About Kirstyn

Kirstyn Takahashi (she/her) grew up in New Zealand and has lived in Japan for over 25 years, where she has raised her family. She has extensive experience supporting clients with a wide range of concerns, including addiction, neurodivergence, cultural adjustment, infertility, miscarriage, eating disorders, prolonged grief, and life transitions such as menopause. She also specialises in relationship counselling, helping couples navigate challenges including infidelity, communication difficulties and emotional disconnection.

A smiling woman with blonde hair and blue eyes wearing a black top and a colorful necklace.

Master of Counselling (currently studying)

Bachelor of Counselling (2026)

Registered Counsellor, Australian Counselling Association (ACA)

Gottman Method Couples Therapy - Levels 1 & 2 (2026)

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Training (2026)

QPR Suicide Prevention Training (2024)

Qualifications

Certificate of completion awarded to Kirstyn Takahashi for completing a self-study course on Gottman Method Couples Therapy - Level 1, issued by The Gottman Institute on May 25, 2026. The certificate features a background with chain locks.
Certificate of Completion awarded to Kirstyn Takahashi for completing Gottman Method Couples Therapy - Level 2, issued on June 5, 2026, issued by the Gottman Institute, with a background image of two people holding hands.
Certificate of Completion from the National Eating Disorders Collaboration awarded to Kirstyn Takahashi for completing Eating Disorder Core Skills eLearning for Mental Health Professionals, dated November 9, 2024.
Certificate of registration from the Australian Counseling Association awarded to Kirstyn Takahashi, featuring a red wax seal and details including registration number, date of registration, and expiry date.
A badge indicating approval for a Gottman Relationship Checkup, labeled as an approved member.

Koru: The spirit of becoming

The Koru depicts the unfurling frond of the silver fern. In Te Ao Māori, 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. 

Kirstyn’s approach is deeply influenced by both her New Zealand heritage and the culture of her home 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.

The culture of Tokyo Heart and Mind Counselling

At Tokyo Heart and Mind Counselling healing is understood as arising through both vulnerability and strength. It is a return to your true self and a courageous step toward a new beginning.