About
Akiyo Kodera
I’m a coach who works with Third Culture Kids who feel stuck in their lives—not because they lack insight or ability, but because the ways they’ve learned to adapt have made it hard to know what direction is truly right for them.
​I grew up between Japan and the U.S., and for much of my life I carried a sense of not quite belonging anywhere. Over time, I came to see that this wasn’t only about culture. It was also shaped by how I naturally experience the world: how deeply I think and feel, how much I notice, and the values and creativity I bring to what I do. Those qualities influenced how I related to others, the roles I took on, and the choices I made—often without realizing it.
That understanding shapes how I work today.
Rather than offering generalized explanations about identity or Third Culture Kids, I focus on helping clients understand their own patterns. I offer perspective, name blind spots that are hard to see from the inside, and help clients work through and release the impact of past experiences that are still influencing how they think, decide, and relate to their lives today. This is often the piece people have been missing, even after trying many other approaches.
My background includes years of work in higher education, public health, research, and nonprofits, as well as working closely with creative, intuitive, and non-linear thinkers who often struggle to fit into conventional paths. Across these spaces, I’ve seen how thoughtful, values-driven people—whether analytical, creative, or both—can feel confused or lost about what to do when their work or environment isn’t working for them in the way they had hoped.
Clients often describe my approach as steady, thoughtful, and direct in a gentle way: a space where they feel deeply understood, while also gaining new perspectives that allow real movement forward.
I’m based in the U.S. (Maine) and work with Third Culture Kids locally, as well as with clients around the world through online sessions.
Background & Training
My work is informed by formal training as well as years of hands-on experience supporting people through complex emotional and life challenges.​
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B.S. in Communication Studies, New York University
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Post-baccalaureate studies in Psychology, CUNY Hunter College
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Accredited certification in Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)
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Additional training in trauma-informed methods and related modalities
What “Third Culture Kid” means here
On this site, “Third Culture Kid” isn’t used as a strict definition or identity.​
It refers to people who grew up between cultures and learned early on to adapt, often becoming highly observant, flexible, and capable, while also struggling with direction, belonging, or knowing what feels right for them later in life.
Some people moved frequently across countries. Others grew up in immigrant families or culturally mixed environments. What matters here isn’t how you qualify, but how those early experiences shaped the way you relate to yourself and the world.