Alvin Tan, LCSW

Licensed in California · 4 years in practice

Alvin Tan uses clear, goal-focused therapy to help people regain control of their mental health.

License and registration

LCSW, California: 94348 · expires March 2026
NPI: 1588079123 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 4
Languages: English

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check any license with the state board and any NPI with the national registry.

About Alvin

Alvin Tan uses clear, goal-focused therapy to help people regain control of their mental health. He is a licensed clinical social worker with four years of experience in California. Alvin aims to make sessions practical and straightforward so people can use what they learn right away.

He helps people increase understanding of their symptoms and build coping skills that fit day-to-day life. Many clients work on stress, anxiety, depression, or problems tied to major life changes.

Background and approach

He also supports people facing grief, addiction struggles, trauma and abuse, and issues with anger or self-esteem. Alvin draws on structured approaches that break problems into manageable steps. He offers tools for problem-solving and for creating or strengthening support systems.

Sessions focus on skills people can try between meetings and on plans that match each person’s situation. His background includes working with adults in a variety of clinical settings. He has experience in acute locked psychiatric care, outpatient clinics, substance use treatment, and group homes for adults with developmental disabilities.

He has worked as direct care staff and in supervisory roles, and has mentored undergraduate and graduate students. People who meet with Alvin can expect a collaborative, straightforward approach. He listens for practical barriers and helps create realistic steps forward.

He welcomes questions about how therapy can fit into a busy life.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Alvin lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Approaches Alvin names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.

Online support

How evidence-based approaches translate to online care

Alvin uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing to guide online sessions. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors, which helps with anxiety, depression, and social phobia. Motivational Interviewing helps people clarify what matters most to them and strengthen motivation for change, which is useful for addictions and major life transitions.

Deciding which approach to use is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about current goals, what has worked in the past, and personal preferences. Together they choose a direction and adjust methods as progress is made.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different needs. Video sessions allow face-to-face interaction for skill coaching and role play. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers no video. Live chat and text-based messaging work well for brief check-ins, tracking progress, or practicing brief skills between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, school, or caregiving schedules and support consistent follow-through.

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Questions people ask

What concerns does Alvin address?

He works with stress, anxiety, depression, career and life changes, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, anger, self-esteem, compassion fatigue, ADHD, and social anxiety or phobia.

What is his therapy style like?

Sessions are practical and goal-focused. He emphasizes building coping skills, improving problem-solving, and strengthening support systems.

What experience does he bring?

He has four years of clinical experience working in acute locked psychiatric care, outpatient clinics, substance use treatment, and group home settings, plus supervisory and mentoring roles.

Where is he licensed and based?

He is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) practicing in California.

Which languages are supported in sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available?

Therapy is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.

How are sessions billed and paid for?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with him?

Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

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