Ayako Kiyota

Ayako Kiyota, BA, MHC-I (she/her) is a dedicated and compassionate Graduate Mental Health Clinician based in New York City. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College and is currently completing her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling at Fordham University. Ayako’s rich educational and professional experience spans supporting children and adolescents in academic settings, spearheading wellness and suicide prevention initiatives, and passionately advocating for greater access to mental health care. Ayako brings a deep commitment to fostering resilience and well-being in her clients.

As a Graduate Mental Health Clinician, Ayako offers both in-person and remote counseling for children, adolescents, young adults, and families. She helps clients navigate anxiety, OCD, depression, trauma, stress, adverse childhood experiences, chronic illnesses, family conflicts and cultural, sexual and gender identity exploration. As a Japanese-American, queer, demisexual woman, Ayako brings a heartfelt understanding of the complexities of intersectionality and is passionate about serving marginalized communities. She strives to create affirming spaces where all aspects of her clients’ identities are honored and validated. Ayako is also conversational in Spanish and speaks basic Japanese, allowing her to connect with a wide range of clients.

In her therapeutic work, Ayako fosters a collaborative, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients can safely explore their thoughts and emotions. She uses an integrative approach tailored to each person’s unique needs, drawing from humanistic, person-centered, feminist, and multicultural frameworks. Ayako also incorporates creative modalities, such as art and narrative therapy, to help clients express their inner experiences. She believes that with compassion and empathy, every individual can heal, grow, and move toward their most authentic and fulfilling life.