In recent years, a growing number of scientists in the medical and psychological communities have come to realize the importance of religious and spiritual beliefs in a person’s physical and mental health. Dr. Tsukahara has had a long-standing interest in the integration of psychology and religious beliefs and thus encourages her clients to incorporate their religious perspective into the therapy process if that is of interest to them. Addressing spiritual or religious concerns can be quite beneficial in both individual and couples’ therapy. Couples who either do not share the same religious worldview or who do not agree about how religion should be addressed in the family may find working with Dr. T to be helpful.

All therapists have a particular worldview or philosophy, including their own ideas about spirituality and religion. Those ideas influence their work whether or not they disclose them to you. Dr. Tsukahara ascribes to a Judeo-Christian worldview, but this does not mean you must share that perspective in order to be comfortable in working with her. She understands that it is not her job to “convert” you to her worldview, but rather to assist you in clarifying your own way of understanding yourself and your world.

For more information, see Dr. Tsukahara’s Philosophy of Therapy.