Tokyo Mental Health welcomes Maxin Laurel, M.A, RGC, LPT, our newest addition to the international therapy team.
Maxin holds a Master of Arts in Education, specializing in Guidance and Counseling, from the University of the Philippines, where she also earned her Bachelor of Science in Family Life and Child Development. She is a licensed counselor, a certified pastoral counselor, and a licensed teacher.
With over seven years of experience, Maxin has built a strong foundation in school counseling, supporting Senior High School and College students not only in academic and career concerns but also in their personal and family lives. She works with students and their families, conducting parent interviews and family consultations to provide holistic care and guidance.
Her counseling practice extends beyond the school setting, offering support to teens, young adults, and adults facing challenges such as anxiety, self-confidence issues, depressive symptoms, grief, and life transitions. She has been an active volunteer for youth groups, providing pastoral counseling and leading mental health and socio-emotional training. In addition, she has conducted seminars on mental health, self-care, mindfulness, and social connectedness for professors, young professionals, and students.
As a former competitive swimmer and student-athlete, Maxin focused her graduate research on enhancing motivation through counseling for college student-athletes. She has extensive experience working with individual and team athletes, providing training and seminars on resilience, mental toughness, a healthy mindset, positive communication, and the unique mental health needs of athletes.
Maxin began her career as a preschool teacher, specializing in progressive education. She developed age-appropriate lesson plans and had the opportunity to teach children with autism, ADHD, learning delays, speech delays, and cerebral palsy, deepening her understanding of child development and inclusive education. She has conducted seminars to parents and their caregivers on the benefits of play and positive discipline.
In her counseling practice, Maxin offers a non-judgmental, compassionate approach, creating a safe space where clients feel heard and valued. She integrates humanistic and behavioral counseling modalities, including Choice Theory, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Positive Psychology, and Mindfulness, to support holistic well-being. Through the therapeutic process, she empowers clients to recognize their strengths, embrace their uniqueness, and thrive. She firmly believes that personal growth flourishes within a supportive and caring community.
