Your Own Wisdom is Already Within
Let's find your inner wisdom to transform together,
so you unlock new possibilities and live your life more fully.
Are you feeling...
afraid to be yourself?
preoccupied with how others
perceive you?
like you're not good enough?
like your needs come after
everyone else's?
distressed when you recall past painful experiences?
If you answered 'yes' to any of the questions above, I am here to work with you to help you move forward.
I help adults who are struggling with social anxiety, self-criticism and judgment, and acculturation and bicultural identity issues to learn to love themselves, get off the couch, and live their lives.
Many of my clients started where you are currently, and now have reported feeling confident and comfortable expressing themselves without hesitation. They are also feeling more connected to their family, friends, and colleagues as well as participating in activities they enjoy. I am here to help you reach the point that you can have that too.
About Me
Yoshimi Shimizu (she/her), LMHC
Qualification
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NY State Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC #011728)
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Japanese Certification Board-Clinical Psychologist (#23554)
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Japanese Certified Public Psychologist(#19889)
Education & Clinical Trainings
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M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Ritsumeikan University in Japan
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Mental Health Counseling Program at Long Island University in New York
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Adult Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy at Metropolitan Institute for Training in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (MITPP)
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2-year-Focusing Training at The International Focusing Institute
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AEDP™ Institute: Immersion Course, Essential Skills, Advanced Skills, and Assistant at Experiential Group
As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York State, Florida State Telehealth provider and Japanese-Licensed Clinical Psychologist, I have worked internationally with adult individuals living with social anxiety, self-criticism, self-judgement, traumas, acculturation, and bicultural identity issues. I am bilingual in Japanese and English and specialize in attachment- and somatic-based therapy.
After immigrating to the United States, I gained early experience working as a hotline advocate at Womankind. Here I provided emotional support for survivors of domestic violence and connected them with vital social services. I then worked for outpatient clinics in New York City and offered treatment to diverse populations varying in ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status and culture. In 2018, I opened my own private practice in Manhattan.
Following my natural intrigue around what it means to feel alive, I obtained my Focusing Oriented Therapist certificate in 2014 from The International Focusing Institute. Focusing helped me increase inner safety and access the power of self-healing and self-trust by establishing greater alignment between my body, thoughts, and actions. I now seek to guide others as they learn to cultivate their own sense of inner peace without judgment. I am also a Certified AEDP™ Therapist at AEDP™ Institute. One of the great benefits of AEDP™psychotherapy, and the reason I pursue this treatment for myself, is its focus on safety which can alleviate feelings of isolation. It involves learning to handle emotions alongside the therapist without feelings of overwhelm or shame. AEDP™ psychotherapy helps people access their most authentic form of emotional expression through healing pain. Because everyone has a different relationship with their bodies and past traumas, I combine these modalities to work with patients at their own pace as we get to the root of emotional blocks.
As an immigrant, I also experienced difficulties adjusting to a new cultural environment and faced social anxiety myself. I love working with people to help them feel fully confident in who they are, both around others and on their own. I aim to bring patients to a place free from toxic self-loathing, where they can fully love themselves and live the life they desire.
I look forward to working with you as you uncover your own beautiful power and wisdom inside.
In addition to offering private sessions, I facilitate and co-facilitate Focusing exercises and workshops through North Jersey Focusing Trainers. I have also assisted in workshops with the AEDP™ Institute and have provided free workshops through AEDP™ for Japan. For more details, please see the Event Information section below.
Event Information
Two-Year Hybrid Focusing Training and Certification Program
Starting in November 2024, this program is facilitated by Beth Mahler, LCSW, FOT, and Teaching Team, including myself.
Join an information Q & A session to learn more:
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Date/Time 1: September 30, 2024, 12 pm-1:30 pm EDT and 5:30 pm-7 pm EDT
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Date/Time 2: October 21, 2024, 5:30 pm-7 pm EDT
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Format: Via Zoom
For more details, please visit the NJFT (North Jersey Focusing Trainers) website.
