Hi, I’m Mina Sakamoto, LPCC

I’m a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Ohio. I work with adults and older teens who want to understand themselves more deeply.

I grew up in Japan, where mental health counseling was not widely accessible, and later moved to the United States. My experiences in therapy with remarkable clinicians in the United States left a deep impression on me and eventually led me to pursue this profession.

Before becoming a therapist, I studied classical piano and worked in translation, research, and teaching. I have also lived through significant life transitions, including immigration, divorce, single motherhood, and serious illness. These experiences shaped my respect for introspection, nuance, and the many ways people make meaning of their lives, even through difficult circumstances.

A single white flower with delicate petals and a green stem against a plain gray background.

My work is rooted in psychodynamic therapy, which means we pay attention to patterns and how they continue to influence your inner world today.

I believe growth doesn’t come from fixing or rushing past what’s difficult. It comes from understanding it. Resilience, to me, is something shaped over time through attention and care. Great therapy can be like Kintsugi, where what has been broken is not hidden, but integrated into something stronger, more whole, and even more beautiful.

Therapy with me is collaborative and thoughtful. You’ll be met with warmth and compassion, and also invited to gently challenge familiar patterns when it feels supportive to do so.

How I Think About Therapy

A Note on Meaning

Flowers hold personal meaning for me, especially the gardenia, a symbol of quiet strength, depth, and growth that unfolds in its own time. I often think of therapy in a similar way: not rushed, not forced, but shaped through patience, care, and attention.