LPC, 21 years of experience
I am Dr. Kawakami and I have been in the mental health and addiction field for over 20 years. I am a practicing Licensed Professional Counselor, a National Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, an author, an empowering media personality, and a proud veteran of the United States Army. You may have seen me as "The Mind Doctor®" on hit TV shows such as Bravo’s Married To Medicine, VH1’s Love and Hip Hop, WEtv's Bold & Bougie, WEtv’s Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta working with rapper, producer, actor, and superstar Bow Wow, and WEtv’s Brat Loves Judy with rapper, producer, actress, and Funkdafied super star, DaBrat! While I have been viewed by millions of people on television, my humble beginnings actually started on television as a six-month-old baby being placed for adoption and featured on the “Thursday’s Child of The Week” segment. After being adopted in Los Angeles, California, I grew up in a multi-cultural family from East Side San Jose, California. Prior to earning my Ph.D. in Psychology via an academic institution, I had already earned my Ph.D. in "Hustling" via the streets of the Bay Area in the dope game. I acknowledge a divine intervention and acknowledge, “Only God could have me go from selling dope and destroying lives to offering hope and restoring lives. Look at Gawwwwd!”
As your copilot, I will share with you a basic (but very important) understanding of how "The Mind" actually works--- and then you will quickly understand that your "Conscious Mind" may have already convinced you that "this" is the issue; however, whatever you share or think is the "issue" won't actually be the "issue" because what we see on the outside is just a manifestation of what's happening on the inside. Together (you the Pilot, me the Copilot), we will quiet your Mind, and when the Mind is quieted, The SubConscious Mind will always reveal the real issue(s)... The great news is... ...our first session will be more than the basic "chit-chat, get-to-know-you, are-you-the-right-one-for-me" type of conversation. Instead, I may explore what energy you are vibrating and giving off... ...and then have you ponder what it will be like to travel back to the future... ...or consider what it will be like to remember all of the amazing memories you remembered you had lost... ...and by the time we land the plane for the session, you will have a renewed sense of hope that the change you have been searching for has finally arrived... ...and, as the pilot, you will know 100% that I am the right transformational therapist to copilot your transformational journey to a place of overflowing abundance in Mind, Body, & Spirit!
"WoW! You are very down to earth, much different than any counselor or therapist I've ever met." It's true! My unique diversity and life experiences have allowed me to genuinely connect with nearly anyone in an authentic manner... ...offering respect that flows from an unconditional and non-judgmental perspective... ...because everything I am, everything I know, and everything I become is derived from my high frequency intuition or ability to experience energy beyond the "now" and in the next dimension.
Whether or not you have ever participated in counseling/therapy, I ask you to consider this: Do firemen spray water on the smoke, or do they spray the water on the source of the fire? Likewise, we will not chase your smoke (the behavior we see on the outside) week after week, month after month, when I know those behaviors are just manifestations of the trauma (adverse/difficult experiences) that is happening on the inside (the source of the fire). Specializing in anxiety and "stuckness" (and everything else in between), I co-pilot your transformational journey with hypnotherapy, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), and other somatic techniques designed to heal the adult drama that stems from unresolved childhood trauma.
Do firemen spray water on the smoke or do they focus the water on the source of the fire? Likewise, we will not chase your smoke (the behavior we see on the outside) week after week, month after month with "talk-therapy" when I know those behaviors are just manifestations of the trauma that is happening on the inside (the source of the fire). Using Hypnotherapy and other somatic techniques (NLP, Tapping, Polyvagal, Eye Movement Integration (EMI), I have co-piloted transformational journeys with people experiencing anxiety, "stuckness", phobias, confidence, self-esteem, confusion, why am I here?, etc. Is this you?
5 ratings with written reviews
July 24, 2025
I just had my first session with Dr. Russell Kawakami, and I left feeling genuinely hopeful and grounded. Dr. Kawakami came across as incredibly authentic and present, creating a safe space right away. Although this was the first session, his holistic and empowering approach really stood out to me. I'm looking forward to continuing this journey with Dr. Kawakami.
July 21, 2025
Dr. Kawakami is very receptive, direct, humorous, and great at explaining himself in a way that can be perceived easily. You can tell that he cares and wants to help. I’m looking forward to working with him more in the future.
June 29, 2025
He listened well and understood my situation. He was good at relating and being easy to talk to as well as just talking through things step by step which is sometimes best.