Dr. James Wood, LMFT

California · 34 years in practice

Dr. James Wood greets people with calm directness and more than three decades of practice.

License and registration

LMFT, California: 28825 · expires June 2027
NPI: 1760658017 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 34
Languages: English

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the license with the issuing state board, and the NPI with the national registry.

About James

Dr. James Wood greets people with calm directness and more than three decades of practice. He helps people facing stress, anxiety, addiction, depression, trauma, and the everyday strain of relationships.

He aims to make sessions feel honest and nonjudgmental so clients can speak plainly about what matters to them. He brings 34 years of professional experience as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, working in California. He listens for patterns that cause pain, like attachment injuries, codependency, or family-of-origin struggles, then helps people try new ways of responding.

Background and approach

The work often blends exploring meaning, practical skills, and decisions about next steps. Dr. Wood often draws on Existential ideas about finding purpose and making choices when life feels unfair or uncertain.

He also uses approaches that teach coping strategies and emotional skills, such as acceptance-based methods and cognitive-behavioral techniques. Sessions can include coaching-style problem solving alongside deeper reflection. He has helped people through issues tied to divorce, adoption and foster care, addictions including drug and alcohol problems, eating and food concerns, and the fallout from disasters or loss.

He also addresses guilt, shame, isolation, and challenges connected to HIV/AIDs. Dr. Wood describes therapy as a collaborative effort.

He supports people who want clearer boundaries, better communication, or relief from overwhelming feelings. For many clients the work leads to more manageable daily life and a clearer sense of direction.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything James lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Stress, Anxiety
Addictions
Trauma and abuse
Depression
Coaching
Abandonment
Adoption and foster care
Attachment issues
Codependency
Communication problems
Control issues
Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
Divorce and separation
Drug and alcohol addiction
Eating and food-related issues
Family of origin issues
Forgiveness
Guilt and shame
HIV / AIDS
Isolation / loneliness
Life purpose
Men's issues
Midlife crisis
Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
Money and financial issues
Mood disorders
Multicultural concerns
Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Personality disorders
Post-traumatic stress
Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Self-love
Sex addiction
Sexual dysfunction
Sexuality
Smoking / vaping cessation
Social anxiety and phobia
Trichotillomania
Workplace issues
Young adult issues

Approaches James names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.

Online support

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Dr. Wood uses Existential Therapy to help people face big questions about meaning, choice, and purpose when life feels uncertain. That approach encourages honest reflection about values and how to live with more intention.

He also relies on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which teaches practical skills for accepting difficult thoughts while committing to actions that match personal values. Attachment-Based Therapy is used to look at patterns in relationships and to build healthier ways of relating to others.

Choosing an approach is a team effort. He will talk with each person about goals, what feels most helpful, and how much structure they prefer. Together they adjust methods over time so the work fits the person's needs and rhythms.

Online therapy offers several practical benefits. Video calls let sessions feel much like in-person meetings and work well for deeper discussions. Phone sessions can be simpler when bandwidth is low or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging make it possible to check in between sessions or use brief coaching-style support when schedules are tight.

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Questions people ask

What concerns does this therapist address?

He helps people with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, and coaching needs. Additional focus areas include attachment issues, codependency, family of origin problems, and isolation.

What is the therapist's general approach in sessions?

The work combines meaning-focused exploration with practical skills. Sessions often mix existential reflection, acceptance strategies, and cognitive-behavioral techniques.

How long has he been practicing?

He has 34 years of professional experience as a clinician working with a range of concerns and life transitions.

What credentials and region are listed?

He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, CA LMFT, and practices in California.

Which languages are supported for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available online?

Sessions can be conducted by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on the client's needs.

How is cost handled for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with this therapist?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

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