If you are not sure which service is best suited for you or if you are wondering how psychotherapy and/or personal coaching can help you, the followings are some sample cases.

<Psychotherapy Cases>

1. Bereavement
If you have lost someone very close to you, psychotherapy can help you overcome your emotional pain. Your special someone can be your parent, brother, sister, spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend, colleague or pet. Intensity of bereavement can be influenced by your relationship with the person, the way he/she has left you and unfinished business with the person. Grief causes very intense and complicated emotions. You may experience depression, anxiety and sometimes even psychotic symptoms. Therefore, it would benefit you to have consistent support and help from others much more than usual.

2. Emotional instability and Loneliness
You get easily stressed and irritated at the small stuff. You have been feeling down. You cannot enjoy anything you do. You feel lonely and cry when you are alone. It is very common for almost everyone to go through such experiences once in a while. If you feel this way frequently or consistently, you may need to pay closer attention to your reactions. Most likely, there are some reasons for your emotional instability and loneliness. In psychotherapy, one of the goals is for you to recognize the triggers of your emotions, which facilitates your emotional stability.

3. Lack of motivation
If you have trouble feeling motivated or tend to procrastinate things and consequently, nothing can be done. You may feel stuck because you are not satisfied with where you are right now and wishing to have more in your life. In this case, psychotherapy provides you an opportunity to see what really stops you from moving forward. With professional guidance, this process would allow you to look at yourself at a deeper level.

4. Self-esteem issues
Perhaps you have lost your confidence due to the mistake you made in the past. You may believe it is always difficult for you to achieve something. You are so afraid of failing that you often avoid any challenges in your life. Such irrational beliefs are caused by your thinking habit, which are called "automatic thoughts." Through psychotherapy, you will be able to recognize your thinking pattern and see if your beliefs are based on reality. You will gain the power to modify your automatic thoughts if you choose to be able to function with more confidence.

5. Romantic relationship
You may be having a difficulty finding a compatible partner. You have a hard time keeping a long-term relationship. You and your partner have been arguing over and over. Perhaps you are trying to get over your partner's betrayal and move on. Relationship troubles can consume a lot of your energy and time. A psychotherapist can assist you to learn how to find a compatible partner and develop and maintain a loving and satisfying relationship with your special one.

6. Marital relationship
You feel that passion and love in your marriage have been fading away. You may be dealing with sex problems, affairs, and domestic violence. It takes a lot of effort and work to keep any marriage satisfying for both partners in the relationship. Couples therapy can provide an opportunity for you and your partner to revisit the values of your marriage and better understand each other.
*Sayaka specializes in cross-cultural (inter-racial) couples. She also provides premarital therapy.

7. Life transitions
You are going through changes in your life, such as moving, changing jobs or careers, being transferred, being promoted, changing school, getting married, having a first child, and so on. It is very natural for anyone to feel anxious when a change occurs even if it's positive one. Your therapist not only helps you adjust to a new situation, but also guides you to use the opportunity for your personal growth.

8. Family issues
Every family has its own dynamics as each individual has different personality and traits. Family issues tend to be complicated because there are always unspoken rules, set roles and communication system in the family that may not be working properly. If you are in the system, it is very hard for you to see these dynamics. In addition, most family members are usually reluctant to modify their system with problems because they are so accustomed to it. A psychotherapist observes and assesses your family objectively to develop a new system that works more effectively and bonds your family even stronger.

9. Parenting related issues
Happy parents = Happy child. You have been trying so hard to be a good parent, but things may not go as smoothly as you want them to be. In most situations, there is no simple right or wrong answer to it, which makes your more overwhelmed. In my parent education trainings, you will learn strategies of effective parenting and develop the most compatible parenting style for you, instead of techniques to deal with each specific situation. You will find more enjoyment in your time with your child. Psychotherapy for children is also available.

10. Self-management
Cigarettes, alcohol, gambling, overeating, overspending, workaholic.... There are many addictions that exist in our lives. You know it is not good for you but you find it very difficult to control yourself. If you have failed to quit the bad habit over and over, it is about the time to seek professional advice. Once a habit is developed, it takes much longer for you to get rid of it.

11. Excessive worries and anxiety
You have a trouble socializing and connecting with people. You are consistently worried about something. You experience panic attacks. You cannot stop thinking negatively. Concerns and worries tend to grow like a snowball in your head. In psychotherapy, you will learn more about your anxiety and where it comes from. Treatment focuses on reducing the intensity and frequency of your anxiety so that it can be more manageable.

12. Painful past memories
Most of us go through traumatic experiences at some point in our lives. Some people continue experiencing flashbacks and nightmares after the trauma, and painful memory holds them back from moving on. Psychological scars can be treated and healed just like physical injuries if you receive proper treatment. Your therapist will assist you with this difficult process on your comfortable pace.

<Personal Coaching Cases>

1. Interpersonal skills
Having satisfying relationships with people around you brings the most rewarding happiness to your life. Slight improvements in your communication style have huge impacts on your social skills and relationships with others. In coaching sessions, you will also learn how to deal with difficult people you cannot avoid. If you have a trouble saying "No" to people, a coach assists you with proper limit settings to reduce your stress level

2. Stress management
In this fast-pace society, it is almost impossible for us not to feel stressed. It is well known that stress is related to some serious medical conditions, including heart disease. Stress also interferes with your productivity, accountability and relationship with people around you. For you to control your stress better, you need to learn more about yourself first. Do you really know what triggers your stress? With a coach, you will develop the most effective way to manage and prevent your stress that fits your style and personality.

3. Career change and transition
People change their career or start their own business to seek for more potential and create the lifestyle they have always dreamed of. For you to succeed in the transition, there are some principles you need to understand and consistently utilize during the whole process. A coach first helps you overcome your anxiety and fear so that you can start taking actions. Since you are guided and supported by a coach throughout your transition process, you are not alone. You coach will commit herself to help you reach your goal surely and quickly.

4. Self-improvement
You want to improve yourself and grow as a person, but you don't know where to start. You have certain goals and dreams, but you don't know how to get there. A personal coach guides you to find your definition of happiness to start this exciting process. Coaching plans will be developed based on your strengths so that this process can be more enjoyable for you.

5. Time and Life management
You value both your family and career and struggle with balancing these equally important things in your life. You often feel guilty when prioritizing one of them. If you want to be guilt free and more relaxed, coaching is a right choice for you. A coach starts its process from assessing your situation and areas of development.