About Me

I am a bilingual Japanese/English psychotherapist with over 10 years of professional experience, working with diverse populations in several academic settings in the US and Japan.  I hold a Master’s degree in Counseling and Counselor Education from Indiana University, Bloomington.  I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC 3885) in California.  In the State of Washington, I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LH 60182354) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC 74885).  I specialize in individual psychotherapy for adult clients.

For five years, I worked at the Counseling Center at a community college in Seattle.  At the Center, I provided individual personal counseling as well as career counseling.  I enjoyed working with students and community members who have diverse backgrounds in age, culture, sexual-orientation, and socio-economic status.

Prior to my work at the community college, I worked for a Japanese Women’s University on the US campus as well as the main campus in Japan.  As a counselor serving college-aged Japanese women, I used my professional expertise and bicultural perspective to help them solve issues such as cultural adjustment and unique women’s issues. 

In addition, through several other training experiences, I have developed skills in the areas of group facilitation, developing and facilitating workshops on mental health issues and career topics, and outreach and coordination of services. 

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I love my work.  I am genuinely interested in human beings.  We, humans are profound creatures.  I believe that our capacity and potential are vast.  I have come across many incredible moments through my work with clients.  I am constantly astonished by their great insight, courageous actions, and creative imagination … Whatever it is, what they came up with through the therapeutic process is beyond what I could have possibly imagined, considering their situations and past history.   This is the moment when I feel the clients’ enormous power and strength within them.  My counseling work still deeply motivates me and fascinates me.

Education 

Master's degree in Counseling and Counselor Education, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.   

License and Certifications

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in California State (LPCC 3885) April 2017- present

Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Washington State (LH 60182354) Oct 2011-present

National Certified Counselor (NCC 74885) July 2011-present 

Professional Activities and MembershipsCalifornia Association for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors: 2012-present

American Counseling Association: 2000-present

NichiBei Care (nonprofit organization to promote the mental health of those who have ties to Japan, regardless of their ethnicity or nationality) : 2018 - present

California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists: 2019- present