Meet Manami Yamamoto

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Manami Yamamoto a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Manami, thank you so much for joining us today. There are so many topics we could discuss, but perhaps one of the most relevant is empathy because it’s at the core of great leadership and so we’d love to hear about how you developed your empathy?

Empathy is what allows us to truly connect with one another. It’s the invisible thread that helps us step into someone else’s world and feel their joys, struggles, and emotions as if they were our own.

For me, growing up in a traditional Asian culture with strict parenting, I was taught that success came at the cost of being hard on yourself. I internalized this “Strict Parent” voice that constantly pushed me to achieve but left me feeling emotionally drained.

Things shifted when I moved to the United States at 19. Living as a young immigrant who didn’t speak English at the time was incredibly tough. I often felt isolated and overwhelmed, navigating a completely unfamiliar environment while trying to find my place in a new culture.

During this difficult time, I had a memorable experience of being in a space where nurturing and compassion were celebrated over pressure. This new perspective challenged everything I had known and planted the seed of empathy in me. I began to understand that real growth doesn’t come from relentless self-criticism. It comes from being kind to yourself and fostering a more compassionate inner dialogue.

That realization changed how I connect with others. Empathy, to me, isn’t just a skill. It is a way of being. It’s about understanding pain, embracing vulnerability, and walking alongside people as they navigate their own challenges. The conditions that shaped my empathy weren’t easy, but they were transformative. They were a mix of two very different worlds that ultimately reshaped not just my perspective but also my purpose.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a psychotherapist and the founder of a nonprofit organization, Blue Humming Therapy(https://www.bluehummingtherapy.org/). Our work goes beyond offering mental health support and psychoeducation. We are here to transform lives. My passion lies in helping individuals and communities rewrite their inner stories, moving from a critical and punishing “Strict Parent” voice to a nurturing and compassionate “Nurturing Parent” voice.

What makes this work truly meaningful is seeing the profound shifts in people’s lives. Picture a leader letting go of perfectionism, choosing empathy in their leadership, or a parent finding inner peace and modeling self-love for their children. These transformations ripple out, creating healthier families, workplaces, and communities.

Our mission extends beyond conventional mental health care. We’re committed to fostering nurturing environments where well-being thrives for all. This is especially important for underserved communities who face challenges like stigma, limited access to care, and other barriers. We believe everyone deserves support, no matter their circumstances.

To reach those in need, we embrace a creative and flexible approach to mental health. Sometimes, this means thinking outside the box and meeting people where they are, offering support in ways that truly resonate with them.

For me, this work is more than a profession. It is a calling. Every story I help rewrite reaffirms why I chose this path, and why I’ll continue to walk it.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, three essential qualities have shaped my journey, awareness, compassion, and love. These skills have guided my growth and the way I connect with others.

1) Awareness: True transformation begins with understanding yourself. It’s about facing your inner critic and becoming conscious of the patterns that hold you back. Awareness is the first step toward change. Listen to yourself, even when it’s uncomfortable.

2) Compassion: Compassion is about connecting with others through kindness and understanding. It starts with being kind to yourself and extends to how you relate to others. Vulnerability is key here—it’s through compassion that we build meaningful relationships and create healing.

3) Love: Love is the foundation of all transformation. It’s about embracing yourself and others, imperfections and all. Love fuels resilience and growth, both for yourself and the people around you.

For anyone starting their journey, remember that awareness, compassion, and love are already within you. Nurture these qualities, and you’ll create lasting change, both within and in the world around you.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Collaboration is at the heart of meaningful change, and I’m always eager to connect with individuals and organizations who share my vision of creating a more compassionate, loving, and inclusive world.

I’m especially looking to partner with educators, healthcare providers, nonprofits, parents, communities, and anyone passionate about fostering nurturing environments. We can work together to cultivate our nurturing voice helping individuals embrace their inner compassion, and creating environments where communities can heal and grow.

The nurturing voice is incredibly powerful, but it often struggles to flourish in a world that still leans heavily on the “Strict Parent” mentality. Cultivating that voice within ourselves and our communities takes courage, but when we do, we plant seeds of compassion that ripple out to society and beyond. Life can be challenging, but I believe we can create nurturing spaces for ourselves and in doing so, extend that care to underserved communities, future generations, and those who need it most.

If this resonates with you, I’d love to collaborate. Let’s work together to grow these seeds of love and compassion, and create lasting change. Together, we can make this vision a reality.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.manamiyamamototherapy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manami.h.yamamoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manami.therapy/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manami-yamamoto-lmft-61703214/
• Other: Blue Humming Therapy (US)
  https://www.bluehummingtherapy.org/

  Mental Health Environmental Change Project (US and Japan)
  https://www.mentalhealthec.org/en/index.html

Image Credits

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