Yumi Terajima
Licensed Clinical Psychologist (CA and IL)
- Accepting New Clients
- Virtual & In-Person
I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and highly specialized in helping clients and families who struggle with anxiety, OCD, depression, and managing other difficult emotions. I have helped many clients from diverse age groups and phases of life, work through challenges with identity development, self-esteem and confidence, stress related to being part of a minority group, and other various life stressors such as work and school challenges, relationship and family conflict, and work-life imbalance.
I am also experienced in providing integrative therapy for couples, incorporating tools from Emotion Focused Therapy and the Gottman Method, to help clients navigate relationship discord and communication difficulties. In couples therapy, I help clients identify unhelpful interaction patterns that often lead to repeated conflict, and learn new ways to feel aligned, connected, seen, and heard.
“My goal is to provide a safe, warm, and non-judgmental space as I work alongside you, and, with mutual trust and collaboration. I believe we can identify the life patterns no longer serving you and help you achieve your goals.”
In terms of my approach to therapy, I utilize a culturally informed, integrative approach that draws from various evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). When working with family members of clients who are struggling with OCD, I integrate Supportive Parenting for Childhood Anxious Emotions (SPACE) into my family systems support approach.
I work well with those who are open to collaborating, learning, and experimenting with new ways of coping. I am passionate about helping clients transform limiting beliefs with courage and confidence, so that anxiety, depression, and self-doubt isn’t dictating the course and experience of life.
If you are ready to make a change and become a student of yourself, give us a call today. I am on your team and here to help guide the way!
“One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.”
Areas Of Focus
- Teen and Young Adult Therapy
- Depression
- OCD
- Generalized Anxiety
- Agoraphobia
- Panic Attacks
- Health and Illness Anxiety
- Performance Anxiety
- ADHD
- Social Anxiety
- Assertiveness Training
- Perfectionism
- Self-Esteem
- Emotion Regulation
- Academic Stressors
- Sleep Issues
- Parent Skill-Building
- Couples Therapy
- Minority Group Stressors
- Multicultural Issues
- Perinatal Mental Health
Therapy Modalities
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
- Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE)
- Gottman Method for Couples Therapy
More About Me
I spent a good part of my life avoiding doing things out of fear. Fear of failure and of the unknown, rooted in the belief that I wasn’t good enough. When I was ready, I began doing the work of untangling myself from these beliefs and increasing curiosity around my fears. I became a student of myself, which is how I like to describe therapy. To become the student of oneself allows us the opportunity to take a step back and observe, instead of automatically believing our thoughts and beliefs to be true. We all have the innate need to feel safe. Anxiety helps us maintain safety, although not always. I’ve learned that anxiety is there to protect us. Though importantly, we get to decide what risks are worth taking.