Meet Kirstyn Takahashi (she/her)
Accredited counselor for individuals and couples, Tokyo and online
Kia ora, and welcome. I grew up in New Zealand and have called Japan home for over 25 years. My children were raised here, and I know first-hand how rewarding, and at times how isolating, life in another country and culture can be.
That understanding sits at the heart of my work. Whether you’ve just arrived or have lived here for decades, I offer a calm, non-judgemental space where you can be fully yourself.
What I can help with
If you are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected, I offer compassionate, empathetic and non-judgemental counselling based on you and your needs.
This is an inclusive LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent-friendly, culturally safe space. Everyone is welcome and unconditionally accepted.
Individuals: anxiety, depression, stress and burnout, grief and loss, cultural adjustment, addiction, eating disorders and body image, infertility and pregnancy loss, neurodivergence, and life transitions such as parenthood and menopause.
Couples: communication difficulties, emotional disconnection, healing after infidelity, cross-cultural relationships, and trauma affecting the relationship.
Qualifications
Master of Counselling (currently studying)
Bachelor of Counselling
Registered Counsellor, Australian Counselling Association (ACA)
Gottman Method Couples Therapy - Level 3
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Training (2026)
QPR Suicide Prevention Training (2026)
Life outside the counseling room
When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me outdoors, often adventuring with my family. We’ve stood together at the top of Mt Fuji, and those moments of challenge, wonder and connection remind me how much growth happens when we take things one step at a time.
How I work
At Tokyo Heart and Mind Counselling I consider the whole person, combining Western therapeutic approaches with Eastern mindfulness techniques where necessary.
True healing happens when we honor and connect all parts of our being: the mind, body, heart, and spirit.
My approach is grounded in Person-Centered Therapy.
This affirms that you are the expert on your own life and I work at your pace.
Because everyone is unique, I also integrate evidence-based approaches to support your individual journey, including:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you understand and reframe unhelpful thought/behaviour patterns.
Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) to discover practical pathways forward.
Strengths-based therapy, drawing on your innate strengths rather than focusing on problems, encouraging personal growth and self-awareness.
Mindfulness and self-compassion, to build self-esteem and self-confidence.
Couples therapy, informed by the Gottman method and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). A thorough online questionnaire assessment is completed prior to commencing therapy. Therefore, the entire treatment is individually tailored to your unique needs as a couple.
I have monthly clinical supervision with an accredited supervisor. This helps ensure I follow ethical guidelines and provide my clients with the highest standard of care.
Koru: The spirit of becoming
The Koru depicts the unfurling frond of the silver fern. In Te Ao Maori, it represents peace, tranquility and harmony. The fern strives towards light, symbolising the eternal movement of life and the potential for renewal, regeneration, growth, development and new beginnings. The spiral reflects the connection between ancestors and future generations, the inner coil representing the source and the outer representing expansion. It is a symbol of survival and existence - who we are, where we are going.
Kokoro: The nature of essence
The Japanese character (心) is often translated as "heart," but the meaning also encompasses mind, spirit and consciousness. The heart is seen as the core of our emotions, thoughts, and intentions, suggesting the heart and mind are one.
In counselling, the Koru represents the journey, acknowledging healing as not linear, but a spiral process. The heart/mind is constantly unfurling and awakening. The inner part of the Koru (the self) is soft and delicate, protected by the outer layers until it is ready to open. Tokyo Heart and Mind Counselling provides the light and soil (the therapeutic environment) for clients, allowing the sacred process of opening up to unfold and positive growth to occur.
The Koru is rarely found in isolation; it is part of a larger fern. Similarly, Kokoro (心) is deeply tied to Wa (和) (harmony) within the group. Tokyo Heart and Mind Counselling understand individual mental health is interconnected with the health of one's relationships and environment. Together, we collaborate in the journey of restoring harmony to the heart and mind.
My approach is deeply influenced by my New Zealand heritage and the culture of my home here in Japan.
The logo and philosophy of Tokyo Heart and Mind Counselling bring these two worlds together, combining the Māori Koru - a symbol of growth, renewal, and new beginnings with the Japanese character for heart (心), reflecting a holistic approach to healing that values compassion, connection and balance.
