My name is Mariru (mah-ri-ru). I’m a queer, second-generation Japanese American therapist. I was born and raised on Ohlone Ramaytush land in South San Francisco. My path into social work began as a crisis phone counselor for older adults, where I witnessed the profound impact of loneliness and the healing that happens when someone feels truly seen. This early experience helped me understand not only the realities of aging and isolation, but also the depth of care required to support people through change, grief, and complexity.

As a child of immigrants, I continue to have very rich experiences processing the grief of cultural displacement for myself and my family, as well as the power of acceptance, and reconnection with my ancestry. It has been my life practice to understand the resilience of family, and the way that intergenerational patterns impact me.

Being a part of queer community has deeply shaped the way I understand healing, love, and connection. It has allowed me to imagine and live into ways of relating that exist beyond dominant norms—liberating me from narrow definitions of what relationships, belonging, and community “should” look like.

I’m continually inspired by my clients—their willingness to look within, to be present with discomfort, to grow, and to move toward change. Witnessing that courage reminds me that we are all always becoming—and I’m honored to nurture that unfolding together. I love being a therapist.