William Tu

I'm a therapist who understands what it means to carry cultural expectations — the pressure to be capable, composed, and fine — while quietly dealing with something harder underneath. Many of my clients come from backgrounds where talking about mental health wasn't modeled as an option. You won't need to spend our sessions explaining your cultural context before we get to the real work.

I work with individuals and couples across California via telehealth, specializing in anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and substance use. Whether you're questioning a relationship, navigating a period of heavy use, or just going through a stretch that feels harder than it should, I bring a direct and genuinely warm approach to every session. I accept Aetna, Blue Shield of California, Carelon Behavioral Health, and Cigna.

I pull from evidence-based methods because I believe therapy works best when it's practical and grounded — not just a place to talk in circles. For individuals, I primarily use CBT, Motivational Interviewing, and Attachment-Based approaches. For couples, I'm trained in the Gottman Method, which gives us real tools to interrupt negative cycles and rebuild the kind of connection that actually holds.

That said, no two clients are the same. Some people need structure and a clear framework to make sense of their anxiety. Others need space to process something deeper before any strategy makes sense. I tailor the work to you — and I'll always tell you what I'm doing and why.

The first session is really about getting to know each other. I'll ask about what brought you here, what's felt difficult, and what you're hoping changes. We'll start setting some early goals — nothing rigid, but enough to give our work a clear direction. Most clients leave the first session feeling heard and a little clearer on what therapy together might look like.

Sessions are held via telehealth, so we'll meet virtually from wherever you're comfortable in California. If at any point you're not sure this is the right fit, I'd rather know early — finding the right therapist matters more than sticking with the first one.