Mental Health Services in English in Japan
Clinics in Japan that offer therapy in English, Spanish, French, etc.
Looking for someone to talk to? Need some guidance in navigating an issue at work or in your family life, but aren’t sure where and who? All these could feel like an impossible and daunting task. This year in 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic also has a harsh mental health toll after all the economic uncertainty and isolation, not to mention if you’re already struggling to cope with pressure from work, family, and society. Can’t imagine how you are feeling at this moment. But, you really need to remember, that it’s okay to not be OK, and that help is always on the way. Again, Japan Web Magazine is here to help.
Most things you’ll wish you knew before seeing a therapist
Whatever the difficulties you’re facing now, know this: You are not alone, even sometimes may feel this way. Leave aside what society or otherwise might tell you, there’s nothing wrong to visit a therapist. A counselor or a psychologist is an objective, a frankly professional resource.
But seeing a therapist for the first time can be a scary experience, and every so often you’ll think you weren’t ready to take the leap. “Talking to a qualified mental health professional is an experience like no other,” said Dr. Klapow, a professional psychologist when hosting a radio show. He later added, “It is a time for you to be vulnerable, be expressive, explores your inner challenges, and deal with problems that many of us keep to ourselves. All with a trained professional guiding you through. If you are suffering you need to talk to a qualified mental health professional. It could change your life.”
That being said, do keep in mind, everyone’s life experience is different, and so is every therapist. In order to make your therapy sessions more effective, here’s what we would like to suggest:
1. There are a lot of different choices; In other words, do some research!
It seems promising when your best friend or family suggested you give Dr.Who a try, but does that person specialize in what you’re looking for? The thing is, a therapist can be applied to anyone from a licensed physician who has a Ph.D. degree in psychology or to an experience self-proclaimed mental healer with little to zero clinical training. The term “therapist” actually means nothing and tells you very little about the academic background of the person you’re seeing. So, be sure to do some research before you know they’re exactly the right choice for you.
Apropos of finding a therapist, “fit” is what truly matters. Take all the time you need to look thoroughly before making an appointment. Use all the stalker skills you could think of, and run a background check on the therapist you’re about to meet.
Look for things like, what do they usually do in their spare time? (Cause it could be a killer conversation starter, and maybe you could click with them right away) How much do they usually charge? (You don’t want to lose control of your finance, you may need to visit them multiple times) What’re their specialties? (All therapists have different areas of focus. You might not like visiting a marriage psychologist when internet addiction is your real concern) How long have they been practicing? (After all, no one wants to be a lab rat!).
And if you aren’t able to collect those information on the internet, it’s better just ask them straight out. Assuming that they couldn’t provide you with a satisfactory answer, go ahead and cancel your appointment and look elsewhere for a more qualified individual. Doing research could really make a huge difference in making sure that you’re in safe hands.
2. Don’t sweat on small things and remember this, nothing is off-limits
Have an appointment with your therapist isn’t like going on a dinner date, you don’t have to be perfect. So, if you’re prone to overthinking and create stories in your head, stop at once! It’s normal to be a little nervous and worry that things may go south, but bear in mind, the first person you see might not actually be the right fit- you really don’t need to stick with the first appointment. Whether is their approach, their way of talking, or even their look, make you feel a slice of discomfort, feel free to move on with a new one.
In the first appointment, your therapist will most likely walk you through the whole therapy process, giving you numerous information on confidentiality and what their plan for you looks like. Your experience during the initial therapy may turn out like a roller coaster ride. Your therapist may ask you to look back on your personal history for a soft, secret, vulnerable spot hidden within; It’s perfectly fine to break down and begin to cry like a baby, from there, is where your therapist can come in and help you.
According to psychologist Robert Duff, Ph.D., author of the best-selling therapy book- The hardcore self-help, “If you wait for the perfect conditions to begin therapy, you never will, just get in there. I just want people to realize that they can’t fail at therapy.” “There’s no right or wrong way to do it.”
Don’t forget, the first appointment is the best time to pitch any questions you can think of about the therapy process.
3. You are going to feel things
Expecting to experience the feeling of a crying baby, period. Going to therapy may sometimes feel like doing workouts, so remember this and say this to yourself again and again, “Change is hard. And it will be uncomfortable at times, but it’s part of the process to get you to where you want to be”,. That’s how therapy works, digging and working some uncomfortable things and really sitting with it.
In life, people rarely want to acknowledge the worst and darkest parts of themselves, even when they’re being ripped inside out. Honesty is scientifically proven to make people happier, it leads to a better relationship not only with those people around you but also with yourself. “The person receiving therapy is able to build trust, appropriate transparency and set boundaries in all the relationships in their lives,” said Chris Kernes, a renowned therapist and cofounder of the on-demand talk-therapy app, told INSIDER.
You may feel worse as you begin the journey of self-exploration, but you should feel better in the long run, I promise.
Bilingual psychiatrists and mental health resources in Japan
From this part, we will walk you through some of those well-known and trusted options of multilingual, mostly English-speaking therapists in Japan, for a foreign visitor like you, who maybe struggling with the trials of living abroad and having trouble getting the help you need.