Terry Wu, Mental Health Fellow

Terry (he/his) is a mental health fellow at Joy.

Terry is a mental health fellow of Joy Mental Fitness, which has locations in Jersey City, New Jersey, and Boston, Massachusetts. Terry also provides telehealth services to patients throughout New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, and New York. Terry is bilingual, proficient in both English and Chinese Mandarin. 

How I Got There

Growing up in an environment where there is a lot of competition and peer pressure, I understand and deeply resonate with the disturbing nature of mental health challenges and various sources that contribute to them. As an empathetic person, I strive to connect with and understand individual emotions and incidents, and this almost intrinsic nature drives my compassion and desire to provide assistance to those in need. The profession of mental health counseling motivates me to help individuals navigate their psychological challenges, develop resilience, and, most importantly, help them become better off and eventually live a fulfilling life. My fluency in both English and Chinese allows me to understand and serve clients coming from various cultural backgrounds, and my experience living in both the United States and China cultivates my multicultural awareness, allowing me to provide an open and nonjudgmental space for clients.

Clinical Approach

I believe in the concept of theory pluralism and take a very integrative approach in therapy, tailoring my methods to meet the unique perspectives and needs of each client. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help clients identify maladaptive thinking patterns, challenge negative thoughts, and assist in building rationality when approaching incidents and challenges in life. In addition, Psychodynamic Approach allows me to understand clients’ past history and how they shape clients as who they are at present through analysis of family dynamics, unconscious materials, and suppressed emotions. Lastly, by incorporating Mindfulness into the practice, clients may have an enhanced focus on their here-and-now experience through body scans and breathing exercises and thus, focus less on challenges and disturbances in life.

My ultimate goal in therapeutic sessions is to create a safe and empathic space where you feel respected, heard, and understood. In addition, I deeply resonate with the saying that working with clients is like sitting in the car with them. Instead of trying to grab the steering wheel and direct where the car is going, I, as a mental health counselor, shall sit in the passenger seat and let clients decide throughout the journey. Together, we will collaborate and learn from each other and strive towards a more resilient, healthier, and happier you at your own pace.