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Kayo Imamura, M.A., LMFT
​Registered Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #138310,

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Hello!

I grew up in Kawaguchi City, Saitama, near Tokyo, Japan. Throughout my childhood, my family hosted international students in their home from all over the world. My father was born at the end of World War II, which influenced his passion and desire for world peace. My upbringing fostered a joy for connecting with people from all cultures and a curiosity about each life. I have a passion for helping people heal from past traumas and finding peace and connection in their lives. I have trained in a number of modalities, including EMDR, to work with many different types of struggles that come from the painful events that happen in life.
 

I have also supported the American family and people of international marriage in the U.S. Navy community in Japan. When the 9/11 attacks happened in 2001, I saw many families and soldiers face multiple difficulties. At that time, I remember that I had a strong feeling of sorry for my inability to help them. Living in a foreign country is often more stressful and lonely than you might imagine, and it can bother you both physically and mentally.
    

I believe that health in the mind and health in the body are connected, and I have a passion for helping people in nutrition as well. I once served as a food education instructor in Japan which is called "Shokuiku." I held workshops on food education and table manners for Japanese community. The vegetables picking activity was well received by the children at the organic farm. Even now, the eyes of children shining their eyes while eating vegetables are impressed in my mind.

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I now live in San Diego and I am a mother of two children.  I have experienced beautiful healing in my own life journey through counseling I look forward to giving you the same.

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Memberships

  • California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) #141490

  • American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) #165783

  • International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT)

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Trainings 

  • Emotionally Focused Therapy Externship/Summit

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

  • Mindfulness with Children: Natural Parenting

  • Southern California Education and Training in Bowen Family System Theory and Psychotherapy: A Systems View of Trauma

  • Thought Field Therapy Algorithms Course

  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

  • Trauma-Informed Mindfulness: Theory and Practice

             

Education                                                      ​

  • Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from California School of Professional Psychology/Alliant International University (San Diego)

    

Experience

  • Counselor at High Tech High School IEP program (Individualized Education Program) working with children and their families who have difficulty learning and functioning with depression, ADHD / ADD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and anxiety issues.

  • Bereavement counselor at the Hospice of the North Coast, providing care for families who lost their loved ones by physical illness, sudden death, suicide, and/or accidents. Provided mental care to patients, caregivers, and families, as well as support groups held in Hospice.

  • Currently, providing EMDR, Trauma therapy, relational conflicts, and grief therapy at San Diego Grief Counseling for diverse population.  

 

Other experiences 

  • Japanese Tea Ceremony Urasenke - Associate Professor

  • Japan National Costume Culture Promotion Association - Kimono Instructor

  • Food education, Shokuiku - Instructor

 

 

 

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