Tom Liu — Somatic Coaching in Los Angeles, CA

About Tom

Tom Liu is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner based in Los Angeles, licensed in both California and Georgia. Born in Beijing, he moved to the US at eight, earned his undergraduate degree in Applied Psychology from NYU and his MSW from USC — then left a career as a NYC broker to travel the world for a year before committing fully to becoming a therapist.

Tom's work centers on the belief that real healing involves the whole person — mind, emotions, and body. He draws heavily on Somatic Experiencing, a body-oriented approach rooted in physiology, neuroscience, and ancient healing traditions, alongside EMDR, Internal Family Systems, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and Positive Psychology.

He works with clients navigating trauma, depression, grief, relationship struggles, and identity questions — including issues specific to Asian American and immigrant experiences. Clients often describe him as firm but deeply compassionate, someone who doesn't just listen but assigns meaningful exercises and checks in between sessions to keep momentum going.

With over 600 hours of post-graduate training beyond what's required, Tom brings unusual depth to his practice. His goal: help people heal from the past, understand the present, and actively reshape what comes next.

Background & Training

Master of Social Work, University of Southern California / Summa Cum Laude

BS Applied Psychology, New York University / Summa Cum Laude

Somatic Experiencing Practitioner / Practitioner

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) / Certified

Internal Family Systems Therapy / Certified

Emotionally Focused Therapy / Certified

Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Certified

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy / Certified

Positive Psychology, University of North Carolina / Certified

Substance Use and Misuse / Biopsychosocial Model of Addiction / Certified

Licensed Clinical Social Worker – California (108340) / License

Licensed Clinical Social Worker – Georgia (CSW007676) / License

Offerings

Individual Therapy

Virtual

Holistic individual therapy integrating Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, IFS, EFT, DBT, and Positive Psychology. Addresses trauma, depression, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, and more.

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Life Coaching

Virtual

Goal-oriented coaching grounded in Positive Psychology, helping clients clarify direction, identify barriers, and build momentum toward a more meaningful life.

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Free Phone Consultation

Virtual

Introductory call to discuss your needs and determine if Tom is a good fit.

Free

I Can Help If You're Navigating

Childhood Trauma

PTSD & Complex Trauma

Anxiety & Overwhelm

Depression & Low Energy

Self-Worth & Confidence

Nervous System Dysregulation

Shadow Work & Inner Child

Grief & Loss

Addiction & Recovery

Limiting Beliefs & Self-Sabotage

Stress Management

Anger & Emotional Regulation

Family Dynamics & Boundaries

Finding Purpose & Direction

Romantic Relationship Struggles

Intimacy & Sexual Connection

Career Change & Reinvention

Body Image & Eating

Burnout & Exhaustion

Communication & Conflict

Midlife Crisis / Awakening

What Clients Say

★★★★★

"Tom has been an extremely supportive, insightful, and sensitive therapist — effectively helping me to work through some long-standing challenges. His therapy approach included a combination of talk therapy and EMDR, and I felt like that combination really helped to address both the cognitive and the emotional aspects of what I had been struggling with. From my work with Tom over the past 13 months, I have been able to feel a greater sense of self and self-worth, as well as approaching life with greater compassion and love for myself and for all those around me."

D.W.

★★★★★

"As of writing, I am currently on-track to make perhaps the biggest life-changing decision of my 37 years on this planet, and I consider Tom to have been one of the key points of inspiration for me actually getting off my butt and doing it instead of just dreaming of making it a reality. In my mid-to-late thirties, I've run across a bit of a meaning crisis, and Tom has done plenty to help direct me towards a more meaningful life. He is empathetic, thoughtful, calm, and always positive, yet grounded in reality with a pragmatic approach."

R.B.

★★★★★

"Tom is an amazing life coach. Because he is also a therapist, he's able to combine his knowledge from a multitude of disciplines. He is mostly known for his positive energy and his wealth of knowledge on positive psychology, which as I understand it, is the science of happiness."

M.K.

★★★★★

"What makes Tom special is his passion for the work he does. In our sessions, I felt that he was not only listening to what I was saying but was in tune with what I was feeling. Tom is good at helping you realize your strengths and turning perceived weakness into positives. I always left our sessions with a sense of direction, a personal goal or assignment to work on."

F.T.

★★★★★

"My biggest breakthrough is getting out of the mentality of victimhood. I've learned that not only have people experienced what I went through, but much worse, and I used to use it as a license to act out in all sorts of ways, and that stopped as I worked on myself in therapy."

A.A.

★★★★★

"I came to Tom while feeling stalled in the midst of many big life changes, and Tom has been invaluable in helping me get refocused. He has also helped me identify barriers to work through that are standing in the way of personal and professional growth and assigned exercises to address them. I've seen great personal growth since working with Tom that I would not have been able to achieve otherwise."

C.D.

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