Therapy

Fifty minutes where nothing about you needs explaining first.

Confidential online sessions in English or Japanese, for people living between cultures. Every enquiry is reviewed personally, so we can be sure it's a good fit before your appointment is confirmed.

See sessions & request Practical questions

What this is for

Things that are hard to say in a second language.

Cultural grief — mourning a place, a version of yourself, a way of being understood
Identity and belonging when you no longer fit either country cleanly
Family expectation, duty and guilt across distance
Burnout, overwork and the pressure of performing in a borrowed language
Anxiety, low mood and loneliness after relocation
Living as a woman in an environment that constrains what you may say or want
Trauma, displacement and resettlement
Rebuilding a sense of self after years of adapting to everyone else

Booking

How to book, start to finish.

Four steps, each one personal — nothing about starting therapy should feel automated.

Submit a Therapy Request

Complete a short enquiry form so Sumire can learn more about your needs.

Personal Review

Every enquiry is personally reviewed to ensure Sumire is the right fit for you.

Appointment Confirmation

If appropriate, you'll receive the next steps to confirm your appointment.

Choose Your Session Time

Once your appointment is confirmed, you'll be invited to choose a suitable session time.

Sessions & fees

Choose your session.

All prices in USD. Packages are booked one session at a time and don't expire.

Trial call

20 minutes

$100

A short introduction — tell me what's going on, ask me anything, decide afterwards.

Request trial call

Single session

50 minutes

$350

One full session. Useful for a specific issue, or to see how we work together.

Request one session

Recommended

Four sessions

4 × 50 minutes

$1,330

Enough time to get past the first layer. Most people start here — $332.50 per session.

Request four sessions

Six sessions

6 × 50 minutes

$1,995

For deeper work — trauma, identity, long-standing patterns. $332.50 per session.

Request six sessions

Submit a request above and Sumire will review it personally. If anything is unclear, send me a message and I'll help you find the right fit.

Sessions take place wherever you feel most comfortable — your bedroom, your car, a quiet corner at work. All you need is a private moment and a stable connection, so the session can fit around your life rather than the other way round.

Sumire Sato working from a quiet terrace — Sessions are online — you choose where you take them from

Practical questions

Before you book.

Where are you based, and can we work across time zones?

My practice is entirely online, and my clients are spread across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. Once your appointment is confirmed, you'll choose a session time in your own time zone, so there is nothing to calculate.

Which languages do you work in?

English and Japanese. If your emotional first language is neither, that's genuinely welcome in the room — much of my work is about what gets lost between the language you feel in and the language you're speaking.

What are your qualifications?

I am a clinical psychologist qualified within Japan's clinical psychology system, with a master's degree in the field and over a decade of practice. I work through international providers including OpenUp, Intellect, MindFi, Spring Health, Expathy and Trova Health.

Is this confidential?

Yes. What you say stays between us, with the standard clinical exceptions where there is a serious risk of harm to you or someone else. I'll explain these plainly in our first session.

How many sessions will I need?

It depends entirely on what you bring. Some people come for a handful of sessions around a specific transition; others work with me for a year. Four sessions is usually enough to know which of those you are.

What if I need to reschedule or cancel?

You can reschedule your confirmed session up to 24 hours in advance. Cancellations within 24 hours are charged in full, as the time has been held for you.

Do you accept insurance, or work through my employer?

Private sessions here are self-funded and paid by card. If your employer offers mental health support through OpenUp, Intellect, MindFi, Spring Health or Expathy, you may be able to see me through that programme at no cost to you — it's worth checking.

I'm in crisis right now. Can you help?

I'm not an emergency service and I can't respond quickly to urgent messages. If you are in immediate danger, please contact your local emergency number or a crisis line in your country. When things are steadier, I'll be glad to work with you.

Next step

Ready when you are.

Choose a session above, or send a message first if you'd rather ask something before you book.

Choose a session Ask a question first