Opening Ceremony of the Counseling Room - CSPP Japan

CSPP Japan began operating its own Counseling Room in 2013. 

It was established at the Tokyo satellite campus to function as “a counseling place open to the public,” where people can feel comfortable asking for advice about their psychological problems.  It also serves as a psychotherapy practicum training site for the graduate students.”

The opening ceremony was held on March 20, Spring Equinox Day, before the counseling room actually started its operation.  The Counseling Room aims to achieve two goals:  Contribution to the community and to provide practicum training to students.

Prof. Reiko Homma-True, the program director of Japan program, and CSPP Dean Morgan Sammons, were present together with Emeritus Prof. Kazumi Nishio, who is the founder of the Japan Program and has given generous donation to the Program for the creation of the Counseling Room.     Following the opening greetings, Prof. Homma and Prof. Sammons extended their gratitude to Prof. Nishio.

Prof. Homma-True talked about the background leading up to the Counseling Room opening.  She also explained about the recent developments on national licensing system for psychologists.  Prof. Morgan Sammons expressed congratulations and gratitude.  In addition,  he announced that Japan program has been chosen as the first international campus to receive a $5000 Jay Hailey Scholarship this year.   Late Prof. Jay Hailey, the founder of Strategic Family Therapy, taught at CSPP for a long time.  He was active as a visiting fellow until just before he passed away at the age of 84 in 2007.  Prof. Sammons gave the following words in closing his speech.

“The idea of the strategic therapy seems to be incredibly easy and simple, but it is neither so easy nor so simple to put it into action.”

Following the messages of greetings from the two professors, Ms. Naoko Suzuki, who was appointed as the Counseling Room supervisor in April, provided information about the Counseling Room.  Then, after a break, Emeritus Prof. Kazumi Nishio delivered a commemorative lecture.