Mihoko Kusachi , LMHC

Mihoko Kusachi brings a compassionate, strengths-based approach to therapy, helping people find hope and courage as they work toward meaningful change. She creates an open, nonjudgmental space where thoughts and feelings can be expressed and explored, and she emphasizes reciprocity and mutual growth in the therapeutic relationship. Having grown up in Japan and studied in Tokyo and the San Francisco Bay Area, she combines international perspective with long-term professional experience across Japan, Australia, and the United States.

Mihoko holds a master’s degree in counseling with a concentration in rehabilitation of people with disabilities and is licensed as an LMHC - Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She has provided mental health counseling for 10 years and worked for more than 20 years as a social worker and case manager in clinical settings in the San Francisco Bay Area and on the Big Island of Hawai’i. She supports people of all ages, with or without disabilities, across a wide range of concerns.

Her practice addresses stress, anxiety, grief, anger, self-esteem, depression, addictions, relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, eating and sleeping difficulties, career concerns, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and coping with life changes, among other challenges. She is also attentive to abandonment, attachment, caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, codependency, communication problems, and family of origin issues.

Mihoko’s clinical influences include Humanistic, Existential, Somatic, and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive-Behavioral approaches. She uses a body-mind integrative framework that blends reflective work on thoughts and past experiences with sensory-based exercises, relaxation, and self-regulation strategies. Her goal is to help people identify and nurture their existing inner resources, develop practical skills, and pursue a more authentic and balanced life while honoring cultural background and social context. Mihoko offers therapy in English and Japanese and is based in Hawaii.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on meeting the person where they are, offering empathy, acceptance, and collaboration so clients can identify their own goals and strengths. This approach works well for people seeking personal growth, greater self-understanding, or support during life transitions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps clients recognize and adjust unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors through practical exercises and skill-building. CBT is commonly used for anxiety, depression, stress management, and many everyday emotional challenges.

Mindfulness Therapy introduces awareness and gentle attention to present-moment experience, often using breathing and simple sensory practices to reduce reactivity and improve emotional regulation. It can be helpful for stress, rumination, and coping with difficult emotions.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic work; Mihoko collaborates with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. Together they review what feels most useful and adapt strategies over time to support progress.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect, including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, access care across distances, and continue work between sessions, while allowing clients and licensed professionals to tailor communication styles to individual comfort and goals.