Lee James is a licensed clinical mental health counselor with nearly two decades of experience providing evidence-based mental health services. He earned both his bachelor’s degree in psychology and his master’s degree in rehabilitation psychology and counseling from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Since graduating in 2002, Lee has worked in community mental health and private practice, specializing in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and recovery-oriented services for individuals with mental health disabilities and co-occurring conditions. He currently serves clients throughout the Triangle region, with a particular focus on people with disabilities.
At age 15, Lee sustained a C5-C6 spinal cord injury in a diving accident and has navigated life as a manual wheelchair user ever since. His lived experience informs both his clinical work and his commitment to disability advocacy.
Lee serves as chair of DRNC’s Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Advisory Council and is the committee’s liaison to the board of directors. He is passionate about promoting independence, self-determination, recovery, and community inclusion for people with disabilities.