Hi, I’m HANA.
I’m glad you’re here. I’m an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) and a graduate of the Wright Institute (2025). I previously earned my BA in Dance Making from UC Riverside (2022). Outside of my clinical work, I enjoy lifting weights, dancing, cooking, reading, and exploring the Bay Area.
My background in both psychology and dance gives me a unique lens on what it means to be human. At our core, we have an innate desire to move freely, express ourselves, and connect with others. And yet, depending on our conditioning, circumstances, and lived experiences, many of us have also known anxiety, depression, pain, and loneliness. I’m interested in exploring these experiences with you. While it’s often easy to share life when things feel good, it can be much harder to stay connected or make sense of ourselves when we’re struggling. The truth is, feeling confused, overwhelmed, or nervous is a very human experience—and you don’t have to move through it alone. Learning to navigate both the ups and downs of life takes practice, compassion, and connection.
Other influences - CBT, IFS, Expressive, Art, DBT
My Approach
NARRATIVE
Re-authoring your story with compassion, choice, and meaning
PSYCHODYNAMIC
Understanding the patterns beneath the surface to create lasting change
My therapeutic approach is to work holistically with the mind, body, and spirit. As a Japanese-American woman, I understand the push and pull between individualistic and collectivist cultures, and the complexity of holding multiple identities while longing to belong.
My work is informed by somatic approaches (honoring the body’s innate wisdom and building a more supportive relationship with the nervous system), psychodynamic therapy (exploring how early relationships shape our present ones), existential inquiry (how we make meaning of our lives), and primarily narrative therapy. I’m curious about the stories we carry—those formed through survival, culture, and generations—and how we can reclaim authorship of our own lives. Written Within is a reminder that we have the power to reshape our narratives, to be intentional with our words and actions, and to create new stories that feel more aligned and alive.
SOMATIC
Listening to the wisdom of your body to support healing and regulation
EXISTENTIAL
Exploring meaning, choice, and authenticity in how you live your life