Meet Asian Australian Accredited Mental Health Social Worker William Wang

We know that it's not always easy trying to work out which therapist we might like to work with: Because the decision isn't just about where they're located and when they're available, but there's a bit more of a human, relational element to the decision too.

So here at Shapes and Sounds, we want to help make that process just a little easier.

Every month, we'll be introducing a therapist from the Asian Australian Mental Health Practitioner List to help you gain a bit more insight into who you feel might be a good fit for you or someone that you know.

This month we're excited to connect you with William who is an accredited mental health social worker offering services in South Yarra, VIC. We hope you enjoy connecting with William below!

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1. What led you to choosing mental health as a career?

I became a therapist because, through my own suffering and deep reflection, I realised that what truly matters to me is meaningful human connection. So I deliberately chose to work in psych wards, community rehab, and forensic prisons— places where people are most confined and navigating the most turbulent circumstances.

To me, healing is not about "fixing" people. It’s about helping them remember who they already are. I believe that our deepest wounds, when met with compassion and clarity, can become the very foundation of our greatest wisdom and personal growth.

2. What is your unique cultural heritage?

I was born in China and trained in Australia. I live between languages and worldviews — Mandarin and English, Eastern wisdom and Western practice.

My understanding of suffering is shaped by Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity, and modern philosophy. They remind me that beneath our symptoms, we are all yearning for liberation and meaning. That is my 道 (Dao) — the compass that gives me direction.

But a compass alone won't carry you forward. That's why I also carry tools: CBT, DBT, Mindfullness Practices, Schema Therapy, Existential Counselling. These are my 术 (Shu) — the practical skills that turn wisdom into action.

Without 道, technique is empty. Without 术, wisdom remains distant. Together, they help me see the whole person—and help them find their way home.

3. What are your areas of specialty and what kind of frameworks do you work from?

My clinical experience spans forensic, hospital, and community settings working with people in some of the most confined and turbulent circumstances. I worked with many clients with complex presentations, including trauma, anxiety, depression, personality disorders, and substance use.

I draw on a broad range of modalities such as CBT, DBT, Schema Therapy, somatic approaches, and existential counselling. But I never let the tools define the work. Every client is unique, so I adapt—using what fits, setting aside what doesn't.

What stays consistent is the depth I bring to every session. I don't treat symptoms in isolation. I work with the whole person—their history, their relationships, their meaning-making, and their unspoken longing to feel whole again.

4. What kind of clients are you best able to support?

I work best with people who want depth, not just relief—clients who are asking "Who am I?" not just "How do I stop feeling this way?"

I am particularly effective with:

High-achieving professionals and executives who appear successful but feel empty, anxious, or lost inside.

Trauma survivors ready to process what happened, not just cope with it.

Bicultural individuals navigating identity and belonging across cultures.

Forensic or mandated clients who need a therapist who can hold both accountability and compassion.

Anyone facing existential questions—about meaning, purpose, and life transitions.

5. If you could be your own therapist right now, what do you think you would say to yourself?

You are not lost. You are finding your way home. And you are not alone.

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Connect with William via our Asian Australian Mental Health Practitioner List HERE.

Alternatively, if you feel like William may be a good fit for someone that you know, be sure to forward this page on to them too. Let us continue to not only support ourselves but all those around us too!

If you require urgent assistance, please do not contact William or any of the practitioners on this list. Instead, please call emergency services on 000 or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Shapes and Sounds does not recommend or endorse William or any of the practitioners listed on the Asian Australian Mental Health Practitioner List.

Please always consult your GP before making changes to your mental health care plan.