Makoto Tanaka, LCSW
Japanese-Speaking Therapist in Northern Virginia
Gender: Male | Office Location: Stevenson, Reston, Telehealth | States Licensed In: Virginia
Languages: English, Japanese | Services Offered: Therapy | Credentials: LCSW | Age Group: 14+
About Me
Hi, I’m Makoto. I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with more than 20 years of clinical experience in community mental health, residential treatment, and private practice. I’m bilingual in Japanese and English. I show up with honesty, empathy, consistency, and real support because I believe that’s what real change is built on—and I’d be glad to help you find yours.
My Approach to Therapy
Therapy with me is collaborative and conversational, but it also has structure and direction. I’ll ask questions, listen closely, and be honest with you when I notice a pattern worth naming—always with care. I also believe humor has a place in therapy. Sometimes it helps us stay connected and makes difficult work feel a little less heavy.
I draw from Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), skills for managing difficult emotions, and trauma-informed approaches. We may explore the past when it helps us understand what is happening today, but I keep an eye on the present: what you want to be different and what we can realistically do to help you get there.
I often give clients something small to practice between sessions because real change usually happens outside the therapy room. Together, we’ll set doable goals, check in on your progress, and adjust along the way.
Who I Work With
I work with teens and adolescents, young adults, adults, and older adults. I have extensive experience supporting people with substance use and addiction recovery, co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, depression and mood disorders, anxiety, trauma and PTSD, and crisis stabilization. I also work with grief and loss, relationship and family conflict, life transitions, adjustment difficulties, stress, and burnout.
Many of my clients come to therapy because they feel like they’re running on empty—juggling work, family, relationships, and their own mental health while quietly wondering how much longer they can keep it up.
You might be dealing with constant worry or racing thoughts, feeling unlike yourself because of depression, struggling with substance use or relapse, experiencing family or relationship conflict, or trying to find your footing during a crisis or major life change. You may simply have reached the point where the coping strategies that used to work aren’t working anymore.
My job is to help you make sense of what’s happening, develop real skills to manage it, and start feeling steadier again.
What to Expect During Your First Session
Your first appointment is mostly about getting to know each other. I’ll explain practical things like confidentiality and how sessions work, and then we’ll talk about what is bringing you to therapy, your history, and what you hope to get out of our work together.
You don’t need to have everything figured out. We’ll take things at your pace. By the end of the first session, we’ll usually have a sense of what we’re working toward and what the next few sessions might look like. Most importantly, I want you to leave feeling like this is a place where you can be honest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I’m nervous about starting therapy?
That’s completely normal. Most people feel some nervousness before their first session. You don’t need to know exactly what to say or have everything figured out before you arrive.
I’ll ask questions to help us get started, and you can share as much or as little as you’re ready to. We’ll go at your pace. If you’re unsure, try one session and see how it feels.
Do you work with substance use and addiction?
Yes. Substance use, addiction recovery, and co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns are significant areas of my clinical experience. I understand that talking about substance use can feel difficult, especially when you’re worried about being judged. Therapy can be a place to talk honestly about what is happening and begin identifying realistic next steps.
Am I actually going to get better?
That’s a fair question. Real change takes time and consistency, and therapy isn’t a quick fix. But with steady work, people can begin to feel and function differently. We’ll focus our work on creating changes that actually make a difference in your everyday life.
Do you provide therapy in Japanese?
Yes. I am bilingual in Japanese and English and can provide support for clients who are more comfortable communicating in Japanese.
How do I know if you’re the right therapist for me?
Finding the right therapist matters. If you’re looking for someone who is direct and honest while also being empathic and caring, we may be a good fit. I bring structure and evidence-based tools into our sessions, along with more than 20 years of hands-on clinical experience.
Most importantly, I genuinely care about helping you get where you want to go.
Ready to Begin?
Taking the first step toward therapy isn’t always easy, and you don’t have to have it all figured out before reaching out. If something here resonates with you, I’d be glad to talk it through with you.
Reach out whenever you’re ready. There’s no rush and no pressure to commit to anything beyond starting the conversation.
Makoto provides in-person appointments at our Stevenson Alexandria and Reston locations, as well as telehealth services for clients who prefer to meet virtually.