James Ochoa, M.Ed., LPC

My passion for counseling began in my seventh grade geography class when I felt a real connection to the fact there were over 3 billion people in the world who were all different. I am as fascinated now as I was then that no two people are exactly alike. Helping people accept themselves and understand their differences eventually became my calling.

It was no accident that my family of origin played a significant role in my counseling career. I was the seventh child in a family of eight, with seven children born within eight years; moreover, six of these were boys! My family grew up in a 1,000 square foot house until I was 12 years old so I clearly came to understand the organized chaos theory and the significant role family that plays in one’s life early on.

Consequently, family dynamics intrigue me. My counseling approach is centered in the Adlerian and family systems theory which indicates our primary beliefs about ourselves and others are strongly influenced by our childhood, family, and social systems. Together, our neurology, genetics, life history, and personality create the fabric of our lives.

Since 1987 I have been in the counseling field, working with clients as young as 4 and as wise as 84. My clinical background has been multi-faceted, including experience working in residential treatment centers, psychiatric hospitals, prisons, a pediatric practice, and in 1999 I opened The Life Empowerment Center.

It is my joy to collaborate with many professionals who help meet the needs of my clients, including school and career counselors, physicians, nutritionists, teachers, and others, who are all valuable resources.

The process of weaving mentoring, coaching and counseling is the foundation of my practice. I engage in an action-oriented, educational methodology to encourage clients to recognize, explore and embrace their greatest potential.