Michelle Ikeda

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California with diverse experience in social services and healthcare fields. My expertise is in helping individuals/couples cope with differences in priorities, improve communication, and facilitate better understanding of each other. I have a variety of experiences working with children and families with issues related to child welfare system, court or non-court custody related issues, legal guardianship related issues and parenting issues. I am very passionate about helping individuals and couples with relationship and family dynamics issues. I am bilingual in English and Japanese. Growing up in Japan, I was taught to be modest and humble, and also to always be mindful of others. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. My belief is highlighted when interacting with clients as I use a client-centered approach. Throughout the years of my helping profession, I have worked with clients from 0 to 110 years old of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds! I have experiences providing intensive case management services to caregivers/families and elderly residents, particularly family members of dementia patients in convalescent facility settings. People with advanced age have a lot of life experience to share, and I am intrigued by their life stories. I also have extensive knowledge of supporting and guiding family members of children and adults with developmental disabilities, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder. My current regular availability is limited to weekends (Friday evening through Sunday) and some holidays, but I can work with weekday evenings on as needed basis for existing clients.