• Some New Ways to Lift Your Spirits

    Some New Ways to Lift Your Spirits The annual Psychotherapy Networker symposium was held over the past few days, and I attended some fascinating and thought-provoking talks. I’ll share a couple of the ideas that surfaced in today’s posting. Readers of…

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  • Reducing Anger and Upset

    Reducing Anger and Upset We’re only a little more than three weeks away from the Presidential election, and passions are running high, passions stoked by both of the parties and their candidates. The hundreds of millions of dollars of attack ads…

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  • Holding Grudges vs. Forgiveness

    Cushion the Impact of Negativity Today’s post relates to last week’s and seeks to cushion the impact of negativity engendered by others. Wouldn’t the world be a wonderful place if everyone acted the way we wished they would? Perhaps, although…

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  • From Hopelessness to Motivation to Success

    From Hopelessness to Motivation to Success On Monday I will be giving a presentation to Forty Plus of Greater Washington. Forty Plus is a national non-profit organization with dozens of local chapters, founded in 1939 to assist older men (it was…

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  • The Dangers of Diagnosis

    The Dangers of Diagnosis Today’s post is inspired by a voicemail message left for me by a client inquiring about my services. “I’m 38 years old, a GS-14 and bipolar 2” it said in part. When I’m working with clients primarily…

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  • “No Problem Can Be Solved from the Level of Consciousness that Created It”

    Shifting Perspective This week’s post is about the importance of shifting perspective through a process of open-ended, curious exploration.  It applies to just about any situation in which you feel stuck, whether that be in a job, in a relationship,…

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  • A Different Way of Looking at Romantic Love

    Love Love is a word with a broader range of meanings than almost any other verb / noun in the English language. Which is why it can sometimes be a confusing term. We can love our parents, our mate, our…

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  • Seek to Understand Rather than be Understood

    Seek to Understand Rather than be Understood This phrase, part of the Prayer of St. Francis (attributed to St. Francis of Assissi) and the fifth of the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey, is one of the fundamental…

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  • We’re All Wired Differently

    Give Your Partner the Gift of Accepting that We’re All Wired Differently Emily and Randy are a couple I’ve been seeing intermittently for the last year.  When they first came to me they were on the verge of breaking up over…

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If you’re exploring a career change, here’s Jim’s 4-stage process

01

Develop Your Profile

Jim helps you build a concise narrative capturing everything relevant: who you are, what drives you, and where you want to go.

  • Professional history, key experiences, defining traits
  • Core strengths and preferred work environments
  • Salary range, location, company size, and your real decision criteria
  • Your values
02

Identify Promising Options

Jim identifies paths with clarity including responsibilities, entry points, challenges, and genuine trade-offs.

  • Compensation outlook and growth trajectory
  • Transition pathways and entry requirements
  • Key advantages and honest trade-offs of each path
03

Evaluate and Prioritize

Jim assesses each path against your strengths and constraints. A prioritized shortlist formed based on logic and AI feedback.

  • Alignment with strengths, interests, and real constraints
  • Comparison across fit, feasibility, and long-term upside
  • A focused finalist list for real-world validation
  • Conversations with people doing the actual work being considered
  • Research and AI provide validation of choices
04

Getting the Job

Jim ensures that your networking outreach, resume, LinkedIn profile, elevator speech, and interview performance are superior.

  • Network outreach and targeted introductions
  • Independent research and industry trend analysis
  • Informational conversations with people in those roles
01
Jim helps you build a concise narrative capturing everything relevant: who you are, what drives you, and where you want to go.

Client Reviews

Working with Jim was a refreshing and positive experience. As a first-timer to working with a coach, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Jim was spot-on in identifying the primary goals and we achieved them within the four weeks he had predicted. His great demeanor made the process effective and easy. Jim is truly delighted in the progress his clients make. This became clear when seeing the broad smile and satisfaction on his face when he realized we achieved our stated goals and that I had the tools to take the next step in my professional and personal success. He’s a great resource to have.

Michael Veronis

I am so incredibly grateful for Jim’s guidance during a challenging career change. His insight, feedback, and support were essential to my success in landing a dream job. From helping me chart a new course and finding a new passion after burning out in a draining career, to coaching me through final interviews, he was with me every step of the way. I cannot recommend him enough!

Caitlin Lochridge

As an executive search/headhunter I have been lucky enough to partner with Jim on a number of occasions. I have referred several local and remote (Skype, etc.) mid-level to executive-level candidates to him who have reported back to me with rave reviews. Jim has also consulted with me whenever my executive search expertise has been a helpful element to his full-service thoughtful career advice he provides his clients. 100% class act and worth the investment.

Andrew Zalman

Ready to Begin?

The first step is a complimentary 15–20 minute conversation — completely free, no obligation. Fill out the form and Jim will be in touch personally. No pressure, no scripts, just a genuine exchange about what you need.

Phone

(202) 667-0665

Email

Jim@DCLifeCounseling.com

Main Office · Alexandria, VA

2405 Brentwood Place

Alexandria, VA 22306

Part-Time Office · Washington DC

1633 Q St., NW, Suite 200

Washington D.C. 20009