Therapist profile
Dr. James Wood, LMFT
California
LMFT in California - Stress and Addictions
Continue with JamesWhere James stands
- Credentials
- LMFT
- License
- LMFT, California / 28825
- NPI
- 1760658017
- Experience
- 34 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- California
About
- Stress and anxiety
- Addictions support
- Attachment issues
About James
Dr. James Wood is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with 34 years of experience. He helps people who struggle with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, and coaching needs. He also focuses on issues such as attachment, codependency, abandonment, and family of origin concerns.
In sessions he listens without judgment and invites clear, direct talk about feelings and behaviors. He uses conversational feedback to help clients notice patterns that keep them stuck. Practical skills and real-life examples are used so people can try different ways of responding between sessions.
Dr. Wood draws on several evidence-based approaches to match what a person needs at the time. He may use techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy to shift unhelpful thoughts. He also works from attachment ideas to look at how early relationships shape current reactions and bonds.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy tools help people name values and take small, doable steps toward them. Dialectical Behavior Therapy techniques are available for learning emotion regulation and distress tolerance skills. Client-centered practices keep the conversation focused on the client's priorities and pace.
He has written a memoir called Different Drummer that touches on recovery, service in the USMC, and long-term change. People who want straightforward, experience-informed guidance often seek his perspective. To start, a short questionnaire and scheduling step are used to match a person with a first session.
How sessions work
Therapeutic approaches and online sessions
Dr. Wood uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. CBT is practical and often focuses on specific problems like anxiety, mood, or addictive patterns.He also uses Attachment-Based Therapy to look at how early relationships influence present-day reactions and closeness issues. That work helps when someone wants to understand why they react strongly in relationships or struggle with people-pleasing and boundary setting.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, symptoms, and what feels workable, and then recommend ways to proceed. That decision is collaborative and can shift as needs change.
Session formats are not listed explicitly in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. A remote session can also let someone choose whether to be on camera, which may help during tougher conversations. Licensed professionals often combine skills from different approaches to suit an individual's needs.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
34+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does he help with?
He works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, and coaching needs, and also focuses on attachment issues, codependency, and family of origin matters.
What is his general therapeutic style?
He listens in a direct, nonjudgmental way and uses clear conversation to identify patterns and try practical changes between sessions.
How much experience does he have?
He has 34 years of professional experience as a practicing therapist in California.
Is he a licensed clinician and where is he based?
He is an LMFT licensed in California and works from that state.
Can I work with him if English isn’t my first language?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does he see clients outside the United States?
He does not accept international clients.
How does billing work and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps do I take to begin working with him?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe at home, use the crisis and helpline numbers.