About Kenneth
Kenneth Shigematsu is a licensed clinical social worker with 35 years of experience in California. He focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and the challenges that come with life changes. He emphasizes clients' strengths and works alongside them as they make changes.
He approaches each person as the expert on their own life. Sessions center on listening carefully and helping people find practical steps they can use between visits.
How Kenneth works
Kenneth uses straightforward tools to build motivation and increase confidence over time. His work often addresses concerns related to sexual orientation and gender, including gender dysphoria and LGBT issues. He also supports people dealing with relationship patterns such as codependency, communication struggles, control issues, and jealousy.
Additional areas include caregiving stress, hospice and end-of-life concerns, HIV/AIDS, and feelings of isolation or abandonment. Kenneth uses a mix of client-centered methods and evidence-based techniques to tailor care. That can mean identifying unhelpful thought patterns, setting small achievable goals, or focusing on immediate practical solutions.
The aim is to create clear next steps so progress feels real. People who look for calm, direct guidance and a focus on strengths may find his style a good match. He offers sessions in English and makes time to discuss what approach will work best for each person.
Kenneth lists 4 ways of working on the entry:
What Kenneth works with
The areas below are the ones Kenneth selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
Also listed
- Abandonment
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Dependent personality
- Depression
- Domestic violence
- Family of origin issues
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Workplace issues
Training and background
| Register | LCSW |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 35 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | California |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
Approaches that guide online sessions
Kenneth combines client-centered work with cognitive behavioral techniques to help people make meaningful changes. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and building on a person's strengths so they feel heard and respected. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts influence feelings and behavior and teaches practical skills to shift unhelpful thinking patterns.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. He will talk through goals, preferences, and what feels useful, then adjust methods as progress develops. This collaborative process helps match tools to real life needs rather than sticking to one fixed method.
Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions are useful for full conversations and face-to-face interaction, phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited, live chat is handy for shorter check-ins, and text messaging lets people share thoughts between meetings. These formats make it easier to fit therapy around work, caregiving, or other routines while keeping continuity of care.
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Common questions
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A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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