About

Umi to Yama — "Sea to Mountain" — is more than just a name; it is a guiding principle that reflects our commitment to supporting healing through a profound connection with the natural world.

Umi to Yama - Sea to Mountain

Umi to Yama translated into English from Japanese means — "Sea to Mountain" — it is a guiding principle that reflects our commitment to supporting healing through a profound connection with the natural world. The sea represents the depths of our emotions and experiences — vast, fluid, and ever-changing. Just as the sea can be calming or stormy, our emotional lives can ebb and flow, shaped by internal and external forces. The mountain, on the other hand, represents the stillness, strength, and resilience we cultivate in our journey toward healing. It serves as a reminder to find stability and grounding, even in moments of turbulence.

Together, Umi to Yama invites us to recognize that true wellness exists at the intersection of these powerful elements — the movement of the sea and the steadiness of the mountain. This connection encourages us to honour the full spectrum of our being — the emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual — and to restore balance within ourselves and our relationship with the world around us.

A Call to a Deep Connection with Nature

Just as the sea and mountain are inseparable in the natural world, we too are intrinsically connected to the environment. At Umi to Yama, we believe that nature is not just a backdrop to our lives but an active participant in our healing process. Whether we are walking in the forest, feeling the grounding energy of the earth beneath our feet, or gazing at the horizon over the ocean, nature offers us invaluable lessons in patience, resilience, and renewal. Incorporating nature into the healing process is central to our approach. By reconnecting with the world around us, we help our clients find clarity, peace, and strength in ways that go beyond traditional therapeutic methods. The natural environment holds wisdom that can guide us toward inner peace, emotional balance, and physical health.

Lenna Nakamura, RCC #21378
(she, her, hers)

I’m a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a deep commitment to creating healing spaces that are grounded in respect, connection, and the belief that wellness includes all parts of who we are—mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual. I have spent over 15 years in the helping field in various roles as a youth outreach worker, support worker, behaviour interventionist, lifeguard and instructor, counsellor, and more recently as a community recreation manager.

My diverse experiences have provided me with valuable insights into working with individuals across all age groups, abilities, and life experiences. I am passionate about working with youth, as they offer a fresh perspective and are often open to exploring change with compassionate guidance and support. I am also deeply interested in expanding my knowledge of the unique challenges faced by public safety personnel, first responders, and frontline workers. Their role in supporting vulnerable community members during critical moments in their lives inspires me to continually deepen my understanding of their needs and the best ways to offer these essential workers support.

With a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Indigenous Studies, my approach weaves together Western therapeutic practices with a deep respect for Indigenous Peoples and their connection to the land. While I too share a very strong connection to the land, I will always have more to learn to understand what it means to have a connection to the land since time immemorial. I am a settler of Japanese descent, practicing on the unceded territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. My work is grounded in cultural humility and guided by respect for Indigenous sovereignty and teaching.

Lenna's Clinical Therapeutic Approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)
Nature-Based Therapy
Person Centred Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy
Somatic Experiencing® (Student of Somatic Experiencing International, expected completion 2028)