Kazuo Yamashita

I live in Japan. Now I am teaching interpersonal practice in social services at Mimasaka University and doing private practice, named CHODR: Center for Human and Organizational Development. I am practicing counseling with individual, family, small group and workshops for experiencing “mutual growth relationships”.

I encountered PCA when I was a student at Ryukoku University. I took a class from Professor Gisho Saiko, who tried to teach us a learner-centered way. At first he explained the reason why he chose these text books and his idea about these books. And then he said to us, “Whether you use these books or do not use these books, it is your choice. You can do it any way you want in this class.” He put the books on the desk and never started to lecture. I was very surprised and bewildered. However, I liked teacher’s atmosphere. He smiled; his eyes were so kind. I felt warmth from him and psychological safety. I asked him, “Surely can I do as I want?” He said, “Yes.” I was so glad I started to express my thoughts and feeling. It was amazing. He listened to my feelings and thoughts carefully and understood me correctly. Something happened in myself. My classmates and I had a great experience in this class. We learned a very important sense of ourselves and a self-motivated attitude toward our lives.

Already 36 years have passed since then. Still I remember clearly at that experience. After I graduated from the university, I worked at a nursing home as a social worker. I tried to treat residents the way I had learned from PCA. I listened to their feelings carefully, understood them, and confirmed them. It was wonderful! I felt residents’ satisfaction, their smiles, their liking. I was also satisfied. It was so lively. I stared community meeting for the residents: Once a month we gathered and expressed anything we wanted to express. At first the residents were bewildered. But gradually they got used to it and shared among themselves, discussed their lives at home, and planed their recreations. Then I moved my workplace to a residential child care facility (orphanage). I treated the children in same way, and it worked well. However, in here I needed to set my limits toward the children. Thomas Gordon’s skill “I message” (Parent Effectiveness Training) helped me very much.

Yes, PCA is living in myself and I am living in PCA. PCA is my life. I can say PCA is KCA (Kazuo-centered approach). I am living very valuable life with my family, friends, clients, colleagues and CSP members. Once a year I visit La Jolla and attend the Annual meeting. I have had the richest moment with them!

My interests are:

• Human and Organizational Development: Bifocal approach, Human Development and Organizational Development.
• Buddhist counseling, “Dharma-based person-centered approach.” I learned PCA and Shin-Buddhism (Pure-land Buddhism) from Professor Saiko Gisho (as stated above). Now I am awakening both are deeply connected in myself. Saiko called this approach, “Dharma-based person centered approach.”
• Adapting PCA into social work, social work with individuals, with families, with groups, with organizations and communities. I believe PCA will contribute to make social work more humanistic.
• Humanistic Education. I ever worked at a small alternative school named "Play Mountain Place" in Los Angeles as an intern teacher for two years. This school has been influenced by Carl Rogers' ideas. I learned many things from this school. Now, I am teaching my learning to Japanese child caregivers.

Contact Me
Website: http://chodr.ptu.jp/