Currently accepting new adult patients for telepsychiatry services in California

Empower Psychiatry

Your journey to empowerment begins here

Welcome to Empower Psychiatry!

  • I provide expert care: I am a highly-trained graduate of Stanford Medical School and Stanford's Psychiatry residency

  • I want to get to know you: I offer personalized, whole-person, culturally-sensitive health care

  • I am accessible: I offer convenient, secure, HIPAA protected telehealth visits from the comfort of your home

  • I provide holistic care: depending on your needs and preferences, I can provide a combination of psychotherapy, medication and lifestyle approaches

Patient testimonials:

"Dr. Wu has been absolutely fantastic. She is incredibly thorough and always takes plenty of time to answers all of my questions"

"She literally saved my life and I'm so grateful to have her help and expertise. She is kind and gentle, a compassionate listener, and incredibly knowledgeable."

"She's been able to push me out of my comfort zone and nudge me into insights and realizations that I couldn't have put together myself... 10/10, would recommend."

Empower Psychiatry

Our Team

Empower Psychiatry

Diane Wu, MD

Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist

Pronouns: She/Her/HersTraining:
UC Berkeley, B.S. in Microbial Biology, 2011
Stanford School of Medicine, M.D., 2016
Stanford School of Medicine, Adult Psychiatry Residency, 2020
Languages: English

Board Certifications:
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

I am a board-certified psychiatrist who trained at Stanford for medical school and residency. During my training, I received awards for academic accomplishments as well as humanism, and contributed to research in the medical field. I was chosen as a chief resident during my psychiatry residency. While I had developed an interest in medical aspects of psychiatry during medical school, during my residency training I also developed a strong interest in psychotherapy and pursued additional training opportunities to learn various types of psychotherapy.I treat a variety of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, although I aim to look beyond a diagnosis or disorder in formulating a plan for care for my patients. I employ interventions such as medications and psychotherapy modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy. I also utilize aspects from dialectical behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy in my therapy work.I make it a priority to keep up to date on developments in psychiatry and the mental health field at large. I enjoy seeing a variety of patients, from all walks of life, and have a special interest in immigrant family relationship dynamics and women's health. As a Bay Area native, and through personal experiences, I am very familiar with the tech world. I consider myself a LGBTQ+ ally.I aim to help my patients achieve a sense of meaning and balance in their lives, and not only survive and endure, but thrive. I aim to get to know my patients very well, and to provide a safe space for self-discovery and healing. I hope that all of my patients feel warmth and comfort with each appointment. I understand that each person moves at their own pace in their journey, and am ready to meet you where you are at in your own journey.I have enjoyed serving as an adjunct clinical faculty member at Stanford from 2020-2024. I am now based out of the East Bay.

Empower Psychiatry

Services

Free Phone
Consultation

Finding the right psychiatrist and psychotherapist can be challenging. Schedule a free 10 minute phone consultation to see if we are a good fit.

Evaluation

The evaluation process typically takes place over several appointments, lasting a total of 90-120 minutes. This allows for completion of a thorough assessment of your symptoms and background, and formulation of comprehensive treatment recommendations.

Medications

Follow-up appointments for medication management services typically range from 25 to 45 minutes. I work with individuals who have never been on medications before, have been on their prescribed regimen for years, and those in various stages in between.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy sessions are 45-50 minutes long. My approach is characterized by warmth, humanity, and practicality. I am trained in various psychotherapy modalities including psychodynamic therapy and CBT. I will utilize interventions that align with your specific needs, goals, and preferences.

Empower Psychiatry

Frequently Asked Questions

How will I know if Empower Psychiatry will be a good fit for me?I offer free 10 minute phone consultations to hear about your needs and preferences, and will help guide you to know if we may be a good match.When is a doctor-patient relationship established?I conduct in-depth consultations over several sessions, scheduled over separate visits. First, I focus on learning about you and your unique situation, and then we will go over our assessment, recommendations, and treatment plan. If we both wish to proceed after the consultation phase, the doctor-patient relationship is then established. Our initial phone session and consultation visits do not establish a doctor-patient relationship. Rather, this occurs after once we agree with a treatment plan.Do you take insurance?Currently, I am out of network with most insurance carriers, with the exception of Wellfleet (Stanford Cardinal Care). I am able to provide a superbill for you to request reimbursement from your insurance carrier. I recommend you check with your insurance carrier regarding out of network benefits before scheduling with us if you plan to seek reimbursement from insurance. You can use technology like Reimbursify to assist with seeking reimbursement from your insurance company.What are your rates?Please email admin@empowerpsych.net for information about rates.Are telehealth video visits for me?Telepsychiatry is a very convenient, accessible form of health care, but it is not for everyone. Please consider your comfort level with meeting virtually rather than in person. It is important that you feel safe and comfortable and that you have a private space for meeting during your appointment.How do I pay for treatment?I accept payment by credit card. A credit card must be kept on file before your first visit, and will be securely kept on file throughout treatment.What if I need to cancel or reschedule our visit?I require 48 hours notice for all cancellation and rescheduling requests. If you do not give 48 hours notice, you may be billed for the entire session fee. Please note that fees for missed visits are not usually reimbursed by insurance.