About Rieko

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), Expressive Arts therapist, and RECE offering services in Toronto and virtually across Ontario

You’re feeling drained, and you’re not sure why. Your life is fine, maybe even good, and somehow that makes it harder to talk about. Part of you wonders if something is wrong with you. Nothing is wrong with you. But something has gotten quiet inside, and that’s worth paying attention to.

Hi, I’m Rieko. I was born and raised in Japan and moved to Canada as a teenager, which meant spending a lot of years quietly asking myself whether I was working hard enough, being enough, belonging enough. Over time, without really noticing, I lost touch with the things that used to bring me joy. I found my way back slowly and a little at a time, through expressive arts,  and it surprised me how much was still there. That path is a big part of why I do this work the way I do.

My path to becoming a therapist began with my own healing. I was a university student, far from home, when I stepped into a therapy room for the first time. I still remember how powerful it was to feel truly seen and heard, and to realize I was no longer alone in my experience. That moment changed the way I understand the power of connection, and it continues to guide the way I show up for the people I work with.

My Experience

With a background spanning clinical and human service work, I have developed experience supporting a wide range of clients.
For the past three years, through clinical internships in expressive arts therapy, I have facilitated group and one-on-one sessions with individuals navigating burnout, anxiety, stress, life transitions, acculturation stress, and childhood trauma.

Earlier, I worked in early childhood education and as a child and youth practitioner in live-in treatment home at Strides Toronto, using arts-based approaches to engage and support youth.

I am deeply committed to ongoing (un)learning, and all services are provided under the supervision of a Registered Psychotherapist.

A beautiful display of orange and white wildflowers in a meadow captures the essence of nature's beauty.

Professional Affiliations

  • College of Registered Psychotherapist of Ontario
  • Ontario Expressive Arts Therapy Association
  • Registered Early Childhood Educator (Ontario)
  • Registered member of Ontario Associated Child and Youth Care

Education & Trainings

  • Graduate Diploma in Expressive Arts Therapy, The CREATE Institute
  • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Level 1 Certificate, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute
  • Bachelor of Child and Youth Care with Distinction, University of Victoria
  • DBT Skills for Adolescents and Families, Psychwire

My Values

Safety

I strive to offer an anti-oppressive and trauma-informed space where you feel supported, seen, and free to show up just as you are.

Compassion

I meet each person with warmth, care, and deep respect for their story. You do not have to carry everything alone. We move together at a pace that feels right for you.

Playfulness

Play is a powerful way to connect, explore, and express what’s inside. Whether through the arts or in relationship, I invite a spirit of curiosity and openness into the work.

Sense of Wonder

I cherish moments of surprise, aliveness, and beauty that can arise when we slow down and pay attention. Wonder connects us to ourselves, to each other, and to the world around us.

Our work begins with curiosity about what’s showing up for you, whether you feel stuck, disconnected, or unsure of where to begin. This is a space to slow down, feel, and reconnect with your inner knowing, your story, and what matters most to you. Together, we follow what feels most alive and present for you, at a pace that feels right.

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