Billy Cleary (M.A., LMFT)

Billy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and holds a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Wheaton College in Illinois, USA. He first arrived in Japan over two decades ago and has served as the TELL Clinical Director since 2018. 

He is steadfast in his mission to lead the support for the international and Japanese communities in Japan and restore relationships by creating nurturing environments that allow each individual to explore and grow. During his tenure, TELL Counseling has seen significant growth and stabilization, better equipping the team to support the mental health needs of our community. 

In his clinical work, Billy provides supervision and training for counseling professionals and also provides therapy for individuals and couples. His clinical expertise includes a specialization in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), which is a person-centered and attachment based approach, centering on the critical human need for secure emotional connection. He also has the privilege of presenting on mental health topics in Japanese organizations and corporations, as well as global clinical conferences. 

Prior to TELL, Billy worked in Japanese corporations and was involved in youth ministry in Japan fostering spiritual and emotional growth, while finding intersections between faith and psychology. These experiences have helped shape his worldview through his life and work in Japan.  

Off the field, Billy enjoys spending time with his family, walking his golden retriever and cherishes a few quiet hours in the morning savoring a freshly brewed cup of pour-over coffee. He also relives the glory days by volunteering as a baseball coach on his son’s elementary school team.