About Akiyo Kodera
Identity Coach | Anxiety & Stress Resolution Coach | Certified EFT Practitioner
Exploring the Impact of Cultures and Sensitivity on Emotional Experiences to Resolve Identity Challenges
I’m an Identity Coach, Anxiety & Stress Resolution Coach, and Certified Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Practitioner. I specialize in helping sensitive and empathic individuals, particularly Third Culture Kids (TCKs), address emotional challenges that shape their sense of self and belonging.
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Growing up between Japan and the U.S., I faced my own challenges as a TCK — feeling like I didn’t truly fit in anywhere and questioning whether I was good enough in any culture. In hindsight, I realized that many of these struggles were deeply tied to my sensitivity and empathy — traits I only came to fully understand later in life. Over the years, working with sensitive and empathic TCKs has affirmed how these traits often underlie their challenges, and this insight continues to inform my approach.
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In my coaching, I combine evidence-based techniques like EFT with an intuitive understanding of emotions and energy. This personalized approach supports clients in addressing anxiety, fears, and self-doubt that impact their relationships, decision-making, and ability to feel at ease with others. I also help clients navigate family dynamics, social and professional interactions, and identify environments where they feel truly comfortable and supported.
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Fluent in English and Japanese, I understand how language shapes the ways we think, feel, and connect. For some clients, incorporating their native languages into our sessions provides a meaningful way to express emotions and facilitate healing.
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While my primary focus is on TCKs, I also work with sensitive and empathic individuals from all backgrounds, helping them manage recurring anxiety and stress, navigate relationship and communication challenges, and reconnect with their sense of self.
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In addition to my coaching practice, I’m the co-founder of HSP Conversations, where I support individuals with the traits of Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs).
As an experienced coach and EFT Practitioner, I help sensitive and empathic TCKs resolve recurring anxiety, stress, and identity challenges. Through a collaborative and personalized approach, I guide clients in navigating relationships, reconnecting with their sense of self, and finding greater ease and balance in their daily lives.
Credentials and Specialized Training
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BS in Communication Studies, New York University
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Post-baccalaureate in Psychology, Hunter College, City University of New York
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EFT International Accredited Certification, EFT Tapping Training Institute
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Certification in Reiki I, II, and II-Advanced, The John Harvey Gray Center for Reiki Healing
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Specialized training in EFT for physical issues, trauma-informed methods, and Matrix Reimprinting
What is a Third Culture Kid?
A Third Culture Kid is broadly defined as someone who grew up in a culture that's different from the one in which their parents grew up. The term was coined by American sociologist and anthropologist Ruth Hill Useem in the 1950s to describe children who spent part of their developmental years in one or more foreign cultures due to their parents working abroad. The "third culture" refers to how the child develops an identity that is neither of the culture of their parents or where they live, but a culture shared with other TCKs; it has also been described as a mix of the various cultures. The term generally refers to both children and adults.
While Third Culture Kids initially and typically referred to children who moved into another culture with their parents due to highly mobile careers such as those in the military, diplomatic services, missionary services, international business, and other expatriate work, there is often debate about whether the term includes other individuals with a multicultural upbringing. In my work, I help all individuals who meet the broad definition of TCKs, including children of immigrants.