James Patterson is the clinical director of Lake Avenue Recovery. He is a seasoned addiction treatment leader with over five years of experience leading programs at both the inpatient and outpatient levels of care. He is a licensed independent clinical social worker who worked in various aspects of substance use treatment and behavioral health for 10 years before coming to Lake Avenue. 

As a person in long-term recovery, James is passionate about helping people recover from the disease of addiction, live substance-free lives, and meet and conquer their mental health challenges. He specializes in trauma-informed, evidence-based substance use disorder interventions and creative arts / expressive arts therapies. Before his leadership roles, James created the first-ever Addiction Recovery Care Management program at Tufts Health Plan (now Point 32 Health) after several years at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center Inpatient Psychiatry Department. 

James is also a paralegal. Prior to his training in behavioral health, he worked in sales and marketing, which provides an additional dimension to his ability to engage and motivate a population that is often difficult to engage and motivate. He also maintains a small Boston-based boutique private therapy practice. His unwavering dedication centers on assisting individuals in surmounting their mental health challenges.

Beyond his professional commitments, he finds delight in exploring new cultures through travel, volunteering in international peer-to-peer recovery initiatives, nurturing orchids, cooking and baking, and cherishing moments with friends and loved ones.