Kelsey Nakashige
I’m a clinical and forensic psychologist who was raised in California and Hawaii. I strive to create a therapy space that feels warm, collaborative, and genuine—one where you can bring your whole self, including the messy, complicated, and sometimes funny parts of being human. I work with people from all backgrounds and identities, and I’m particularly drawn to supporting people navigating grief, life transitions, multicultural identities, relationship challenges, serious mental illness, and other complex experiences. My approach is psychodynamic and integrative, which means we’ll pay attention to the patterns and themes that have developed over time and how they may be showing up in your life and relationships today.
First session
After a first session, I hope individual clients feel supported and seen. I want you to come away with a sense that I’m curious about your experiences, that I’m committed to understanding you as a whole person, and that we can approach the work together at a pace that feels both safe and meaningful. For couples, I hope each person leaves feeling heard and respected, while also beginning to feel that we can create a space where both partners can be honest and curious about what is happening between them. My goal is for both individuals to feel that I’m invested in understanding their perspectives and the relationship they’re building together.
Strengths
I bring both steadiness and curiosity to the therapy room. I want you to feel safe enough to slow down, be honest, and explore difficult experiences without feeling judged or pushed before you’re ready. At the same time, I’m not afraid of discomfort. If I sense that we’re getting close to something important—a pattern, feeling, or realization that might be easy to move past—I may gently invite us to stay with it a little longer. My hope is that therapy feels collaborative rather than prescriptive: we’re figuring things out together, with room for both challenge and support, seriousness and humor.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is someone who is willing to keep showing up—even when the work feels difficult, uncomfortable, or uncertain. You don’t need to have everything figured out or know exactly what you want from therapy. What matters most to me is a willingness to be curious about yourself, to explore what may be underneath the surface, and to stay engaged in the process even when it challenges you. I see therapy as something we do together, and I value clients who are open to that kind of collaboration.
Treatment methods
Psychodynamic
My approach is psychodynamic while being integrative, meaning we’ll pay attention to the patterns and themes that shape how you understand yourself, relate to others, and cope with difficult experiences. I may gently draw your attention to something that seems important or familiar, including what unfolds in our relationship, and invite us to explore it together. Because my approach is also integrative, I may also bring in more structured or skills-based approaches when it feels like they could be helpful for what you’re experiencing. These tools are not one-size-fits-all; we’ll talk together about what feels useful, and I’ll continue using them only if they feel meaningful and supportive of your goals. Throughout our work, I aim to balance deeper exploration with practical support, collaboration, and—when it fits—a little humor.
Location
Virtual sessions