Kenta Asakura
Ph.D. Student: University of Toronto
Post-Master's Certificate in Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy: Seattle Psychoanalytic Society & Institute (Seattle, WA)
M.S.W.: Smith College School for Social Work (Northampton, MA)
B.A. Cum Laude, Psychology: Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX)
Kenta brings in nearly ten years of clinical experience, in which he has provided individual, family, and group therapy in counseling clinics, LGBTQ youth center, and residential treatment programs. While his training and practice is strongly grounded in contemporary psychodynamic theories, he also incorporates family systems, narrative, as well as trauma-specific treatment techniques (e.g., EMDR) into his work. He has previously taught continuing education classes in social work ethics, ethics in clinical supervision as well as cultural competency and has also served as a field instructor in both the B.S.W. and M.S.W. levels. As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and an Ethnic Minority Mental Health Specialist (designated in the state of Washington), he also provided consultation for other clinicians who worked with ethnically diverse populations.
Kenta's clinical practice with LGBTQ youth also informs his program of research. In the doctoral program, he is interested in investigating the ways in which LGBTQ youths negotiate and demonstrate their resilience within a homophobic/heterosexist social context. He also currently works with Professors Peter Newman and David Brennan on their respective LGBTQ-related research projects.