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About Practice

KOKORO COUNSELING

KOKORO 「心」means mind, heart and spirit in Japanese. KOKORO is the core energy for human beings, our life and our wellbeing. I believe in the power of the mind, heart, and spirit. At KOKORO COUNSELING, 'Heart to Heart', or 'KOKORO wo tunagu' in Japanese, is the essential element of healing and therapy process. My goal is to help you heal mentally, physically, and emotionally so you can live your life as who you really are. I am dedicated to providing you safe and secure environment with best care and support, and I am committed to you to be able to live your life for yourself with your own values.

You have many possibilities and choices. Now is the time for you to make your own choice for your better life! 

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 Once you decide what you want,

   you make a commitment to that decision.

Oprah Winfrey

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About the Therapist

Miki Takahashi

I have  been working with children, their family, teenagers and adults as a licensed therapist in English and Japanese. The issues I have been dealing with are a wide range such as child abuse/childhood abuse, dysfunctional family, trauma, PTSD/CPTSD, attachment, DV, poverty, social/racial discrimination, addiction, Dual Diagnosis, developmental disorders and so on. No matter which issues are and which ethnicity is, the common theme is livening in the past with emotional, physical and/or emotional pain and wounded heart. 

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In my personal story, I was helped and supported by many people in the USA and China while I was living abroad. Their kind and warm heart gave me hope and strength. I know how hard and difficult a daily life can be in another country. All of the hard and touchy experiences made me who I am now. It's my turn to give what I have received back to other people and community.

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My years of experience in the field of mental health and therapy will provide you safety and security, support your healing process of the wounded heart and help you be free from your past and pain. My passion will help you achieve your true self and live your life. I believe in our collaborative work will lead you to get what you wanted for a long time.

I hope our collaborative journey leads you to to be free from your struggle and to live your life as you like.

​Qualifications           

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (CA, USA)  ​ (LMFT#47713, Registered by maiden name)

  • Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist (Japan)  (公認心理師#64149)

  • Official trainer for ACA official program ACT (Adults Children Together Against Violence)  

  • Speciality for Child/Infant Mental Health        　　　  

  • Somatic Experiencing™ Practitioner (SEP)

  • DARe Practitioner 

  • Integrated Somatic Psychology Practitioner (in progress)

  • Bilingual  (English and Japanese)

 Approaches

  • Somatic Experiencing™ (SE)

  • Dynamic Attachment Re-patterningExperience  (DARe)

  • Brainspotting

  • Integrated Somatic Psychology (ISP) 

  • Comprehensive Resource Model (CRM)

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

​Issues I often work with

  • Trauma/Developmental Trauma

  • PTSD/CPTSD

  • Attachment

  • Relationship including Family of Origin

  • Cultural adjustment, Multi cultural issues

  • Depression, Anxiety, Stress

  • Addiction

Education

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  • California State University, Fullerton  (Fullerton, CA)    

       MA in Counseling, emphasized Marriage and Family Therapy         

​​       BA in Psychology with a minor in Human Services

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  • Sonoma State University (Sonoma, CA)

       Certificate for Child/infant Mental Health Program​

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  • Orange Coast College (Costa Mesa, CA)

       Major in Psychology

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  • Nihon University, College of ART, Japan (Tokyo, Japan)

       BA in Broadcasting, emphasized in Communication and  Journalism & focused on Human Rights and Freedom 

Work History

2023 – current      

KOKORO COUNSELING  (Tokyo, Japan)
                                      
2022 – current      

Obirin University  (Tokyo, Japan)
Working with students and their family in English and Japanese
 
2015 – current      

Counseling Room Sequoia  (Tokyo, Japan)
 
2016 –  2019    

Japanese Telecounseling Association  (Tokyo, Japan)
Mail and On-line counseling for English-speakers who work for the JET program         
 
04/2011 – 01/2012    

Child Developmental Institute  (Tokyo, Japan)
Working with children with developmental disorder and/or physical disability and their family
                                        
2007 – 2011     

Family Service Agency of San Francisco  (San Francisco, CA)
​Early Childhood Mental Health (ECMH) Consultant for preschool aged children, their family and teachers 
LMFT for Individual/Couple/Family therapy in Japanese and English
 
2004 – 2007    

Homeward Bound of Marin. (San Rafael, CA)
Working with and support homeless people who has mental health and/or addiction issues and/or criminal histories to be out of homeless and live in society
 
2002 – 2003    

Mater Dei High School. (Santa Ana, CA)
Counseling for students and their family as Intern school counselor 

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