About ME

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Registered Drama Therapist in California. I hold a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology, Spiritual and Depth Psychology specialization, from Antioch University Los Angeles and a Bachelor’s Degree in Theater from University of California, Los Angeles. I am originally from Japan and fluent in Japanese.

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I have experience of working with a wide range of clients, between the ages of 5 and 101 years old, facing various challenges in life. I feel particularly passionate about supporting and empowering survivors of childhood abuse, who might have felt silenced for many years.

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My approach to psychotherapy is collaborative and integrative. I will provide a safe space for you to express your feelings and to explore changes you want to create in your life. I might use psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, narrative, gestalt, mindfulness-based, and other therapeutic approaches depending on your unique individual needs. I might also invite you to engage in drama and other expressive arts-based experiential activities to help you explore, express, and process your feelings. Sometimes words are just not enough to access and express our internal world—and I strongly believe in the transformative and healing power of symbolic, imaginative, and embodied expressions.

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In addition to individual, couple, and family psychotherapy, I have experience of offering drama therapy groups at facilities in Los Angeles and Orange County. People I have worked with in a group setting include people struggling with mental illness and/or homelessness, adults with developmental disabilities, people with dual diagnosis, caregivers, and senior citizens.

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Please see below for my qualifications and relevant experiences. I've also included some links on this page that would provide brief explanations of drama therapy and some Japanese concepts you might find interesting.