Designing experiences that promote wellbeing

Hitomi Yokota, RP, MA

Service Design Lead, Psychotherapist, and Educator (she/her)

I work at the intersection of design innovation, research, and trauma-informed care. After a decade leading service designs across public and private sectors, improving our community members’ experiences, I became a licensed Psychotherapist to deepen my ability to support individuals, teams, and organizations.

I founded Cocoro Colab because no design programs and training taught us, designers and researchers, how to engage with people in vulnerable situations with sensitivity and care.

Now, I integrate design and therapeutic practice to help people navigate complexity, whether they're researchers, designers, civic leaders, or individuals on a healing journey.

Areas of expertise

Complex trauma healing

I specialize in trauma care for people experiencing challenges developed in relational contexts.

Trauma-informed Design

I help designers, civic leaders, and organizations integrate trauma-informed design into their processes through education and consulting.

Mind-body connection

“Body keeps the score”, as van der Kolk wrote. I bring body-oriented approaches to promote top-down (cognitive) and bottom-up (somatic/body) healing.

Working with underserved populations

In both design and therapy, I worked extensively with underserved populations, including BIPOC, immigrants, LGBTQ+ members, and people with disabilities.

Training and background

In addition to over 11 years of experience in design innovation, I bring specialized training in trauma and somatic/body-based healing.

Education

Master of Clinical Mental Health Counselling.

Master of Interdisciplinary Design Strategy.

Certificate in UX Design.

Bachelor of Sociology—double major in English Communication and Culture.

Specialized training

EMDR BASIC training (EMDR International Association).

Treating Complex Trauma with Internal Family System (IFS) Therapy (Dr. Frank Anderson).

Certification in Somatic Embodiment and Regulation Strategies — Level 1, 2, 3 (Linda Thai).

Trauma Sensitive Yoga Foundation (Trauma Center).

Gottman Method Couples Therapy – Level 1 (The Gottman Institute).

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Certification Training, Professional Education Systems Institute (PESI).

Credentials and associations

Registered Psychotherapist, College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.

Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.

Inclusive Therapists.

Healing in Colour.