I am Minjun Wang, a therapist in San Mateo County. I work with people who carry heavy feelings, restless thoughts, or tense relationships. Some come to therapy unsure what to expect. Some just need a space to speak freely. I have sat with many people on screens and in rooms. I have seen how small, steady steps can bring real relief. In this post, I want to share what online therapy looks like, what works, and what it feels like for the people I meet every day.
Online therapy means live sessions by video or phone. It can include messages between sessions. It can include guided groups by video. It is not a quick fix. It is not a box of apps. It is a relational space. The work is still real talk. The tools are still practical. The link is just different.
San Mateo County has busy lives. People juggle work and family. Commute can wear you down. Some find a clinic is far. Online therapy fixes that. It lowers the friction. It keeps care steady. I see clients keep better routines. They show up more. They try the tools we set. I notice more honesty early on. People call from home. They cry in a safe room. They return for a second session. That matters.
I also know many people in San Francisco County. Some of them need short term care while they move between jobs. I have supported clients who live there and book sessions with me across the bay. A clear note helps. If you are a client in San Francisco County you can get the same therapeutic focus by video.
Online therapy is not perfect for all problems. Severe medical crises need a plan that is local and fast. Deep work for some trauma can be harder to do at first by video. But online therapy has clear wins. It gives steady contact. It makes follow up short and simple. For anxiety it can be direct and fast. For depression it keeps a line open. For couples it helps if partners can both join from a calm place. I also use online sessions to coach skills the client practices in their home. That adds power.
I like a mix. We meet online first. We test the tech. We check safety. Then we map goals. If a person wants in person work later we plan it. I book hybrid blocks. Some clients use video for check ins. They save in person for deep sessions. Others stay fully online. The choice is the client’s.
One Try Plan
Step one Book a 15 minute consult. Tell me one thing that matters now.
Step two Do one video session. Keep it short if you feel nervous.
Step three Try a practice skill between sessions. Tell me what worked.
Step four Move to weekly sessions if it feels right. Switch to in person if you want.
I stay clear and blunt when needed. I stay warm when needed. The goal is steady, small progress.
1. Can online therapy stop a panic attack in real time?
Yes. You can use a short session to ground your body. I teach two steps that help most people within minutes. The trick is to practice the steps with me once so your brain remembers them when a wave hits.
2. How do you test privacy before a video session begins?
I run a short tech safety checklist in the first five minutes. We confirm your space is private. We close unnecessary apps. We test sound and video. If you want, I show you how to hard close a call on your phone and still keep notes private.
3. Can online sessions help if your home triggers memories?
Yes. In fact they can help you practice safety in the very space that triggers you. We can use small tasks in your room to teach your nervous system new responses. That is a hands on way to change the body memory.
4. How soon can I switch therapists if the fit feels wrong?
You can switch after one session. I will help you find a better fit. I will provide notes for the new clinician if you want. Good care means honesty. If a match does not fit, I help you move on fast.
5. What do I do if a video session brings up dissociation or strong flashbacks?
We build a short crisis script together in the first session. It lists steps you can use mid call. It names people to call locally. It names grounding moves you can do in five breaths. That plan makes online care safer and smarter.
A few simple truths from my work
Trust forms in tiny acts. Trust forms when the therapist listens and then acts. Online therapy can hold those acts. It can also fail if the plan is vague. I make plans small and clear. I give tasks that fit your life. I watch your pace. I adjust fast.
My clients tell me they gain clarity sooner with online sessions. They like the calm of their own space. They often return for in person work later. Some never do. Both paths are fine.
Bottom line
Online therapy works in San Mateo County when the plan is simple and real. It can fit your days. It can hold deep work. It can help across the bay in San Francisco County too. If you want a calm start, reach out to me. I am Minjun Wang at Liberty Through Therapy. I will meet you where you are. I will help you take one clear step.
