James Hicks

Growing up, I was in the middle of 8 siblings. To entertain ourselves, we would often meet outside under the large tree, in the small town of Govan, South Carolina, to “play church.”  Frequently, I was tagged as the pastor. A short wooden stick, which had fallen from the tree, was my microphone. Standing under the oak tree, with my make-shift pulpit, I would start preaching what I knew of Jesus. One day, while my brothers and sisters were waving their hands in praise and shouting AMEN, the Power of God came upon me, and what started out as a joke became an experience I would never forget. At the age of 9, pretending to be a preacher was no longer make-believe. It became a calling that my mother and father recognized, and spiritually cultivated in me as I grew up. As a child, I knew I was called to share the Gospel of Christ and to invite Jesus’ healing power in people’s lives, but out of fear, I chose to play music, and sing instead. At the time, music seemed more popular and financially lucrative. However, this desire to see people healed and whole did not go away. This passion is also what lead me to become a counselor. I am now a registered mental health intern with the State of Florida and I am excited to see recovery take place in the lives of my clients.

My life’s journey and faith eventually led me to serve in the U.S. Navy. My first military tour was on board the grand ship called the USS Prairie. It was upon this vessel that I had another encounter with God. A typhoon (similar to a hurricane) struck while out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Stranded out on the tossing waves somewhere between California and Hawaii, I surrendered, and vowed to preach God’s word if he spared my life and those of my shipmates, and brought me safely home to my newlywed wife. Obviously, God heard my cry for help, and I lived to tell the tale, and now I live to love and serve others well. Upon returning, I expressed to my pastor, Bishop J.A. Blake, that God had called me to preach the Gospel.  I entered weekly Bible school and he ordained me to preach. I became a youth pastor and found a passion in working with young people.

It is my heart’s desire to see healing and connection in individuals, teens, children, marriages, and families. Throughout my life, I have learned the power of connection. This lesson took place at the beginning of my naval career. In my 20 years of honorable service, I served many positions, including command career counselor, Equal opportunity officer, and Division officer. I recognized early on that meeting someone right where they are, understanding what is important to them, and giving them a judgement free zone to express themselves, produced movement and positive results. Granted, that was in the workplace, but the same concepts apply to therapy. My primary intention is to use the knowledge and skills learned in the military, as a student at Palm Beach Atlantic, along with my God given talents, to assist my clients in becoming their best, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically, and financially. I believe as we learn to love ourselves, have healthy connections, and understand our identity, we will become whole, feel good, and are more capable of embracing and loving others in a healthy way.

I am blessed and my heart is filled with gratitude. I am blessed to have a beautiful wife with over 40 years of marriage, 4 amazing and talented children, 6 grandchildren who are growing up way to fast, and a Church that God has blessed me to lead. I am also grateful for the courage my clients possess to begin their healing journey.

Now, whether you feel like I did on the USS Prairie and feel like life is tossing you around and that you are going to drown, or you want to achieve some very specific emotional, mental health goals or marital goals, I invite you to allow me the honor and privilege to lead you on the road of healing and to create the connections, health, and wellness you have always desired and deserve. Call me today to get your healing journey started!!