PIETRZAK-WEGNER, Michelle
Michelle (pronouns: she/hers) is a somatically-trained licensed mental health counselor working in private practice in Tokyo, Japan. Her past experience includes four years as a mental health counselor at the U.S Naval Hospital in Okinawa in the Department of Mental Health Outpatient Unit where she worked with active duty military members and their families in addressing distress and trauma through the means of body-based practices that promote embodiment and resiliency. There she also developed specific clinical programming combining yoga and psychology to help compliment treatments within the substance abuse programs and inpatient units. In addition to her work at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Michelle worked for one year with the MDG-18 mental health unit on Kadena Air Base in Okinawa as a graduate student counselor supporting airmen/women and their families.
Michelle has an extensive eighteen year background in yoga and mindfulness as an Internationally Certified Yoga Therapist and Advanced Level Yoga Instructor in which she has worked with those living with spinal cord injury, brain injury, chronic and life threatening disease, grief and loss. She is a trainer and facilitator in Trauma-Informed Yoga, Yoga for Mental Health Care, and Yin Yoga for yoga teachers in their beginning and advanced trainings.
Michelle is a fully trained Somatic Experiencing (SE) Practitioner, and incorporates in her work principles of nervous system regulation, Polyvagal Theory, Sensory Awareness, Attachment Theory, mindfulness and trauma-informed yoga concepts.
Michelle specializes in complex childhood and relational trauma in both individuals and couples. She has special interest in supporting adult individuals who were adopted and may be struggling with identity and abandonment issues. She also supports adults and couples in grief, loss, chronic illness/disease, and autoimmune conditions. Her approach to counseling is trauma-informed and emphasizes a person-centered approach to treatment providing space for the client to choose their own pace for exploring and healing.
Michelle currently resides in western Tokyo with her husband of 28 years and their cat, Junebug. In her time away from therapy work Michelle enjoys watercolor painting, knitting, slow time in nature, tea travels, and a variety of movement styles from dance, yoga, qigong, and tai chi.