Kianna Akazawa
Hello/Aloha
Aloha, my name is Kianna Akazawa. I am a cis-gender female, and my pronouns are she/her. I’ve recently moved to Las Vegas from Honolulu, Hawaii where I was born and raised. I began my career in behavioral health case management, doing home visits and assisting patients to connect with behavioral health specialists in the community. I know firsthand how difficult and frustrating it can be to find the right therapist for you. Something I learned is that we go through seasons of change our whole lives and oftentimes, may need to transition to a new therapist provider. Soon after, I joined an outpatient hospital program as a medical social worker, working with mostly elderly patients and their caregivers. Having a couple of family members with Dementia, I understand how the lack of time caregivers have for self-care can lead to caregiver burnout. If your cup of water is empty, it will be challenging to pour water into your loved one’s cup.
My Story
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Intern. I received my Master's in Social Work from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a focus on Geriatrics. I have volunteered with Child Welfare Services, Adult Protective Services, & St. Francis Hospice Palliative Care Program.
Recently on my career path, I found myself working in an acute inpatient hospital primarily with high-risk adolescents. Most of these kids are experiencing major depression, anxiety, and psychosis. Here, I’ve learned the importance of outpatient therapy as part of their discharge plan to help prevent the kids from falling back into major depression and suicidal thoughts/attempts. Through my experience thus far, I value making connections with people and really listening to them and their concerns. I am very passionate about helping my new Las Vegas community and guiding my clients on their own individual paths in life. I am a very easygoing person. In my downtime, I enjoy outdoor adventures, exercising, and trying new things.