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Junko Yamauchi, LMFT, Director of Support Groups
Our chapter currently runs four support groups. Pre-Covid time, we had two groups in the north locations and another two groups in the south locations. Since the pandemic, we have been offering all-online support groups, which allows us to serve more people, some even outside Santa Clara County.
I am the Director of the Newly and Pre-Licensed Member Support Groups. I was also one of the facilitators of the support groups, until recently. I really enjoyed meeting with pre-licensed therapists and was inspired by them in person and online for the last 2.5 years. I am excited that we now have two new leaders starting in June.
In the June issue, I introduced our two long-standing Support Group leaders, Jim Arjani and Della Fernandes. In this issue, you will meet our new Support Group leaders: Natasha Kazmi, LMFT and Saru Sivanesan, LMFT. I am very excited that they have come onboard. In order to get to know them better, I came up with fun questions for them hoping you would get a sense of who they are. I wrote the questions and the leaders answered via email.
Natasha Kazmi, LMFT leads our Pre-Licensed Support Groups on the first Friday of the month from 11:00 am -1:00 pm.
Who are your clients and are you accepting new clients at this point?
I work with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families. I have a group practice, www.trustmentalhealth.com. We are accepting new clients.
What books/movies/podcasts do you recommend for fellow therapists?
I enjoyed reading Relationship Rx by Stan Tatkin for couples therapy. I love how he brings in neurobiology and attachment as his foundation. This book has helpful tips and I sometimes recommend it to clients.
Which non-therapy related books/movies/podcasts do you enjoy?
Forty Rules of love by Elif Shafak. The Forty Rules of Love unfolds two tantalizing parallel narratives—one contemporary and the other set in the thirteenth century, when Rumi encounters his spiritual mentor, the whirling dervish known as Shams of Tabriz—that together explore the enduring power of Rumi's work.
What are quotes, phrases, or sayings that you often use in session?
“Courage comes from support.” I encourage my clients to develop a support system, if they don’t already have one.
What do you do to take care of yourself?
I love spending time with family and friends, personal physical training and taking vacation.
If you were not a therapist, what would you like to do for a living?
I would have liked to be an OB-GYN—delivering babies, as I feel it brings joy to the world.
What would you do if you won 1 million dollars?
Open a non-profit in a developing area close to us or in a developing country.
Describe your dream vacation.
A house on the beach or travel around the world.
Which theoretical orientation do you use the most?
CBT/psychodynamic.
Why did you become a therapist?
My passion for helping people and instilling hope in their lives.
How has the pandemic changed your professional life?
The pandemic has redefined the mental health delivery model through Telehealth, where both therapists and clients have benefitted from its convenience.
Anything else to share about yourself with the readers?
I value diversity, varied cultures and languages; therefore, my group practice is comprised of BIPOC therapists who collectively offer services in 8 different languages.
Sarangan "Saru" Sivanesan, MA, LMFT leads the Newly Licensed Support Group on the second Friday of the month, from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm.
Who are your clients and are you accepting new clients at this point?
Most of my clients are from tech and as a former software engineer, I understand their mindset very well. Yes, I am accepting new clients.
Which theoretical orientation do you use the most?
I am trauma trained (EMDR certified and Hakomi trained) and use this training to inform my treatment planning. I find EMDR is a very efficient way to help clients heal from trauma. But that does not mean it's a quick fix. It requires good assessment and treatment planning. Hakomi is an efficient way to bypass the conscious mind and get into the subconscious beliefs, memories, etc. I use that to help clients realize that there is more to what's happening than what they are able to see. Usually it works well with my tech clients.
What books/movies/podcasts do you recommend for fellow therapists?
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho
Groundhog Day
Spanglish
Which non-therapy related books/movies/podcasts do you enjoy?
I like comedies and light-hearted movies. I also enjoy self-help and spiritual books.
What are the quotes, phrases, or sayings that you often use in session?
I don't have one or two particular quotes, but I do use a lot of metaphors to help clients, bypassing their thinking mind and helping them gain clarity.
What do you do to take care of yourself?
Meditation, exercising, cooking, spending time with my wife, gardening and being by the ocean or in nature.
If you were not a therapist, what would you like to do for a living?
I’m not sure! I love my job. I was a software engineer for 20+ years and changed my career to become a therapist.
Describe your dream vacation.
Ocean walks, meditation and healthy food.
How did you become a therapist?
I was a software engineer for 20+ years. My bachelors is in Mathematics & Computer Science. But the job was not fulfilling and I wanted something more meaningful. So I took a break from work and went on a soul searching trip traveling through parts of New Mexico and South America (Santiago, Rio, Machu Picchu & other parts of Peru). On my return, I started exploring psychology schools as I was called to it. When I walked into my alma mater, Sofia University (formerly Institute of Transpersonal Psychology), I knew it was the right place and joined there soon after.
How has the pandemic changed your professional life?
Learning the importance of self care and connections.
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