Dr. Cooke-James is a seasoned clinical professional with more than 35 years of experience, providing psychotherapy, consultation, education and administrative services for patients aged 2 to 92. 

She earned her doctorate at the California School of Professional Psychology, completing her doctoral internship at Children’s Hospital-Oakland serving children, youth, and families in the Department of Psychiatry. She served as primary consultant to medical staff in the ED, the ICU and the Department of 

Neurology. Her dissertation researched spiritual maturity and life satisfaction among women at midlife and beyond, resulting in an article published in the Journal of Religion and Health.

Dr. Cooke-James implemented child protection laws as a City of Philadelphia social worker responsible for child safety, placement and judicial reporting. She also served as a consultant at the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) where she handled cases of elder incompetence, abuse, and placement. She contributed to PCA’s protective service manual, the standard for elder protection throughout Pennsylvania.

She administered a Consultation and Education Program at Women’s Christian Alliance facilitating psycho-educational and professional development seminars for clinical staff, education professionals and serving as keynote speaker at Senator Hughes’s community mental health conference in Philadelphia.