The Essex Center is...
...being created as a community of people who focus on their life journey to take good care of themselves, others and nature. We are corporeal beings, yet act with a spirit of being part of something larger than ourselves. We currently offer individual Life's Journey Consultations in person (North Jersey) or online.
Current Services
Life's Journey Consultation
We are all on a journey, a pilgrimage through this life on earth. Sometimes, this living experience unfolds naturally, with health and clarity. Other times, however, some aspects of our life or work are not coming together well. Perhaps our relationships or families are struggling, or learning has become a challenge, or what work to do is unclear. Sometimes, practically every dimension of our life could be a muddle, with little sense of direction.
The role of a Life's Journey Specialist has been created to make available professional short-term or long-term informed conversations to enable and support decision-making and progress in what life needs and goals we are working through or toward, whether for ourselves, a group we are in, or an organization we participate in.
Sometimes, all we need is a chance to talk to someone who will listen. Other times, a specific frustration, difficulty, or struggle needs to be the focus of support, encouragement, and enlightenment.
When it is relevant or central, we consider if there is some mindset, attitude, emotional pattern, or sense of self that could be enhanced for better life outcomes, which is the foundational sense of "spirit" we use here to guide out dynamic life's journey.
Appropriate clinical referrals are made, when needed, when issues arise to be able to make use of this educational, supportive service.
Taking the Next Steps
Exploring this website and checking out our videos and playlists are options to help decide whether this service is worth trying.
More directly, there is the offer of a no-charge, 30-minute telephone or Zoom call to ask any questions, explore your needs and requests, and begin to get a conversation going about helpful ideas and priorities. (AND SEE SPECIAL OFFER BELOW!)
If you decide that you wish to schedule the next step, an initial in-depth consultation, you may telephone or email James.
Fees and confidentiality
All sessions are — usually and preferably — either in person or on Zoom; however, telephone sessions are also an option upon request.
Life happens, so rescheduling and cancellations are inevitable, with no financial penalty if at some point we agree to continue on a fee basis, unless in the sole judgment of the practitioner these have become excessive. No-shows are charged at full fee unless an emergency prevented prior canceling or rescheduling.
There is no electronic recording of Life's Journey Counseling sessions by this practitioner, but the practitioner and participant may take notes during sessions. These sessions are confidential, but as they are educational, not clinical, in nature, the requirements of legal authorities are respected and followed.
"Your best mission is our mission."
We collaborate with each participant in their goal to live well:
- by taking good care of oneself, others, and nature
- by creating, pursuing, and evaluating one's life's work mission
- by attunement to the energizing, focusing intersection of body and spirit, whether that is, for you, "spirit" or "Spirit," "divine" creativity or "Divine" creativity, or "grace" or "Grace."
We focus on building:
- thriving health
- a wise and effective mindset
- beneficial life projects
- and an enduringly joyful and transcendent spirit.
We work with active participants who are:
Adults of any age who are ready to address their concerns about, and potential for, improving their personal life and building their life's work.
Young adults — or adults of any age — who are making life transitions to technical and higher education, work life, and independence, and who are interacting with those in their lives involved in their progress, such as parents/guardians, life partners, employers, and educators.
Older adults who are undertaking a life review, and seek to develop and express their generous spirit through continued learning, personal fulfillment, and dynamic service endeavors.
In all of these services, we assist people who seek to find or develop, then intensively work on, projects that are worthwhile and engaging to them and that make a noticeable contribution, large or small, to making some aspect of the world a better place.
Thus, we honor, support, and work with people:
- who now may be struggling in one or more areas of life
- who wish to achieve and maintain current their levels of personal and professional growth and happiness
- who are ready to make the changes needed to achieve their fullest life potential, seeking something more worthwhile and engaging.
"On life's journey, we will walk with you."
"There is nothing more satisfying than helping someone with their own journey." — Dimitri Moriatis, Spiritual Arts Institute
"Education in Perspective"
During the winter and spring of 2026, we can ask:
in times of crisis and change, are we focusing on
building our own positive spirit and mindset?
