Published August 31, 2026

Names of the individuals in this article have been changed for privacy.

Many people carry heavy burdens that are not visible to those around them, and the busyness of their daily lives can hide many of these struggles. Taking a closer look, we discover that people may be dealing with various life stressors such as housing instability, illness, grief, loneliness, work burnout, family conflict, or even uncertainty about the future. 

We often attempt to manage stress on our own, and while the above-mentioned pressures are very common, people rarely talk about them openly. Hiroko candidly shared some of the obstacles she faced and the steps she took to improve her overall quality of life.

Facing Challenges Alone

Over the years, Hiroko encountered many difficulties in her marriage while raising her daughter with a developmental disability. She always put her husband’s and daughter’s needs ahead of her own, taking on more and more responsibilities. Time slipped by without her considering her own needs, and she realized that she had put off asking for help. She often felt that her situation was something she could not discuss with friends. She shared, “Thinking about all these problems by myself, I ended up dwelling on them all day long, and it brought me down in a bad way.”

Hiroko realized that the answer to her situation was within herself. She needed to pause, take a moment to reflect on what she truly needed, and speak with an experienced professional who would be knowledgeable about managing life’s burdens. After hearing about the Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) from a friend, she decided to call them.

One Year of Counseling

More than a year after Hiroko contacted LTSC, she found that the counseling sessions and support through the Keiro and LTSC Partnership were very helpful. “There are a lot of things that pile up and accumulate in your mind, and by talking to someone who understands your situation, you can begin to organize your thoughts and feelings. Counseling has really helped lift my spirits to be lighter and brighter. Counseling was time I made for myself, and afterward, I found that I could speak more calmly with my husband and lessen my daughter’s agitation and behavioral challenges.”

Hiroko realized that her time with the LTSC counselor was dedicated to taking care of herself, rather than continuing to push her own needs aside. Through counseling, she gained insight into how she had been hiding her true self, appearing happy in order to keep others content.

Hiroko advises that “if you are Japanese-speaking, you could benefit from the counseling offered by [the Keiro and Little Tokyo Service Center Partnership]. I was able to understand and express myself more easily, and truly appreciate what LTSC has to offer. Most importantly, listen to your feelings and take time for yourself.”

Since 2017, the Keiro and LTSC Partnership has provided bilingual mental health counseling and case management services for Japanese American and Japanese older adults and their caregivers. For additional information about the partnership and to enroll, visit keiro.org/ltsc-partnership.