James Rainwater, Ph.D., believes that mental health treatment should focus on growth, personal development, and wellness. He feels that the cultural emphasis on illness, symptoms, and disorders does not recognize what most people want when they're looking for a therapist, which is to feel better. Dr. Rainwater's professional efforts are devoted to promoting positive change and personal growth.

Dr. Rainwater maintains a busy full-time psychotherapy practice in Boulder, Colorado. He works with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families. He also supervises therapists for licensure and continuing education. Prior to private practice, Dr. Rainwater was the clinical director and staff supervisor of a New England inpatient facility. He received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Union Institute and University. He also holds a M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the Vermont State College, and B.A. from the University of Colorado at Boulder. His education includes several years of postdoctoral training and mentorship in dynamic therapy. He is licensed as an LPC in Colorado (#4656) and Vermont (#635). James is a member of the Denver Psychoanalytic Society, The Vermont Association for Psychoanalytic Studies, The American Psychological Association, and a Psychotherapist Associate of The American Psychoanalytic Association.

James has done award-winning research on psychodynamic therapy with children and adolescents who have been diagnosed with ADHD. He received a research award from the Vermont Association for Psychoanalytic Studies for this work. He remains active in research in this area, and has journal articles in review for publication. The research approaches mental health from the point of view of the uniqueness of each individual.

In practice Dr. Rainwater sees each patient as a unique individual whose mind has developed according to life circumstances that are distinct for everyone. Clients grow in therapeutic relationships that emphasize the strengths of each individual. His theoretical perspective is psychoanalytic, combining classical, object relations, and intersubjective ideas and techniques. With children and some adolescents Dr. Rainwater uses dynamically informed non-directive play therapy techniques that have been particularly effective in treating childhood disorders and trauma adjustment.