International Mental Health Professionals Japan (IMHPJ)

International Mental Health Professionals Japan (IMHPJ) is a voluntary professional network of mental health providers who work with the international community across Japan. Its main use for families is the member directory, a searchable list of therapists, counselors, psychotherapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists who offer services in English and, in many cases, other languages. For a foreign parent trying to find help for themselves or their child in a language they can actually speak, this is one of the most practical starting points in the country.

The directory covers a wide spread of needs and ages. Many members work with children, adolescents, and families, and areas of focus among them include anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, grief, eating disorders, ADHD and autism spectrum (ASD) support, LGBTQIA+ identity, couples and family issues, postnatal and parenting support, and the acculturation stress that comes with living abroad. Members are spread across the country and by region, including Tokyo and the wider Kanto area, Kansai, Chubu, Kyushu and Okinawa, Hokkaido, and more, and a large number offer online sessions, so families outside the big cities can still find someone.

Each listing shows the provider’s profession, the clients they work with, their location, and the languages they offer, so you can filter toward a good fit before reaching out. The directory and site are in English, and while most members work in English, many also offer sessions in another language, including Japanese, French, Spanish, Mandarin, Russian, and others, so you can look for a provider in your own language. IMHPJ is a voluntary organization, which means individual members are responsible for their own practice, so parents will still want to check each provider’s qualifications and have an initial conversation.