HOME - Tatsuya Arakawa LMFT

My Story

I decided to become a therapist because of experiences I had in childhood and how therapy helped me out of a dark place. When I was 16 years old, I dropped out of high school after experiencing bullying, depression, and lack of support from parents and teachers. I felt alone so much as if I was stuck in the darkest tunnel with no lights. Because of so many uncertainties about my future, I was very anxious and thought I was done.
However, I was able to find a great therapist and turned my life around. I went back and was able to graduate from high school where I realized other classmates also struggled with the same things I had. I really wanted to help them and offer what I got from my own therapist: the chance to be heard.
I graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a M.S. in Counseling and became licensed as an MFT. Since then, I have been providing psychotherapy with my passion to help those who are suffering see the light at the end of the darkest tunnel.

Online Therapy

Pros

As long as you can secure your privacy and can access the internet, you can see a therapist wherever you are.
Study shows that online therapy can be as effective as in-person therapy.
Here is the study.　 Another study.
You do not even have to drive.
You can save time because you do not have to come to the office.
You can see a therapist where you feel relaxed and comfortable such as your favorite sofa at home!
Confidentiality is secured.

Cons

You might not feel as connected to a therapist as you might feel in-person.
You must have a basic idea of how to use PC and cell phones.
You need to be in California or any other country where the law permits such as Japan
(if you receive psychotherapy from me, Tatsuya Arakawa, LMFT as I am licensed in California).

However

I am trained enough to help you feel connected with me even if you receive therapy online.
You can utilize the website below that is not difficult to use even for those who are not good at using technology.

Here is the website to receive online therapy from me

What You Can Expect from Therapy with Me

For Adults

If you have a difficult time sleeping, therapy could help you sleep better.
Even if you feel down most of the time, therapy could help you feel better.
Even if you have been taking medications and have not been feeling like the medications have been helping you, therapy could help you stop taking medications (note: need consultation with the doctor prescribing medications).
If you are having difficulty focusing on work, therapy can help you concentrate better.
You might be feeling overwhelmed due to so many feelings. Therapy can help you organize your thoughts, understand why you feel overwhelmed, and managing your feelings.
If you lack appetite (too much or too little), therapy can help you get back to your normal appetite.
If you feel irritable often, therapy can help you understand why you feel irritable often and help you deal with what is irritating you.
If you have no energy to meet anyone and do something fun you used to have fun with, therapy can help you get your fun back.
If you cannot stop thinking too much, instead of helping you stop thinking (because that is impossible for human beings!), therapy can help you live with unwanted thoughts and understand it’s okay to think too much as long as your thoughts don’t affect your daily life.
If you tend to think about worst case scenarios and get anxious often, therapy can help you not let them affect your life and live with your anxieties.

For Adolescents

More compliant behaviors
Less defiant behaviors
More polite behaviors
Better grades
Emotional stability
Less irritable
Less anger and frustration
Can focus better on schoolwork

My Specialties

Depression

Anxiety

Adult Child of Toxic Parents

Adolescent

Autistic Adult

Sports Injury

My Story

Online Therapy

Pros