About James
Dr. James Wood is a California licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with 34 years of professional experience. He works with adults facing stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, and coaching needs. He also addresses concerns such as abandonment, attachment issues, codependency, and family of origin problems.
He focuses on creating an environment where people can talk about difficult thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment. Sessions are conversational and aim to make uncomfortable topics easier to name. He listens for patterns that keep clients stuck and helps them try different ways of responding.
His approach draws on several evidence-informed methods including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Attachment-Based Therapy. That means he pays attention to how thoughts, emotions, and relationships interact, and works with practical exercises you can use between sessions.
Dr. Wood has decades of experience across addiction and trauma work, and he brings that background into coaching and ongoing therapeutic support. He also addresses specific areas like guilt and shame, forgiveness, and isolation without treating those topics as purely academic problems. The work is oriented to making daily life more manageable.
He has written a memoir, Different Drummer, which reflects on recovery, military service, and building a life in California. Readers often find the personal material clarifies the kind of perspective he brings into sessions.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice painful thoughts and feelings without getting locked into them, and then acts on values that matter. It is often used for anxiety, depression, and shame-related problems. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and testing unhelpful thoughts and learning practical skills to change behavior patterns; it is commonly used for anxiety, depression, and coping with addictive urges. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relational patterns influence current relationships and emotional responses, and it can be helpful for attachment issues, codependency, and feelings of abandonment.Figuring out the best approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss options and adapt methods based on the client’s needs, goals, and preferences. That means sessions can include skills practice, reflective conversation, or experiments to try between meetings, chosen collaboratively.
The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm current session options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited, and reduce travel time. They also let people work through guilt, shame, or relationship patterns from everyday settings while using the therapeutic tools discussed in sessions.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
34+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does he work with?
He works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, and coaching concerns. Additional areas include guilt and shame, attachment issues, codependency, and family of origin matters.
How would he describe his therapeutic style?
He uses conversational, practical sessions that focus on noticing patterns and trying new responses. Methods include ACT, CBT, DBT, Attachment-Based, and Client-Centered elements.
What is his professional background?
He has 34 years of professional experience working with addiction, trauma, and relationship issues. He also has a memoir that discusses recovery and life experience.
Where is he licensed and practicing?
He is a California LMFT. Sessions are offered from California.
In which languages can I work with him?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does he work with international clients?
He does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for and what do they cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Specific pricing depends on the chosen plan.
How do I begin the process?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.