About James Ochoa, M.Ed., LPC &
The Life Empowerment Center (TLEC)

My passion for counseling began in Ms. Loyce’s seventh grade geography class when I felt awe and inspiration by the fact there were more than 3 billion people in the world who were all different.

I am still fascinated today that no two people are exactly alike. Helping people accept themselves and understand their differences over the years has become 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 1,200 square foot house until I was 12 years old, so from a young age I came to understand the organized chaos theory and the significant role family plays in one’s life.

Consequently, my counseling approach is centered in the Adlerian and family systems theory which says our primary beliefs about ourselves and others are strongly influenced by our childhood, family, and social systems. Further my philosophy is rooted in humanistic, cognitive behavioral, existential, metaphysical, spiritual and neurodevelopmental theories. How our neurology, genetics, life history, and personality create the evolving fabric of our lives remains my greatest passion.

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, and a pediatric practice. In 1999 I opened The ADHD Clinic, which evolved into The Life Empowerment Center in 2003.

The process of weaving mentoring, coaching and counseling is the foundation of my practice. I engage in a directive, action-oriented, educational methodology to encourage clients to recognize, explore and embrace their greatest potential across all realms of their mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health.

My current area of professional development is the study of the most current neurological research, exploring how the mind affects the development of our brain that influences our choices, behaviors and long-term health across the spectrum of our lives.