James’ Work
James’s journey as a therapist began with neuromuscular and structural integration therapy over 20 years ago with a focus on addressing patterns of restriction in the body. As his practice evolved, so did his personal centering practice, rooted in the Christian contemplative tradition.
Today, James’s work is an integration of bodywork, spiritual counseling, energy work, and somatic movement therapy. He assists clients in uncovering and transforming restrictive patterns across physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual dimensions, guiding them toward alignment with their deeper truth. His unique ability to reinterpret familiar religious concepts allows clients to experience these truths anew, connecting them to their daily lives in practical and meaningful ways.
Drawing from a deep appreciation for various spiritual traditions—including Christianity, Buddhism, Zen, Daoism, and Hinduism—James tailors his guidance to resonate with each individual’s path. Beyond one-on-one sessions, James leads intensive retreats and classes in somatic movement, meditation, and ceremonial tea sits.
The patterns that show up in the body are reflected in all aspects of our life: in how we relate to ourselves, our kids, our partners, our work, even how we do the laundry and clean the floors. To work on the body without working on our attachment to these other patterns of restriction is to keep the divine therapy at the most superficial level: you may see a change in the tissues and find bodily relief, but for how long, and to what degree?
One of James’s clients said to him once, “Oh, you just do bodywork to get people through the door.” This kind of deeper transformational work can only happen when we are willing to surrender to a compassionate therapeutic touch and presence.
We must be willing to feel the pain to allow for its release. We must be willing to experience noble suffering to come into a newer, and free-er, reality.
So, while people have come to see James for bodywork, the deeper transformational work happens with the sharing in spiritual dialogue and dropping into a deeper place of prayer together.
As he usually tells clients before their first session, “Come in with an open heart and an open mind and let’s see what happens.”
”God (Reality) wants to experience you as much as you want to experience God (Reality).”
— James Thomson