James Norwood, PsyD

James Norwood View Specialties

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"The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice. And because we fail to notice that we fail to notice, there is little we can do to change; until we notice how failing to notice shapes our thoughts and deeds." -R.D. Laing
 
Starting Therapy
Beginning therapy is often a vulnerable step. It can feel unfamiliar or even a little overwhelming to open up to someone new and share the deeply personal parts of life. Having spent years in my own therapy, I understand how challenging—but also how transformative—the process can be. I strive to offer a warm, compassionate space where patients feel safe to explore their challenges, desires, and histories.
 
Reflections on Life
Life inevitably includes loss, grief, disappointment, heartbreak, and the reality of death. Despite this, I am continually moved by the human ability to heal—to grieve deeply and still find meaning, joy, and renewal. I believe therapy can serve as a powerful guide in this process: not only to cope, but to live more fully and authentically. 
 
Background
As a licensed psychologist located in the Cow Hollow district of San Francisco, I specialize in working with individuals, couples, and families. My approach to therapy is rooted in the existential psychoanalytic tradition, influenced by the philosophies of Jean-Paul Sartre, Martin Heidegger, Friedrich Nietzsche, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Hannah Arrendt and others, as well as the psychoanalytic theories of Sigmund Freud, Wilfried Bion, Donald Winnicott, Michael Guy Thompson and R.D. Laing.
 
Therapeutic Approach
My therapeutic orientation is grounded in the existential-psychoanalytic tradition. I help individuals navigate the complexities of life—relationships, identity, purpose, desire, and responsibility—by exploring the emotional and philosophical dimensions of their experience. My approach is informed by the work of philosophers such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Martin Heidegger, Friedrich Nietzsche, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, and Hannah Arendt, and psychoanalysts like Sigmund Freud, Wilfred Bion, Donald Winnicott, R.D. Laing, and my mentor, Michael Guy Thompson.
In sessions, I focus on uncovering what has gone wrong in a patient’s life and what might be needed to begin living more truthfully. My patients often describe the work as both practical and revealing—effective in addressing present-day concerns while also shedding light on deeper, previously unexamined aspects of the self.

Education and Training
I hold a doctorate (PsyD) from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), where I focused on integrative and depth-oriented psychologies. My postdoctoral training in existential psychoanalysis was completed under the guidance of Dr. Michael Guy Thompson at Free Association, Inc.
 
Current PositionsI currently serve as the Associate Director of the New School for Existential Psychoanalysis and as Clinical Director and co-founder of the Free Association Clinic for Psychotherapy in San Francisco.
  • The New School is an online, post-licensure training program for psychotherapists, offering advanced education in existential psychoanalysis with faculty and students from around the world.
  • The Free Association Clinic provides low-fee psychotherapy referrals across California, specializing in existential and psychoanalytic modalities.


Additional Research
Outside of clinical work, I’ve presented at Esalen Institute, CIIS, and various other public forums. My talks have covered themes such as altered states, existential crises, psychedelic integration, death and dying, and the intersections between spirituality and psychotherapy. I am deeply interested in how extreme states can lead not only to breakdowns—but also breakthroughs.

Dr. James Norwood Reaches

San Francisco CA

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