Expanding Opportunities for Family Counselors in Japan

Abstract

Japan has experienced enormous social change in the past 40 years, including the near disappearance of the three-generation household and the emergence of the nuclear household, intensified urbanization, and an increase in the participation of women and immigrants in the workforce. These changes have been accompanied by the erosion of the traditional Japanese family structure, rising divorce rates, rising crime and violence among Japanese youth, and an epidemic of suicides, particularly among middle-aged men. Encouraged by a broader social acceptance of counseling and psychotherapy in addressing an array of mental health concerns, family counselors in Japan can expect to see a significant increase in demand for their services.