- Stress and anxiety
- Addiction support
- Attachment concerns
About James
Dr. James Wood is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with 34 years of experience. He focuses on helping people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma, and depression. He aims to create an open space where thoughts and feelings can be spoken about without judgment. Seeking change takes courage, and he offers steady support through that process.
In sessions he listens for what matters most to each person and works at a pace that feels manageable. He blends practical skills with deeper conversations about attachment, abandonment, and family of origin issues. That can include looking at communication patterns, codependency, and control struggles that make daily life harder.
His background includes long-term clinical work in California and training that led to an LMFT credential. Over decades he has helped people cope with drug and alcohol problems, eating and food-related issues, and grief linked to divorce or separation. He also addresses concerns like guilt, shame, isolation, and forgiveness.
He uses a mix of approaches such as acceptance and commitment ideas, cognitive behavioral techniques, and emotion-focused ways of understanding relationships. Those methods are applied to practical goals like managing anxiety, reducing compulsive behavior, and improving coping after trauma.
Dr. Wood has written a memoir titled Different Drummer that traces his personal journey through military service, recovery, and the path to becoming a therapist. He invites people to talk about what they want to change and to take small, steady steps toward a more satisfying life.
How therapy approaches translate to online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying what matters to a person and then building small actions that match those values. It helps when worry or avoidance gets in the way of life goals. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationship patterns affect current connections and emotional responses; it can help people understand repeated relationship struggles and feelings of abandonment.Finding the right approach is part of therapy. The therapist will work collaboratively to decide which methods fit a person's goals, needs, and preferences. That might mean mixing practical skill-building with deeper work on attachment and emotion over time.
The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm available options before booking. In general, online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, shorten commute time, and allow for check-ins during a break at work. Some formats also let people choose less active participation, such as audio-only, when video feels like too much. Ask about current session options when you schedule to match logistics to your life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
34+ years
Credentials
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does this therapist address?
He works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, and coaching needs, plus related issues like attachment, abandonment, and codependency.
What is the general therapy style here?
Sessions combine practical skills and reflective conversation. He listens and helps people set small, doable goals while attending to emotional patterns.
How long has he been practicing?
He brings 34 years of professional experience working with a range of concerns and life transitions.
What credential does he hold and where does he practice?
He is an LMFT licensed in California and maintains a practice in that state.
Are sessions offered in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
Which session formats are available?
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current session options with the provider before booking.
How are fees and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What do I do to start working together?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.