Himeka Nakamoto: 'I'll listen to anything. Commemorating the broadcast of 'Himeka Nakamoto's Counseling Room for Any Concerns!' Special Email Interview

 On December 7th, the second release of 'I'll Listen to Anything: Himeka Nakamoto's Counseling Room for Any Concerns' will be available. Please share your candid impressions upon completing this work.

Responding to emotions through writing was a different experience compared to regular counseling. In usual counseling sessions, there is feedback from the person seeking advice, and the dialogue progresses based on that. However, with a book, the interaction tends to be one-sided. I had thought that 'Psychological counseling' and 'A book answering concerns' would go well together, but I keenly felt that it couldn't be asserted so easily. As a result, this book became more about listening to stories rather than providing answers to concerns. It was truly written with the sentiment of 'I'll listen to anything.

The inspiration behind writing this book and the reasons for writing it, could you please share?

I aimed to create a book where people who may be hesitant about counseling could have a pseudo-experience. I realize that there are still many people who have reservations about seeking counseling. In such a context, I wanted to write a book that, when opened, gives the reader a feeling as if they were knocking on the door of a counseling room—something like a portable counseling room.

Many people might not have a clear image of what counseling is in the first place. I would be delighted if, through this book, I could convey at least the atmosphere of a counseling room. In reality, there are many psychological counselors across the country, each with their own approaches and therapeutic methods. So, it's important to note that this book represents the experience of Himeka Nakamoto listening to stories.

It has been about two and a half years since the release of the previous work. Could you please share any changes in your own environment or mindset during this period?

Following the publication of the previous work, I had more opportunities to communicate about mental health through the media. While continuing counseling work, the role of being a psychological counselor engaged in media activities seems to have solidified over these two and a half years. In my personal life, I graduated from university. Through attending university lectures and working on my graduation thesis, I had ample time to contemplate mental health, and I was able to directly confront the work of a psychological counselor. Previously, I found it challenging to prioritize myself. However, recently, I have been making efforts for my own sake and sometimes indulging myself.

In this book, it was impressive to see you imagining the persona of the person seeking advice, empathizing, and analyzing situations calmly. When facing someone as a psychological counselor, what do you prioritize the most?

I make sure not to forget the premise that 'the answer lies within the person seeking advice.' I am careful not to limit choices with preconceived notions as a psychological counselor and to avoid being misled by premature assumptions. To receive any story with a soft touch, I believe it's necessary to have correct knowledge, draw from my own life experiences, and maintain a certain level of emotional composure as a listener. I think that constantly growing as a person is key to doing good work.

I sense that you are strongly conscious of choosing your words carefully when responding to those seeking advice. Has this awareness come from the understanding that a single choice of words can change the perception, as seen in the previous work?

The importance of choosing words has become even more apparent to me over the time span from the previous work to the current one. I have experienced being saved by a single word, but I have also felt the sharpness akin to a blade in moments when words were unintendedly hurtful. There were days when I felt afraid to speak if it meant unintentionally hurting someone. Nevertheless, attempting to understand the heart through words remains the work of a psychological counselor. After much contemplation, I decided to approach it with a positive mindset: 'Learn many words. Handle them with care. There might be times when I choose the wrong words, but let's not give up on speaking.' Perhaps, the attitude of being even more cautious in choosing words, compared to my past self, naturally manifested in the current work. When conversing face-to-face, I can correct my choice of words on the spot if I make a mistake. However, since this is not possible in a book, during the writing process, I thought carefully about my words more than usual and considered whether the expressions were appropriate.

In the "Conclusion," it is mentioned, "There are many ambiguous feelings that are hard to put into words, but it would be nice if this book had words that succinctly express the state of the heart." Who do you hope this book will reach?

Since the heart is invisible, it is challenging to grasp one's own mental state. However, by deliberately expressing, "If I were to put it into words, these keywords might be close," this book might serve as a hint to understand the state of the heart. This book is intended for those who don't know what to do at the moment, for people facing difficulties. It would be wonderful if they found hints for approaches like "Let's move forward for now" or "Let's take a break for a while." Additionally, for those who want to be a supportive presence for others but are unsure how to initiate conversations, I hope they find words in this book that extend a helping hand

If you have any themes you'd like to write about in the future or if you have any future aspirations, please share.

"I consistently wish to lead an interesting life that could serve as a sequel to my own experiences, but daily life is not that dramatic (laughs). Under the belief that 'Just as it is important to care for the body, it is also crucial to care for the mind. If one can receive counseling at the right time, they should be able to protect their mental health,' I am working every day. I want to approach both the counseling sessions I conduct and my media outreach activities diligently on a daily basis.

Finally, would you like to convey a message to the readers who will pick up this book.

Whether you're someone interested in counseling, going through challenges and seeking answers, or simply intrigued by the title or cover, I wrote this book while imagining the various ways you might come across its existence. The book contains a variety of concerns shared within its pages. Opportunities to touch upon what others are grappling with are not common, and the counseling setting is inherently a very private space. Think of this book as a discreet visit to that consultation room. Alternatively, by overlaying the individuals seeking advice in this book with your own experiences, you might feel as if you've confided the truth you've never shared with anyone before.

From the moment you pick up this book, I hope it establishes a connection where you might think, 'In the future, when I'm troubled, turning to a psychological counselor might lead to finding some clues for resolution.' It would bring me great joy if this idea could linger in a corner of your mind, prompted by the serendipity of picking up this book.

Original interview