Hello, my name is Nicholas Takaoka. I am a Masters of Mental Health Counseling graduate student at Chaminade university. My current therapeutic focus is in Marriage and Family Therapy. I am working on completing my internship hours at Pau Hana Counseling.

I have a deep passion for helping couples, families, and individuals improve their communication, behaviors, and skills in order to facilitate more honest and open relationships. My intention is to empower individuals and help them build the skills they need, so they can start living their best lives.

I was born on Maui but raised in Puna on the Big Island. I didn’t take the traditional path with my education. I took several breaks and spent time as a working musician while I completed my BA in Performing Arts Music from University of Hawai`i at Hilo.

The unconventional path I took led all over the globe and gave me a wide range of experiences helped me to broaden my perspective of the world, the many people that populate it, and the diverse lives we all live.

As a counselor, I strive to bring a humanist and culturally sensitive approach to therapy. I believe that creating an empathetic and secure therapeutic bond is absolutely essential to helping clients achieve their goals.

In this sense, I like to take a strengths base approach and build upon the client’s preexisting qualities in order to affect change in their lives. I also enjoy challenging established norms and working to level out disparate power dynamics. I hope that we can work together to help you find the wellness and happiness that you want..