I feel honored when I can instill in people a sense of hope and courage in working towards a change. I work with my clients to create open and safe space where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. I know firsthand that it takes courage to pursue an authentic life. I feel connected with you because you have taken the very first step towards a change by reading this. Congratulations on your bravery! I believe in reciprocity and mutual growth in all relationships including ours. My role is to support and empower you to find purpose in your life. I grew up in Japan and have been educated in Tokyo and San Francisco Bay Area. I have a broad range of work and life experience in Japan, Australia and America. I received a master’s degree in counseling with concentration on rehabilitation of people with disabilities. I have provided mental health counseling for the past 10 years as a licensed therapist. I have worked for over 20 years as social worker/case manager in a variety of clinical settings in San Francisco Bay Area and on the Big Island of Hawai’i. I have supported individuals of all ages, children and adults, with or without disabilities. The issues I helped my clients manage include depression, anxiety, trauma, grief & loss, gender identity, cultural adjustment, guilt, shame, self-esteem, motivation, loneliness, purpose, among other emotional and situational challenges. My therapy approach draws influences from Humanistic, Existential, Somatic, and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive-Behavioral therapies. I adopt an body-mind (psychosomatic) integrative approach to help people make changes, based on their strengths and preferences. In my therapy room, clients engage in personal reflection by challenging their negative thoughts, with the help of sensory-based exercises, relaxation, and other self-regulation techniques to ease their emotional difficulties. My clients may also explore their past to gain insight into themselves to help them live more authentically in the present. I have seen my clients improve their overall well-being, be it physical, emotional, behavioral, and/or spiritual. We will work together to find what works best for you in order to achieve the most balanced well-being, while seeking practical solutions to your life’s challenges. My philosophy is social justice-driven and culturally responsive to promote the individuality of people of all backgrounds. I particularly feel strongly about supporting those traditionally underserved in the helping professions given my firsthand experience growing up as such. I am particularly sensitive to intersectionality of multiple minority status, such as race, ethnicity, gender identity, disability, and socioeconomic status. Most importantly, I believe in what we already have within despite our environment. My role is to be your partner to help you discover or rediscover your inner resources that are yet to be tapped, nurture and use them to move forward in your life.