Areas of Works
I work with adult individuals with the following issues:
Social Anxiety
Depression
Traumas and PTSD
Low Self Esteem
Cross-Cultural Issues
Coping with being Asian in the U.S.
I have worked with people who find it difficult to assert themselves and say "no" to others. I am also sensitive to acculturation issues including cultural identities.
Free Initial Consultation
I offer a 20-minute free consultation. This is not a therapy session.
If you are new to psychotherapy, I will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have. It will be a good opportunity to see if what the therapist offers matches what you expect in the therapy.
Psychotherapy Services
I believe many of us hold wisdom and resources deep within. I will work alongside you to help you fully uncover them. We will nurture your resources together to improve your overall well-being.
I take a somatic-based approach, meaning we will get in touch with bodily sensations. This may include guiding you towards a sense of calm and feelings of groundedness. It is critical to find your own resources and nurture them somatically because our anxiety, fear, and traumas are connected with visceral experiences.
Focusing on your somatic (bodily) experience may be scary or you may not be sure what to expect. No need to worry - we will start where you feel safe and okay. I value providing a safe space for clients to process at their own pace, and we will determine together what that looks like for you.
People experience many emotions: feelings of calm, joy, sadness, anger, fear, embarrassment, excitement, and more. Sometimes though, certain feelings have been shut out or shut down, resulting in difficulty expressing or feeling them. I will help you learn to listen to different parts of yourself without judgment. For example, you may feel angry while another part of you feels you “shouldn’t be angry.” Both sides can be valid and serve you in some way. I will help befriend each aspect of you, as we do not want to disregard any of these voices. By becoming your own friend and listening to your inner self more clearly, you will experience greater self-love while building a healthy sense of confidence and pride.
My approach integrates Mindfulness, Focusing, and AEDP™ psychotherapy. These modalities gently allow you to connect feelings with physical sensations in order to align with your authentic self.
My session goal is not only to alleviate your symptoms, like anxiety or depression, but also to help you live your life more fully.
I’m looking forward to working with you. Together we can get you to the place where you feel, ‘That’s ME!’
About Sessions
I work with adult individuals (18+ years old). Sessions will be held on a weekly basis, 45 or 60 minutes each.
For the first session, you are asked to fill out an initial registration form and consent forms.
Cancellation Policy
If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please contact me at least forty-eight hours ahead of a scheduled appointment; otherwise, we will charge you for the missed session. Please be aware that insurance carriers will not cover cancellation charges and therefore you will be responsible for paying in full for the cancelled session.
Fees & Insurance
I am an out-of-network provider. If your insurance plan includes mental health or behavioral health coverage, you may be eligible for partial reimbursement after each session. Our billing manager will issue a superbill on a monthly basis for you to submit to your insurance company. We would like to ask you to check your plan and coverage before scheduling our initial consultation. If you'd like assistance in determining whether your insurance plan covers out-of-network services, our billing manager can check your benefits. Feel free to contact us for more information.
If you have financial concerns, please feel free to inquire about sliding scale options during your initial consultation. Please note that availability for sliding scale spots may be limited.
Clients residing outside the United States are not eligible for insurance coverage. Please contact us for more details about fees.
About payment
We currently accept Venmo, Zelle, and credit cards, including HSA and FSA cards. Payments made via Venmo and Zelle do not incur transaction fees. However, if you choose to pay by credit card, please note that a 3% transaction fee will be applied to the total amount.
Free Initial Consultation
I offer a 20-minute free consultation. This is not a therapy session.
If you are new to psychotherapy, I will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have. It will be a good opportunity to see if what the therapist offers matches what you expect in the therapy.
Access
Office Address: 225 Broadway #1570, New York, NY 10007
Email: info@yoshimi-shimizu.com
Phone: +1 (201) 474-2044
*To get in touch with me, please reach out via email or use the inquiry form provided below. Kindly note that my availability to respond to phone calls may be limited.
Contact Me
An initial consultation is provided for free. If you have a question,
drop me a note through the contact form below.