About James

James Minikowski has been providing therapeutic health services in the Cleveland area for over a dozen years. After earning his BA in Psychology from the University of Connecticut (1995), he worked in a wide array of mental health settings, including residential services, school-based services, and community hospitals. These experiences inspired him to return to school and earn a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Saint Joseph (2000). James obtained his initial License in Marriage and Family Therapy in Connecticut in 2002 and began working in private practice.
In 2009, he and his family moved to the Cleveland area, where he began working soon after as an Ohio Licensed Independent Marriage and Family Therapist. Later James would receive a Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor designation from the state of Ohio. In 2018, James was appointed to the State Board of Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists (CSWMFT) by Governor Kasich. In 2020, he was reappointed to the the CSWMFT by Governor Dewine and was elected chair of the board by his fellow board members.  He followed up his term with by being elected to the be the chairperson of the MFT Professional Standards Committee as well as serving as the Investigative Liaison.
James has mentored undergraduate and graduate students, in addition to newly licensed therapists interested in pursuing advancement in their practice. He has been a guest speaker on television, in classrooms, and in community-based programs.
His professional interests include working with people across the lifespan, dealing with issues of anxiety, anger, recovery, transitional issues, as well as depression/mood disorders. His clientele extends to include minoritized populations, with a successful history of addressing men’s issues.
His goal is to build upon peoples’ strengths and abilities, to create solutions and write healthy new stories. The therapeutic approaches he employs are collaborative, evidenced-based, and systemic.
When he is not at work, James enjoys supporting his favorite youth and professional sports teams, serving on the Board of Directors of the Star Gathering Conferences, and spending time with his family.