Aika Shinkawa Licensed Professional Counselor Associate

Aika Shinkawa, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate, 92101 is practicing under the supervision of Jessica Demla (Texas, LPC-S, 70555) at Dallas Rainbow Counseling.

Please, note: A clinician listed as being “clinically supervised” is completing clinical hours toward their licensure. They have one or more fully licensed clinical supervisors that often have special training. They consult with their supervisor(s) on all of their cases.

I decided when I was 15 that I wanted to be able to help other people because I noticed that my friends often came to me with their own mental health struggles. I struggled very heavily with mental health issues from the age of 8 and well into my adult life. I never received counseling help, despite asking for it, and I wanted to help people in the way that I wished to be helped. My personal experiences influence me very heavily in therapy. Often, my clients will hear personal accounts that I have had if they line up with what they are currently experiencing. I think it is important, as a therapist, to be vulnerable and authentic with my clients because I never want my clients to think I have it all together. I think it is important to present myself as a human who struggles because I find that this often leads to self-acceptance within my clients. My biggest hope for my life is that, when I leave this earth, that I have helped people learn how to embrace their authentic selves and get to live life rather than survive through life.

I started in the mental health field in 2021 during my Master's program. I began at a PHP/IOP hospital for adolescents who were struggling with serious mental health struggles such as clinical depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and self harm. I did a lot of psychoeducation and taught coping skills to help these clients learn to cope with their struggles. I then went to MHMR where I was responsible for a caseload and would help provide resources and teach my clients various skills such as coping skills, communication, boundaries, anger management, etc. My internship was at the Children's Advocacy Center where I was trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and I worked with adolescents and children who had been sexually abused. I would work with them to lower their PTSD symptoms which commonly included nightmares, flashbacks, and dissociation. After graduation, I began working in private practice, a counseling agency, and a university counseling clinic. Post graduation, my work has focused primarily around transgender and neurodivergent clients and working with them on learning how to love and accept themselves despite coming from marginalized communities. I work with my autistic clients on learning how to listen to what their body is needing, physically and emotionally, and learning how to unmask and present their full selves to the world. With my transgender and queer clients, I work with them to address internalized homophobia and transphobia and learn how to accept themselves. I also support them with the process of coming out safely to friends and family as well as identifying transition goals and how to reach those.