Good Neighbor Podcast: Orange County

Family Therapy That Actually Helps

• Rachel Fyffe & Dr. Cedric Wood

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What if one small shift could change every argument at home? We invited Dr. Cedric Wood, founder of Family Therapy Works, to explore why guided conversations help families move from friction to connection. With three decades of experience, Dr. Wood breaks down the myths that keep people from seeking help and shares a simple framework for calmer, kinder talk when emotions run hot.

We dive into the Parent–Adult–Child model and why so many conflicts escalate when we slip into a judging Parent voice or a reactive Child stance. Dr. Wood shows how choosing Adult—cool, calm, collected, kind, cooperative, curious, and compassionate—can reshape any tense moment. You’ll hear how to translate that mindset into everyday moves: reflecting what you heard, making clear requests, and setting repair rituals that prevent late-night blowups. It’s practical, respectful, and designed for real households juggling stress, loss, and change.

You’ll also get straightforward advice on starting therapy without the overwhelm. From using Psychology Today and insurance directories to the questions that help you find the right fit, we map the first steps and what to expect in early sessions. Along the way, Dr. Wood shares his path into family therapy, the role of community after local crises, and why he believes “family therapy works” when it focuses on interactions, not labels. If you’ve wondered whether talking truly helps, this conversation offers clear tools and fresh hope.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with someone who needs a calmer conversation at home, and leave a quick review so more neighbors can find it.

SPEAKER_02:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Rachel Fife.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Now, are you looking for a family therapist? Well, if you are, that resource is really closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Dr. Cedric Wood, with Family Therapy Works. Dr. Wood, how is it going today?

SPEAKER_01:

Very good. Thank you for asking.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, we are really excited to learn about your practice. So tell us all about it.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, let's start at the beginning. Uh, I went to school for many years, and I have uh a bachelor's in TV film production, but my master's in clinical psychology and my PhD is in family therapy. So I've been doing that for about 30 years now, and I love it.

SPEAKER_00:

Wonderful. Well, how did you get into this business, this practice?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, I saw a lot of people uh in pain, and so I said, I'm gonna study that. And I took psychology 301 and I loved it, and I just kept going. And so uh, and I see all kinds of pain, like something that happened two weeks ago in Southern California where you're at, which I won't go into details, but then we had it right here in North Dallas, happened the last two or three days. Every time I see that, I just go, what can I do to help? And of course, the first thought is why didn't they go see a family therapist?

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, so so so tough. Okay, so what do you think are maybe some myths or misconceptions in your industry?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, I guess the most uh common misconception is oh, it won't help. That's the most common one. Why why would I gotta go? Or maybe the second one is, well, I don't want to talk about all my personal problems. And the third one I hear, I had a uh an adult uh child uh say to their mom, you ought to go to sieges therapy. And she said, Well, I'm not crazy. Okay, we are so far beyond that. Every normal living human being can benefit from talking to someone, and and now, you know, couples counseling is the next step up to people talking about their lives together, but family therapy is mom, dad, adult child, maybe small child, maybe sister, maybe granddad. You know, I'll take the whole family. We need to talk these issues through in a helpful way.

SPEAKER_00:

I love it. So, you know, uh, Dr. Wood, we know marketing is really the heart of every business. So, how are you finding your patients and getting the word out?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, not as well as I should be. That's the first part of my answer. The second part is psychology today is pretty good. And I'm on insurance panels, and so a lot of people find me by going to their insurance website, and there's my name, and they give me a call.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay. Now, have you ever thought about doing your own podcast?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, you could say, I could say I've been doing one for a year, but uh it's really just YouTube videos. But I introduce it uh as if it's a podcast, and I have yet to have a guest. So lucky you, you get to have a guest to talk to. And so I'm 100% ready to have my own bona fide podcast.

SPEAKER_00:

Wonderful. Well, now, outside of work, what what do you enjoy doing for fun?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, uh I almost have to go into my younger life and say things like surfing and riding my motorcycle or traveling around the United States, going to conventions like the American Psychological Association or uh American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy or uh other conventions around Texas. I I love going, and a lot of times I'll present at those conferences. But uh, you know, me and my lovely lady, we do all kinds of fun things together, all the normal things.

SPEAKER_00:

Wonderful. Well, Dr. Wood, please tell our listeners one thing they should remember about family therapy works.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, that number one, that it works. Come and you'll find out that it does work. But uh you might ask me next, so I'll jump ahead. And if you ask me what what do I focus on? And I focus on all the usual uh techniques, but I do a lot of this right here. I'm okay, you're okay. See those three circles right there parent, adult, child are the three ego states, and I feel like that that encompasses almost every one of our interactions. Why? Because we tend to feel something when somebody says something and it throws us up into our parent. And so the typical response is no, no, no, no, that's not right. Well, what about you? Or some comment that hurts the other person? Why not stay in your adult right there? Cool, calm, collected, kind, caring, cooperative, curious, and compassionate.

SPEAKER_00:

Hmm, mmm. Well, how can our listeners learn more about family therapy works?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, of course, they can call me and and uh and begin actually doing family therapy, but outside of me, they could call, you know, the family therapist that's right up the street from them and go and see them, or as everything else, they can Google it. And I'm sure uh ChatGBT will explain all about it.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, Dr. Wood, I really appreciate you being on the show. And gosh, we wish you and your practice really all the best moving forward.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you, Rachel. Thank you so much for having me on your show.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gmorangecounty.com. That's gnporangecounty.com or call 714 941 862.