For the Woman Who Has It Together on the Outside and Is Quietly Unraveling Within.
Somatic trauma therapy for high-achieving women navigating life transitions.
Virtual in California and Japan.
Welcome
It's 2am and you can't sleep…again.
Your mind is running the list. Your shoulders haven't left your ears in months. You snapped at someone you love today, and you're not sure why. You've been here before, but this time it feels different. Heavier. Like something inside you is asking for more than just "getting through it."
You've built something real. The career. The capability. The image of a woman who handles it. But beneath that composed exterior, something feels persistently off — and the gap between how you look and how you feel is getting harder to ignore.
Maybe it was a health scare that changed everything. Maybe it's the quiet disorientation of building a life in a new country where nothing quite feels like home yet. Maybe there wasn't one big thing — just years of saying yes when every part of you needed to say no, until your nervous system started saying it for you.
You're exhausted. Not the kind that sleep fixes. The kind that lives in your body.
You're in the right place.
At Kokoro Wellness, I work with women who are ready to stop managing and start feeling like themselves again — through somatic, trauma-informed therapy that works with your nervous system, not against it.
"Kokoro" in Japanese means heart — the place where mind, body, and soul find their balance. That's the philosophy at the center of this work. Not hustle. Not fixing. Just coming home to yourself.
You might be here because:
You lie awake scanning for what could go wrong — even when things are "fine"
Your body feels tense before you even get out of bed
You're more reactive than usual and less present than you want to be
You feel numb and wired at the same time — exhausted but unable to rest
You're in a new country and the disorientation goes deeper than just "adjusting"
You went through something medically — and even though it's "over," your body hasn't gotten the memo
You've been the strong one for so long, you've forgotten what it feels like to be held
This is what it looks like when a nervous system has been in survival mode for too long. And there is a way through.
Imagine this:
Waking up without that low-grade dread already in your chest
Moving through your day with a sense of ground beneath you
Responding instead of reacting — to your life, your relationships, your environment
Feeling at home in your body, even when the world around you still feels unfamiliar
Resting — fully, without guilt
Making decisions from clarity instead of fear
Finally feeling like yourself again
This is what becomes possible when your nervous system finds safety. This is the work.
what people are saying about Marie
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“Working with Marie has been such a wonderful experience. She is incredibly knowledgeable and I found that using the somatic movement exercises she recommends has helped me understand my body’s reactions to everyday triggers more deeply. I use the somatic techniques, like butterfly taps, on a regular basis to help me navigate through stress and everyday challenges the come after a cancer diagnosis. I would highly recommend Marie to anyone looking for help going deeper in their healing process and looking for new tools like EMDR and somatic movement to help them find their way back to feeling like themselves again.”
Anna Wassman-Cox, Founder and Executive Director, Onco-Ballet Foundation
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"Marie is an exceptionally skilled and talented psychotherapist and social worker whom I had the pleasure of working with for the past nine years. She’s a great collaborator who takes on new projects and programs with passion and a clear sense of vision. She is a fierce advocate for her clients and always goes the extra mile for her patients and in equipping herself professionally by continuing to learn and improve herself and to broaden her knowledge. She’s thoughtful, creative, and respectful. I have no doubt her clients will benefit tremendously from her not only as a therapist but also as a person.”
Ellen K., LCSW, ACHP-SW
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"I had the privilege of working with Marie for 4 years. She is one of the best social workers I have ever worked with. Marie is extremely knowledgeable, resourceful, and most of all, she has the ability to connect with others readily. She has helped many people dealing with serious illness or receiving cancer diagnoses cope and improve their sense of well-being. She has the gift of meeting people where they are and helping them achieve their maximum potential for the best quality of life."
Dr. Shiho I., MD
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"I have known Marie for many years working in the Palliative Care and Oncology fields. As a Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist, I have valued her not only as an excellent LCSW for her patients and families, but a great support to myself and peers. She is compassionate and very knowledgeable. She goes over and above to ensure patients and their families have the utmost support and personalized care. She is passionate, holistic, patient and so kind. She makes everyone feel at ease in her presence and works well as a team and on her own. I would recommend Marie to anyone wholeheartedly."
Janet B., RN-BC, MA, CNS
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“Marie was absolutely amazing. She has such a calming presence, even over Zoom. She allowed me to feel fully relaxed and open up regarding my stressors, concerns, and fears. She listened with no judgement and I felt safe the entire time. I came out of each session feeling more prepared to handle whatever obstacle I encountered.” -Anonymous client
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“Marie has been very important in my year of fellowship in helping me deal with personal and professional stresses, especially in a field like palliative care where we face death and suffering regularly. I have gathered important tools to deal with these stresses and be a better physician for my patients. She is a valuable part of my personal growth.” -Anonymous client
WORK WITH marie
1:1 therapy
The ideal choice for a personalized care plan that is tailored to your goals and unique needs.
GROUp therapy
Engage with individuals with similar experiences to explore collective healing in an intimate setting through live sessions.
live EVENTS
Committing to individual therapy can feel intimidating. Begin your wellness journey with through educational live webinars and events. This is a great way to dip your toes into therapy!
Please use the form on this page to send a message. You may also email anytime using the information below.
CONTACT:
hello@kkrwellness.com
Providing Online/Telehealth Services in California and Tokyo, Japan