Aya has taught Processwork at the Process Work Institute and a local university and led seminars and educational trainings in psychology, leadership, communication skills, and group facilitation both nationally and internationally. She specializes in working with trauma, depression, major life transitions, relationship difficulties, self-love and compassion and couples’ therapy. She has also gained a deep understanding of the issues related to cross-cultural and cross-racial communication, immigration and acculturation, racial and ethnic minorities, and cultural and systemic oppression.  This specialty arises in part from her research on Asian American psychology but also from her own experiences of living in various parts of the world (including Japan, US, and Germany), living as an immigrant of color, and being in an interracial relationship.  One of her current interests is developing ways to make Processwork more trauma-informed. She now resides on the Big Island in Hawaii and enjoys its nature and multicultural environment.