About the Therapist

Hi! I’m Jun Akiyama, a somatic / body-based psychotherapist in Colorado.

I believe that the deep wisdom of our body can support us through many of our challenges. By harnessing our movement, sensations, and breath, we can access the parts of ourselves that exist beneath our consciousness. In doing so, we can re-experience ourselves in ways beyond our old stories—and, help us learn, grow, and heal.

Each of us have an innate resilience and resourcefulness which have helped us through our adversities. My hope is to help you remind yourself of these strengths and empower you to draw upon those inherent capabilities during future times of struggle.

As a cisgender, male-identified, voluntary immigrant from Japan who has experienced both high-level athleticism as well as a generally non-apparent disability (stroke in 2019), I hold vital that our identities and our contexts matter deeply. Just as our individual life experiences shape who we are, so do our ancestry, history, cultures, social upbringing, and the systems and institutions that surround us. Each of us are multi-layered, complex human beings.

Prior to entering private practice, I worked with survivors of domestic and interpersonal violence where I helped people work through the impacts of trauma and grief with sensitivity, gentleness, and understanding. Also, as a computer programmer earlier in my life, I know viscerally the pressures, competition, and exhaustion in the “high tech” profession; I have also worked as adjunct faculty at Naropa University in the MFA Contemporary Theatre program and the MA Somatic Counseling department. I have used those experiences in tech and academia to support people through experiences such as stress, anxiety, and imposter syndrome.

I bring in humor, creativity, and collaboration to my approach, stemming from my experience in such improvisational arts as the dance form of Contact Improvisation, Playback Theatre, and Red-nose Clown. My years of practice in the Japanese martial art of Aikido has also provided me with perspectives on managing conflict, relating with rigor and discipline, and continually engaging in self-reflection, learning, and growth.

If you feel interested in working with me, please set up a free consultation or send me an e-mail through the Contact page if you have any further questions.