again, I worked with people experiencing a wide variety of mental health challenges, but one of the most fulfilling parts of that experience was getting to watch people change day by day. Clients having a stable environment and consistent support gave them the confidence to be their authentic self, feel safe, and explore who they are beyond their mental health struggles. I continued to see the powerful connection between the mind and body, and how much easier it can be for someone to explore their authentic self when they feel accepted and safe enough to do so.
As a therapist, I work to meet each client where they are and tailor the therapy experience to their individual needs. I want my clients to feel safe and understood while also feeling like they have control over the direction of our work together. Everyone needs a space to be seen, heard, and accepted for who they truly are. Some of my greatest strengths as a therapist are adaptability and consistency, with authenticity serving as the foundation for both. I want to be someone who can adjust when things change while still being a steady presence you can count on.
Cultural competence and trauma-informed care are essential to my work as a therapist. Every client brings their own experiences, identities, relationships, and challenges into the room, which means therapy should never be a one-size-fits-all experience. I believe one of the most important parts of trauma work is reclaiming your power and taking back control of your own life. I hope that, through our work together, you feel supported and empowered to advocate for yourself and make choices that feel true to who you are. I am also very passionate about incorporating the
principles of Health at Every Size (HAES) into my work, particularly when supporting clients navigating eating disorders, body image, and their relationship with their bodies.
Outside of work, I am a nerd through and through. I love reading fantasy books, playing tabletop games with my friends, and, of course, Dungeons & Dragons. I also spend a significant amount of time painting Warhammer 40K miniatures, which is a very specific way of saying I enjoy having hobbies that let me be creative and get completely absorbed in another world. When I am not doing something nerdy, I enjoy cooking and spending time outdoors. Virginia has been my home for a long time now, and I am excited to continue working with people throughout the DMV and helping create spaces where people feel safe, supported, and more comfortable being their most authentic selves.