I was born and raised in Japan by a Japanese father and an American mother. I identify as mixed race ("Hapa"). I went through the Japanese school system from elementary school through undergraduate studies. In my early 20s, I moved to the US for graduate school to study marriage and family therapy.
My Specialties and Experience:
- Couples therapy using EFT (Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy)
- Individual therapy with AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy)
- Cross-cultural counseling
- Family therapy & parenting issues
- Play therapy
- Adolescent / young adult therapy
- Grief counseling
- Depression / anxiety
- Christian counseling
- Asian counseling / counseling in Japanese
- Counseling with cancer patients
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) often used to work through trauma issues
- Trained in TRM (Trauma Resiliency Model)
Education
Masters of Science in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling, 1997. Fuller Theological Seminary School of Psychology, Pasadena, CA.
Bachelor of Arts in Policy Management, 1994. Keio University, Fujisawa-City, Japan.
License, Certifications & Additional Training
- AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy) Advanced Skills Training, San Francisco, 2017
- Completion of Level 2 Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM) Training, Claremont, 2016
- AAMFT Approved Supervisor, AAMFT, Virginia, 2014
- Certified EFT Supervisor, ICEEFT, Ottawa, Canada, 2014
- Certified EFT therapist, ICEEFT, Ottawa, Canada, 2011
- Certified EMDR therapist, EMDR International Association, Austin, Texas, 2008
- Registered Play Therapy Supervisor (RPT-S), Association for Play Therapy, June 2006
- Certificate in Play Therapy, University of San Diego, CA, 2003
- Certificate in Psychodynamic Insight and Understanding: Childhood, Adolescence and Family, Graduate Center for Child Development and Psychotherapy, Los Angeles, CA, June 2002
- Certificate in Critical Incident Stress Management, AACC administered, ICISF approved, 2002
- Advanced Certificate in Grief Counseling, American Academy of Bereavement, 2001
- Certified to teach the "Quality Parenting" program, CA Department of Mental Health, 2001
- Certificate in Christian Spirituality and Direction, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA, December 2000
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Lic. # MFC37078, B.B.S., CA, July 2000
- Certificate of Training in Object Relations Therapy and Self Psychology, CAMFT San Gabriel Valley Pomona Valley Chapter, 1998
- Certificate of Completion of Training as a Bereavement Facilitator, Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Glendale CA, 1997
Professional Activities and Affiliations
Los Angeles Center for Emotionally Focused Therapy (LACEFT) Founding Member, Past Officer and Board Member
International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT) Lifetime Membership
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) Professional Membership
American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Clinical Fellow & Approved Supervisor
EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) Professional Member & Certified EMDR Therapist
American Association of Play Therapy (APT) Professional Member & Registered Play Theapist, Registered Play Therapy Supervisor
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) Professional Member