I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LW61356222) in the state of Washington. I received my Master of Social Work (MSW) from Washington University in St. Louis in 2019. I have worked with teens and adults in various settings, including community mental health, non-profit agency, and group practice. I identify as Japanese-American, queer, and use she/they pronouns.

Before pursuing a career in mental health, I worked in Japan for about seven years in education, translation, and HR. During that time, I witnessed chronic overwork, gender inequality, the invisible poor, discrimination against minority groups, social reclusiveness, and lack of accessibility to mental health services. What I observed and experienced personally ultimately gave me the push I needed to go back to school. As a result, my therapeutic approach is very much rooted in multiculturalism, social justice, and trauma-informed care.

On my days off, I enjoy spending time with my wife and dogs, reading, and exploring new restaurants.

I specialize in working with complex trauma/PTSD, including dissociation and self-sabotaging behaviors. I often treat anxiety, depression, self-esteem, relationships, phases of life issues, multicultural/identity, adult ADHD, and minority stress. I am AAPI and LGBTQ-aligned and strive to center and elevate those communities. In therapy, we will tend to old wounds, repair ruptures in relationships with self and others, and increase your sense of self-understanding, acceptance, and growth. I celebrate your taking a step towards inner healing and am so excited to work with you!

I welcome transparency, bring an intentional yet flexible agenda to each session, and have been described as warm and professional. I encourage you to take advantage of a free consultation to address any initial questions/concerns and see if we're a good fit (it’s okay if we’re not!). I am committed to making our work together meaningful and impactful.

My therapeutic approach is curious and humanistic; I see people as imperfect, ever-changing, inspiring, and limitless. I offer and welcome transparency, bring an intentional but flexible agenda to each session, and am warm and directive in my style. Inspirations include existentialism, post-colonialism, attachment theory, tarot, nature, and solitude.

I have an eclectic therapeutic orientation, pulling from person-centered, cognitive, psychodynamic, attachment, feminist, queer theory, and existential theories. Regardless of what brings you into therapy, I will meet you where you are, be with you through the highs and lows that can accompany self-awareness and growth, and draw on your lived experience, wisdom, insights, and strengths.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is my primary modality and augmented by other approaches as needed, including DBT and ego state therapy/parts work. EMDR is an evidence-based modality that helps people process through traumatic events that uses Adaptive Information Processing, bilateral stimulation, and dual attention.

I have completed advanced clinical trainings, learn more here. I'm a life long learner and am continuously updating my therapeutic skills.