Dr. James Wood, LMFT
Therapist in California
Dr.
- License 28825 · California Expires June 2027
- NPI 1760658017 · national registry
- Experience and languages 34+ years in practice English
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check any license with the state board and any NPI with the national registry.
About James
Dr. James Wood helps people who are worn down by stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma, or depression. He speaks plainly and listens closely so people can say what matters without feeling judged.
He encourages realistic steps toward change and offers steady support as people try new ways of coping. Dr. Wood is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - LMFT - practicing in California with 34 years of experience.
He draws on several approaches to tailor sessions to each person’s needs.
Background and approach
In the room he focuses on practical tools people can use between meetings, and on understanding how past relationships shape present feelings. Clients can expect conversations that combine emotional understanding with clear strategies. He uses ideas from cognitive behavioral work to notice and shift unhelpful thoughts.
Attachment-based ideas help track patterns that repeat in close relationships. Dr. Wood also integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, helping people accept difficult feelings while committing to values-driven actions.
He emphasizes short, doable steps when someone feels overwhelmed by change. Outside of therapy he has written a memoir called Different Drummer that traces his life from childhood through military service, recovery, and a long career in psychotherapy. That background informs a practical, grounded style that many people find helpful.
Credentials
- LMFT (California)
- License 28825 · expires June 2027
- NPI
- 1760658017 · national provider identifier
Both are public records. A state board register will confirm a license and its standing, and the national registry will confirm an NPI. This directory copies what the therapist lists and checks neither.
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
- Gottman Method
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Existential Therapy
- Jungian Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
These are the approaches James names on their own professional profile. Naming an approach is not evidence of training or certification in it, and this directory checks no training records. Ask directly if it matters to you.
Online support
How therapeutic approaches translate to online care
Gottman Method ideas focus on improving communication and reducing conflict by teaching specific interaction skills and exercises that can be practiced between sessions; online formats let couples or individuals learn and try these skills at home or during check-ins. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people accept difficult thoughts and commit to actions that match their values; through video or messaging, a therapist can guide short exercises and value-mapping work that fit into daily life.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful, then try an approach and adjust as needed. Clients are invited to give feedback so sessions stay focused on what helps most.
Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls let for face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or a quieter connection is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging support quick check-ins, brief coaching, and homework review between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and to maintain steady contact while working on change.
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Frequently asked
What concerns does Dr. Wood focus on?
He works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, and coaching-related issues, along with related concerns such as codependency, communication problems, and isolation.
What is his therapeutic style like?
His style mixes listening and practical work: he helps people name feelings, try small behavior changes, and build routines that reinforce progress.
How long has he practiced?
He brings 34 years of professional experience to his work, drawing on long-term clinical practice and life experience reflected in his memoir.
Where is he licensed and based?
Dr. Wood is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and practices in California.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging for flexible online care.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
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