Dr. James Wood, LMFT

California · 34 years in practice

Dr. James Wood is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California with 34 years of experience.

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 is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California with 34 years of experience. He helps people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma, and relationship concerns.

He aims to create an open space where thoughts and feelings can be shared without judgment. Seeking help takes courage, and he supports people taking those first steps toward change. In sessions he listens for patterns that link current struggles to earlier life events.

Background and approach

He draws on Jungian ideas about meaning and symbols alongside practical tools from cognitive behavioral and acceptance-oriented approaches. That combination helps people notice unhelpful habits, try new responses, and reconnect with what matters to them. He often focuses on attachment and family of origin issues, codependency, abandonment concerns, and communication problems.

He also works with people facing grief, isolation, guilt or shame, and challenges related to adoption or foster care. For some, he provides coaching-style support aimed at clearer goals and steadier day-to-day choices. Dr.

Wood describes his style as warm and direct. He invites honest conversation and helps people develop small, actionable steps between sessions. He is based in California and offers treatment framed around each person’s life and values.

He is also the author of an upcoming memoir, Different Drummer, which traces his life from childhood through military service, recovery, and a long career in psychotherapy. The book reflects themes that sometimes appear in his clinical work.

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 online options

Dr. Wood draws on Jungian therapy to help people find meaning in recurring patterns and life symbols, which can be useful for trauma, identity questions, and long-standing relationship struggles. He also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people clarify values and take committed action even when difficult thoughts or feelings remain. Attachment-Based Therapy features in his work for those wanting to understand how early bonds shape present relationships and emotional reactions.

Choosing an approach is a collaborative process. He will work with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and comfort level. That may mean trying an idea for a few sessions and adjusting based on what helps most.

Online therapy makes it easier to fit sessions into busy lives. Video calls let the therapist and client see one another for richer interaction. Phone sessions can be quieter and use less bandwidth. Live chat or text-based messaging allow shorter check-ins, written reflection, or support between longer sessions. These formats offer flexibility while keeping the focus on practical steps and emotional insight.

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Questions people ask

What concerns does this therapist address?

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

What is his therapeutic style?

He combines Jungian perspectives on meaning with practical methods like CBT and ACT. Sessions aim to be warm, direct, and focused on small, usable changes.

How long has he been practicing?

He has 34 years of professional experience working in clinical settings and independent practice.

What are his credentials and where is he located?

He holds the LMFT credential and practices in California.

Can I work with him if I live outside the United States?

International clients are not currently accepted. Sessions are offered in English.

Which session formats are available?

He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and communication preferences.

How does billing and cost work?

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

What do I do to get started?

Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

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