Mihoko Kusachi, LMHC

Mihoko Kusachi is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) with ten years of clinical counseling experience. She welcomes people who are facing big life changes and those looking for more meaning and balance. Her background spans Japan, Australia, and the United States, and she speaks both English and Japanese.

She creates a calm, nonjudgmental space where clients can speak openly. Sessions focus on practical steps and personal reflection. Mihoko encourages clients to notice how the body and mind interact and to use sensory-based exercises and relaxation skills as tools for coping.

Her training includes a master’s degree in counseling with a concentration on rehabilitation of people with disabilities. Before clinical counseling, she worked for over 20 years as a social worker and case manager in a variety of settings in the San Francisco Bay Area and on the Big Island of Hawai'i. This experience shaped her interest in social justice and culturally responsive care.

In sessions she helps people challenge negative thoughts and try small changes that fit their strengths. Clients often explore past experiences for insight and then focus on practical ways to live more authentically now. Mihoko supports people navigating stress, anxiety, grief, depression, addictions, relationship and family concerns, and midlife transitions.

She emphasizes collaboration and mutual growth. Her goal is to help people tap into their own inner resources, build coping skills, and find a clearer sense of purpose and balance in daily life.

How her approaches translate to online care

Mihoko often draws on client-centered work to create space for honest conversation, helping clients feel heard and understood while they set their own goals. Client-centered methods focus on listening, reflecting, and building a trusting working relationship that supports change.

She also uses cognitive behavioral approaches to notice and challenge unhelpful thoughts and to try small behavior changes. CBT-style work is useful for stress, anxiety, mood, and practical coping skills because it pairs reflection with clear, actionable steps.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Mihoko collaborates with each person to match methods to their needs, goals, and preferences, and adjusts strategies as progress is made.

Session formats are not specified here, so please confirm current online options before booking. Many people find remote sessions helpful for fitting therapy into a busy schedule, shortening travel time, and maintaining continuity when life is unpredictable. Online work can also make it easier to use recorded relaxation exercises, guided sensory practices, and brief check-ins between in-depth sessions.