Dr. Mira Simic-Yamash*ta, Psychologist & Therapist

10/08/2025

Back in May, I had a lovely conversation with the Unpacking Japan podcast about my journey to Japan and my perspective on the mental health scene here. The episode is up! You can listen to the whole interview here. Let me know what you think!

Meet Mira, a Serbian psychologist practicing in Japan, treating foreign residents and travelled Japanese patients. She sits down to talk with us about mental...

09/08/2025

Unpacking mental health scene in Japan - Part 2

08/08/2025

Unpacking mental health scene in Japan - Part 1

26/06/2025

Taisan-ji Temple in Kobe is home to Kobe’s only National Treasure, a beautifully preserved main hall from the 1200s. There’s also a gorgeous three-story pagoda, a bright red bridge, and it’s all surrounded by a protected virgin forest of oaks and chestnuts. It is beautiful in every season, but It's most famous for the autumn leaves 🍁🍂 Perhaps I'll be back in November.

12/06/2025

A few weeks ago, I had a pleasure of being interviewed on one of the major podcasts here Unpacking Japan ! We talked about my life and work in Japan, what psychology education looks like in Serbia vs. Japan, my therapy practice, and the evolving mental health landscape here.

The episode won’t be out until sometime this summer, but in the meantime, check out some of the other awesome stories they’ve featured—lots of interesting people doing cool things in Japan!

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmP9jSs0mpkC3sEve3O276w2gH8k3TtFi&feature=shared

06/03/2025

I’m thrilled to be part of a HUGE event called 京都みやこEXPO (Kyoto Miyako – We Are the Pre-EXPO) happening next Sunday, March 9, in Kyoto! 🎉 I’ll be hosting a community art therapy workshop, and I’d love for you to join. Entrance is FREE!
More info (in Japanese) here: https://kyoto.p-ex.net/

This will be an outstanding event - an intercultural festival filled with live concerts, dance performances, public talks, art showcases, and food stalls featuring flavors from around the world. They’re expecting over 10,000 visitors, and you should be one of them!

🌟 While the outside stage will be buzzing with energy, I’ll be INSIDE in the artists' area. If you need a break from the lively atmosphere, come to the second floor for some quiet time, mindfulness, reflection, and creativity.

Come and participate in our community art therapy project—a space to express yourself, connect, and recharge. I’ll also be sharing resources and therapy tips, so stop by and say hi!

Can’t wait to see you there! 💛

05/03/2025

INVITATION 🌸
I’m thrilled to be part of a HUGE event called 京都みやこEXPO (Kyoto Miyako – We Are the Pre-EXPO) happening next Sunday, March 9, in Kyoto! 🎉 I’ll be hosting a community art therapy workshop, and I’d love for you to join. Entrance is FREE!
More info (in Japanese) here: https://kyoto.p-ex.net/

This will be an outstanding event - an intercultural festival filled with live concerts, dance performances, public talks, art showcases, and food stalls featuring flavors from around the world. They’re expecting over 10,000 visitors, and you should be one of them!

🌟 While the outside stage will be buzzing with energy, I’ll be INSIDE in the artists' area. If you need a break from the lively atmosphere, come to the second floor for some quiet time, mindfulness, reflection, and creativity.

Come and participate in our community art therapy project—a space to express yourself, connect, and recharge. I’ll also be sharing resources and therapy tips, so stop by and say hi!

Can’t wait to see you there! 💛

15/12/2024

EMOTIONAL 'OOSOJI'
As the Year of the Dragon 🐲 comes to a close, we find ourselves in the season of tying up loose ends—clearing out leftover work, settling bills, and clearing the way for a fresh start. In Japan, we engage in Oosouji (or Big Cleaning🧹)—a year-end tradition that’s more than just cleaning and tidying up. It’s a symbolic act of releasing negativity, decluttering the mind, and creating space for new beginnings and positive energy in the year ahead.
In my therapy practice, this time of year is all about emotional 'oosoji'. Clients are shedding their old baggage—anxiety, childhood wounds, toxic relationships, chronic stress, and bad habits that no longer serve them. Together, we work to create space for clarity, peace, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose for the new year.
What about you? Is there anything you’d like to declutter from your mind and heart before the new year rolls in? If the answer is yes, now’s the perfect time to get started.
🎄Holiday Specials🎍!
🎉15% off all therapy packages until Christmas Day!
🎉Extra 10% off for returning clients on any sessions booked by December 31, 2024.
Yes, that’s a lot of discounts—it’s my way of saying, “Let’s make 2025 your best year yet!”
Whether you want to break free from something that’s been holding you back, gain new insights, or just hit the “refresh” button on your mental health, I’m here to help.
Check out my services https://mirasimicyamash*ta.com/
Book your FREE consultation https://calendly.com/mirasimi.../consultation-call-with-mira
And one last note: investing in your mental health is truly the best holiday gift you can give yourself. Rates will increase next year, so take advantage of these offers while they last—and step into 2025 feeling lighter, brighter, and ready to thrive.
Let’s get started—your future self will thank you!

10/12/2024

AFRAID OF SANTA CLAUS?

"What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus?"
"Claustrophobic!"..says the joke.
Cute and funny, but absolutely incorrect!

Claustrophobia is the fear of small spaces, such as elevators, tiny rooms with low ceilings, closets, and other enclosed spaces. Luckily, Santa Cause doesn’t suffer from this one, otherwise, he wouldn’t risk squeezing his chubby body through the tight chimney just to deliver us presents🧑‍🎄🎁🎄.
However, there is a real, legitimate fear of Santa Claus. It is called Santaphobia, or Clausophobia, and it is typically suffered by young children who encounter Santa Claus. The fear is linked to Christougenniatikophobia, fear of Christmas, or broader, Hagiophobia, fear of saints or holy things.

Phobias come in all shapes and sizes. Some are more common (Agoraphobia - fear of public spaces, Arachnophobia - fear of spiders, or Hemophobia - fear of blood), but some are rare and rather peculiar, such as Pogonophobia - the fear of beards 🧔, Porphyrophobia - fear of color purple 🟣, Mageirocophobia - fear of cooking🧑‍🍳, or Ephebiphobia - the fear of teenagers 😳). And the list goes on and on because there is an infinite number of objects and situations that may create a phobia.

Common or peculiar, phobias can wreak havoc on your daily life. However, you don’t have to, and you shouldn’t embrace it and push through it! Phobias are learned, and they can be unlearned if you are willing to. Luckily, most phobias are easily treated with therapy.
Rapid Transformational Therapy is incredibly effective in eliminating fears and phobias. If you would like to celebrate Christmas free of Clausophobia, Claustrophobia, or any other kind, send me a message and I can help you let it go for good, in as little as one session😉

Don't miss the chance to use the 15% discount on my therapy services that will be available until December 25.
Book your free consultation on the link below and let's chat!
https://calendly.com/mirasimicyamash*ta/consultation-call-with-mira