Akemi Horii
I’m a psychotherapist dedicated to helping adults navigate anxiety, trauma, relationship challenges, and life transitions (LPC in VA, LPCC in OH). I provide a warm, compassionate, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel heard and understood.
Drawing from my multicultural background and diverse clinical experience, I create a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients feel understood and respected.
My integrative, trauma-informed approach incorporates IFS-Informed EMDR, CBT, and other evidence-based therapies to support meaningful healing and lasting personal growth.
First session
Your first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other in a warm, welcoming, and nonjudgmental space. We'll explore what brings you to therapy, your current challenges, and what you hope to gain from our work together. There's no pressure to share more than you're comfortable with, and you don't need to have everything figured out. I'll ask questions, listen with curiosity and compassion, and help you begin identifying your goals. My hope is that you'll leave feeling heard, understood, and more comfortable about taking the next step in your journey.
Strengths
I bring warmth, empathy, cultural sensitivity, and genuine curiosity to every session. Drawing from my multicultural background and diverse clinical experience, I create a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients feel understood and respected. I balance compassionate support with gentle challenges, helping clients develop deeper self-awareness, build resilience, and create meaningful, lasting change.
Ideal clients
I enjoy working with adults who may appear capable and successful on the outside but struggle internally with anxiety, self-doubt, perfectionism, relationship challenges, or unresolved past experiences. Many are navigating life transitions, feeling stuck in familiar patterns, or questioning what they truly want. Some are new to therapy or unsure where to begin. My ideal clients are curious about themselves and open to exploring their experiences, even when change feels uncomfortable. I welcome those who want not only relief from their symptoms but also deeper self-understanding, healthier relationships, and meaningful, lasting personal growth.
Treatment methods
EMDR
I use EMDR to help clients process distressing experiences and unresolved trauma that may continue to affect their emotions, beliefs, and relationships. EMDR helps the brain reprocess difficult memories so they become less emotionally overwhelming. Using bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, we work toward reducing distress and developing healthier beliefs about yourself. I incorporate EMDR at a pace that feels safe and manageable, helping you move beyond painful experiences without having to describe every detail of what happened.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
I use Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help clients better understand the different parts of themselves, such as the inner critic, perfectionist, people-pleaser, or parts that carry fear, shame, and painful experiences. Rather than trying to eliminate these parts, we approach them with curiosity and compassion, exploring how they developed and what they may be trying to protect. Through this process, clients can develop greater self-awareness, reduce internal conflicts, and build a more compassionate relationship with themselves. I often integrate IFS with EMDR to support deeper emotional healing.
Location
Virtual sessions