Counselor Spotlight: James
James Snider, LAC discusses self-reflection through landscaping, movie reviews, and how pie is uninteresting.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I currently enjoy working at the Blackwood office on Thursdays and Fridays and working as a landscaper part-time. With counseling, I’m just really excited to hit the ground running and learn how to love others well through it. Landscaping allows my mind to relax and reflect on the week. That’s something I enjoy doing in general; reflecting. It’s one of the ways that I see how God is working and active in the day-to-day of my life.
What was your journey to becoming a counselor?
I started getting counseling on a bi-weekly basis when I was a senior in high school and continued to attend counseling throughout college. While it was difficult during some moments, I enjoyed getting to know more about myself and why I thought or felt the way I did. I started to wonder what it would be like to sit in the other chair. From then on, my interest in and love for counseling grew every year, especially how I saw it as an opportunity to really get to know someone well and walk with them through tough seasons of life. It’s a place to live out Romans 12:15 and Galatians 6:2.
What’s your favorite movie?
Pixar’s Up. Aside from the beautiful colors and adventurousness of it all, I could relate to Russell as a Wilderness Explorer since I was a Boy Scout myself. Plus, it’s a really great story of learning to love again and find closure from grief. Those first 5 minutes are killer too.
What’s a unique “hill you will die on?”
Pie is a sub-par dessert. I don’t think there is a single pie I have tried that I like.
Favorite band?
One band I keep coming back to is The Arcadian Wild. I love their indie-folk style and they’re extremely talented. A favorite song of theirs is “Man in Room 39.” I don’t think there is a single song of theirs that I dislike; I’m an unashamed fanboy through and through.
Go-to restaurant?
Nifty Fifty’s, when my budget allows it.
What do you do for fun?
I run 2-3 times a week in different neighborhoods that are around me, play board games with some close friends on Thursday nights and get breakfast at diners with them on Saturday mornings, and read as much as I can! I’m also in the process of perfecting the recipe for a dark chocolate cold brew. (Admittedly, this was not an original idea. I stole it from a local coffee shop).
You recently wrote a movie review for our blog. How do you go about analyzing art through a Christian lens?
I make an effort to look for Christian themes in music or film. In this way, I can see how even secular film or music deals with the same kind of themes that Christians do (love, suffering, man’s purpose, healing, forgiveness, doubt, etc.) While there are distinct differences in how each views these themes, there is a way to relate with those who aren’t Christian simply on the basis of our shared humanity.
Describe your approach to counseling.
In the first few sessions, I’m exploring what the client is going through personally at the moment and getting a history of them; what kind of family they grew up in, the quality of relationships they’ve had, and key moments (good or hard) that have marked their life. This offers a really good basis not only for ongoing therapy but to strengthen the relationship I develop with clients. From there, I explore with the client how they think and experience life, looking for ways to offer different perspectives while continually integrating faith into the way they cope with their life and sufferings.