Grief Therapists in Pasadena, CA

Have you ever been lost in a dark forest? You may have felt helpless, out of control, very scared, or confused. Perhaps you suffer from anxiety, depression, and grief . If so you need someone to hold your hand and walk with you until you get home safely. When you are going through very painful suffering, your brokenness can lead you to discover how your childhood wound might affect your self-esteem and your relationships. I like to work with adult women who have been abused as a child, battered women (intimate partner abuse), and young adult women with childhood wounds.

Together we can explore what it means to be human, to embody compassion towards oneself and others, to hold both joy and sorrow, to experience connection, to move away from internalized messages of shame, to feel liberation, to bridge our past to our future and be present in our experiences and relationships.

Living in the moment means letting go of the past & not waiting for the future. It means living your life consciously, aware that each moment you breathe is a gift." -Oprah W. I am a witness to the family stories of trauma, racism, environmental & social injustices that negatively impact family structures. This experience influenced my desire to become a clinician to support the healing process of individuals subject to historical life events & current circumstances which circumvent individuals from accessing their full potentials & their capacity to influence their lives with efficacy.

I am passionate about working with people who want to heal past trauma and find more safety and happiness within themselves and their relationships as well as those who are moving through grief and loss . Is the past interfering with your quality of life and ability to sustain healthy relationships in the present? Do you feel stuck and unsure how to move forward? Have you recently lost someone you love or experienced a major life transition? Do you experience feelings of shame and hopelessness, nightmares, ruminating thoughts or addictive behavior? I provide a safe space to address past and present traumatic experiences and losses.

You might be grieving, or on edge, perhaps frustrated with life, something or someone, or dealing with anxiety and/or a difficult transition - whatever has brought you here, you want to feel better. I want that for you, too and that's what compels me to do this work. In session, my sole focus is on you. I am here to help you make sense of what you're feeling and experiencing. You can be however you need to be and talk about whatever you need to talk about. There is a reality where you can feel better. (Sat appts now available!)

I am a child & family specialist. I worked 8 years in residential treatment working with severely emotionally disturbed children & their families. I work with parents to help them handle their child's behavioral issues. I also have extensive experience working with adults suffering from depression, anxiety, stress & mental health issues. I am EMDR CERTIFIED by EMDRIA. I am LGBTQIA2+. I am a certified grief recovery specialist. I have experience treating substance abuse issues. I have extensive experience providing therapy to medical & nursing students due to my experience in medical social work.

As a mental health therapist my goal is to provide empathy and a safe space throughout your journey of self-empowerment and discovery. I am a huge believer in the idea that we all possess the knowledge to self-heal or solve our problems, though sometimes we need a helping professional to find the key to unlocking that knowledge.

My specialties are relationship issues and loss and grief . I have been in practice for over 18 years. I mainly see clients virtually and find it has been just as powerful and proactive as in person. Many clients like the convenience of being able to be in three different locations. In couples therapy, I will help you and your partner identify the conflict issues within your relationship. Couples therapy involves learning how to communicate more effectively, and how to listen more closely. In couples therapy I am proactive and direct helping the couple gain awareness of their "disconnect" by pointing out observed behaviors.

Sometimes life is just too hard. There's confusion and hurt around school, work, relationships, this crazy new world of which we're all trying to make sense. But there's good news too! You are not meant to do this alone. It is my true privilege to be able to walk alongside my clients, helping share the weight of their burdens. Together we will create a place of peace and trust, a relationship full of compassion and encouragement and without judgment (and we'll likely have some laughs together as well!). From there we will work together to find new ways to grow and learn and manage the things that make life hard.

Therapy is a unique opportunity for exploration and understanding of one's own story, and can facilitate healing and transformation during trying times. In my practice, I work collaboratively with clients to uncover and strengthen their inner wisdom, while teaching them skills needed to maneuver through life's challenges, changes and transitions. I provide a supportive and hope-filled environment that allows for a journey of self-discovery, and helps to foster self-love, self-compassion, and acceptance.

Whether you need support through a challenging life transition, you hope to address recent and/or past trauma, or you'd like to understand yourself better, I will bring an engaged and empathic attitude to our work together. I work with a trauma informed lens, and draw from various theories and approaches including but not limited to Psychodynamic, Attachment, Ego State Therapy/Parts Work, and Cognitive Behavioral. I also offer EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy. I'm LGBTQIA+ and social justice allied, and have experience with & enjoy working with folks with different backgrounds from my own.

As a therapist I have witnessed healing and its splendor in the darkest of circumstances and am honored when individuals choose to embark on this journey with me. I know the decision to enter therapy is not always easy. Therapy is not easy. But therapy heals. When you enter therapy you put forth a willingness to acknowledge painful emotions and circumstances and a readiness to explore life events that are often uncomfortable, sometimes even paralyzing. But the insight and meaning you will gain from therapy will lead to transformation, comfort and growth.

Many of you will experience dramatic and sometimes shocking changes in your or your loved one's health, relationships or careers. I have over 25 years of experience helping people and their families cope with a wide variety of chronic and terminal illness, relationship changes, adjustment, grief and loss . Using your strengths, I will help you work through these difficult changes to help you adjust to their impact on you and your loved ones.

I work with couples, individuals and families. I was born and raised in Japan and speak Japanese as well as English. I've been trained in grief & loss issues, as well as trauma issues. I'm a certified EFT (Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy:http://www.laceft.org/) therapist and also a certified EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapist. I am also trained in a very effective and deep processing model called, AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy).

You are doing it. You are here and that means you are doing it- you're finding a way to get through the day and navigate your own set of life happenings (both chosen and unchosen). We have our sets of vices, our ways of coping, in order to help us survive, with the hope of thriving. But we all get stuck too, we all feel helpless and we all get overwhelmed- we're human. Still, it tends to be a truth that we'll believe for.. a friend, a stranger even, but not ourselves. You deserve to believe you are human, to give yourself room to grow and grieve and heal as a beautiful, imperfect, unique and worthy you. You are worth it.

I am glad you are here to receive the support you need. I provide my clients with a safe and nurturing environment to openly share your thoughts and feelings. To support you in making new patterns and positive change. Are you seeking healing after experiencing traumatic life events, stressful relationship patterns or emotional wounds from your past. After experiencing suffering, we can often feel numb and detached. Together we will incorporate healing strategies to support you in finding relief, having an abundant, healthy and safe future as you move forward in your life.