{"id":94,"date":"2020-07-24T13:27:53","date_gmt":"2020-07-24T17:27:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/socialwork\/?post_type=cu_people&#038;p=94"},"modified":"2026-03-05T10:36:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T15:36:49","slug":"kenta-asakura","status":"publish","type":"cu_people","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/socialwork\/people\/kenta-asakura\/","title":{"rendered":"Kenta Asakura"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"mb-6 cu-pageheader cu-component-updated md:mb-12\">\n    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold !mt-2 mb-4 md:mb-6 text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] relative after:absolute after:h-px after:bottom-0 pb-5 after:w-10 after:bg-cu-red after:left-px\">\n                    \n             \n                \n            <\/h1>\n\n    \n    <\/header>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"education\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Education<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ph.D. University of Toronto Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work<br>\nPostgraduate Certificate in Psychotherapy, Seattle Psychoanalytic Society &amp; Institute<br>\nM.S.W. Smith College School for Social Work (Northampton, MA)<br>\nB.A. (<em>Cum Laude<\/em> in Psychology) Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"about\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With extensive training and background in contemporary psychodynamic theory and practice (MSW from Smith, followed by additional postgraduate training from Seattle Psychoanalytic Society &amp; Institute). I have 20 years of experience working with children, youth, and families in care, queer and trans* youth and families, and racialized immigrants and refugees. Dually licensed and registered in Canada (RSW) and the U.S. (LICSW), I also trained to incorporate other therapeutic approaches (e.g., EMDR, CBT\/DBT, EFT, narrative) and emerging neuroscience of trauma into my clinical practice, consultation and teaching. I maintain a small private practice of clinical consultation for social workers and agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"honours-awards\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Honours &amp; Awards <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>2020 Faculty of Public Affairs Teaching Fellowship<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2018 Carleton University New Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Honourable Mention, 2015 LGBT Manuscript Award from the Council on Social Work Education<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2014 Teaching Award in Social Work from the Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"areas-of-research\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Areas of Research<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Simulation-based research<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clinical practice and psychotherapy in social work<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clinical social work education, including field education and supervision<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Critical and creative use of AI in teaching and learning<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Resilience science, focusing on children and youths<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Qualitative methodologies, especially Grounded Theory Methodology<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"funded-research\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Funded Research<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Principal Investigator <\/strong>(Co-I: Amedeo D\u2019Angiuli &amp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spreedix.com\/\">Spreedix<\/a>)<strong>, 2020 \u2013 2021<br>\n<\/strong><strong>Carleton University COVID-19 Rapid Response Research Grant<\/strong> ($19,000)<br>\n<em>Online assessment of pandemic-triggered traumatic stress: Towards developing assistive AI technologies<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Co-Investigator <\/strong>(PI: Dr. Dennis Kao)<strong>, 2020 \u2013 2021<br>\n<\/strong><strong>Carleton University COVID-19 Rapid Response Research Grant<\/strong> ($13,000)<br>\n<em>Racial discrimination and the well-being of Asian Canadians in the COVID-19 context <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Co-Investigator <\/strong>(PI: Dr. Sarah Todd), <strong>2020 \u2013 2024<br>\n<\/strong><strong>SSHRC Insight Grant<\/strong> ($156,213)<br>\n<em>Knowing and Not-Knowing: Navigating Uncertainty in Social Work<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Principal Investigator, 2019 \u2013 2020 <\/strong><br>\n<strong>Carleton University SSHRC Explore Development Grant <\/strong>($9,980),<br>\nWhat Does Social Justice Look like When Sitting with Clients?: A Simulation-based Study on Social Justice and Clinical Social Work Practice<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Principal Investigator, 2018 \u2013 2023<\/strong><br>\n<strong>Canada Foundation for Innovation John R. Evans Leaders Fund&nbsp;<\/strong>(Total $145,880: $57,980 from CFI, $57,980 from Ontario Research Fund- Small Infrastructure Fund, and $29,920 from other matching funds),<br>\n<em>Developing Integrative Simulation-Based Research on Social Work Education &amp; Practice<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Principal Investigator, 2018 \u2013 2020<\/strong><br>\n<strong>Carleton University Teaching &amp; Learning Service Research Grant&nbsp;<\/strong>($15,910)<strong>,&nbsp;<\/strong><br>\n<em>Evaluating Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Based Simulation in Teaching Social Work Practice<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Co-Investigator&nbsp;<\/strong>(PI: Sarah Todd)&nbsp;<strong>2018-2019<\/strong><br>\n<strong>Carleton University SSHRC Explore Development Grant<\/strong>&nbsp;($8,930)<br>\n<em>Navigating Uncertainty in Social Work: A simulation-based Study<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Co-Principal Investigator&nbsp;<\/strong>(Co-PI: Sarah Todd; Collaborator: Ametros Learning Inc.),&nbsp;<strong>2017 \u2013 2018<\/strong><br>\n<strong>Carleton University-Industry &amp; Partnership Services<\/strong>&nbsp;($3,500)<br>\n<em>Developing AI-Based Simulation Platform for Teaching Social Work Practice&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Principal Investigator<\/strong>&nbsp;(Collaborator: Youth Services Bureau)<strong>, 2016 \u2013 2019<\/strong><br>\n<strong>SSHRC Insight Development Grant<\/strong>&nbsp;($45,978)<br>\n<em>Promoting Resilience among Trans Youth in Canada: A Participatory Action Research Project on Trans* Representation<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Principal Investigator, 2016 \u2013 2019<\/strong><br>\n<strong>Carleton University Faculty Startup Research Fund&nbsp;<\/strong>($5,000)<br>\n<em>Evaluating the Use of Simulation in Teaching Direct Social Work Practice: An Online Survey Study of the Learning Processes among Participants vs. Observers&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Principal Investigator, 2015 \u2013 2017<\/strong><br>\n<strong>Carleton University Faculty Startup Research Fund&nbsp;<\/strong>($8,000)<br>\n<em>What does Social Justice Look Like When Sitting with Clients?: A Qualitative Study of Teaching Clinical Social Work from a Social Justice Perspective<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Co-Investigator&nbsp;<\/strong>(PI: Dr. Sarah Todd),&nbsp;<strong>2016 \u2013 2017<\/strong><br>\n<strong>Carleton University Faculty of Public Affairs &amp; Educational Development Centre<\/strong>&nbsp;($ 5500)<br>\n<em>Choose Your Own Therapeutic Path: Using virtual simulation to teach direct practice.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Principal Investigator, 2015 \u2013 2016<\/strong><br>\n<strong>University Educational Development Centre<\/strong>&nbsp;($3,000)<br>\n<em>Using Simulation in Teaching Social Work Practice: A Pilot Project&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"selected-publications\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Selected Publications <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>* signifies a student co-author<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><u>Edited Collection: <\/u><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Asakura, K.<\/strong> &amp; Bogo, M. (In Progress). Guest Editors, Special Issue on Simulation &amp; Clinical Social Work, <em>Clinical Social Work Journal<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><u>Peer-Review Publications: <\/u><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Asakura, K.<\/strong>, *Occhiuto, K., Todd, S., Leithead, C., &amp; Clapperton, R. (In Press). A call to action on Artificial Intelligence and social work education: Lessons learned from a simulation project using Natural Language Processing. <em>Journal of Teaching in Social Work<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Asakura, K.<\/strong>, *Lundy, J., *Black, D., &amp; *Tierney, C. (2019). Art as a transformative practice: A participatory action research project with trans* youth. <em>Qualitative Social Work. <\/em>doi: 10.1177\/1473325019881226<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Asakura, K.,&nbsp;*<\/strong>Strumm, B., Todd, S., &amp; Varghese, R.&nbsp;(2019). What does social justice look like when sitting with clients?:&nbsp; A qualitative study of teaching clinical social work practise from a social justice perspective.&nbsp;<em>Journal of Social Work Education.<\/em> Doi.10.1080\/10437797.2019.1656588<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Todd, S., <strong>Asakura, K.<\/strong>, Morris, B., Eagle, B., &amp; *Park, G. (2019). Responding to student mental health concerns in social work education: Towards developing a heuristic blueprint. <em>Social Work Education: The International Journal, 38<\/em>(6), 779-796.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Asakura, K.<\/strong>&nbsp;&amp; Maurer, K. (2018). Attending to social justice in clinical social work: Supervision as a pedagogical space.&nbsp;<em>Clinical Social Work Journal<\/em>. Published online first. doi.10.1007\/s10615-018-0667-4<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tufford, L.,&nbsp;<strong>Asakura, K.,<\/strong>&nbsp;&amp; Bogo, M. (2018). Students\u2019 perceptions about simulation vs. role-plays in learning social work practise skills.&nbsp;<em>Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work, 23<\/em>(1), 249-267.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Asakura, K.<\/strong>, Bogo, M., Good, B., &amp; Power, R. (2018). Teaching Note\u2014 Social Work Serial: Using video-recorded simulated client sessions to teach social work practice.&nbsp;<em>Journal of Social Work Education<\/em>. Published online first, DOI: 10.1080\/10437797.2017.1404525.<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Asakura, K.<\/strong>, Todd, S., Eagle, B., &amp; Morris, B. (2018). Strengthening the signature pedagogy of social work: Conceptualizing field coordination as a negotiated social work pedagogy.&nbsp;<em>Journal of Teaching in Social Work<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>38<\/em>(2), 151-165<em>.&nbsp;<\/em>DOI: 10.1080\/08841233.2018.1436635.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Asakura, K<\/strong>. (2017). Paving pathways through the pain: A grounded theory of resilience among LGBTQ youth.&nbsp;&nbsp;<em>Journal of Research on Adolescence, 27(<\/em>3), 521-536.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A<\/strong><strong>sakura, K<\/strong>. (2016). Extraordinary acts to \u201cshow up\u201d: Conceptualizing resilience among LGBTQ youth.&nbsp;<em>Youth &amp; Society.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Asakura, K<\/strong>. (2016). It takes a village: Applying a social-ecological framework of resilience in working with LGBTQ youth.&nbsp;<em>Families in Society, 97<\/em>(1), 15-22.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Asakura, K.<\/strong>&nbsp;(2016).&nbsp;<em>The use of simulation in teaching social work practise: A potential answer for the art and science of social work<\/em>. A blog entry prepared for the Carleton University Educational Development Centre. Available:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/carleton.ca\/edc\/2016\/blog-the-use-of-simulation-in-teaching-social-work-practice\/\">http:\/\/carleton.ca\/edc\/2016\/blog-the-use-of-simulation-in-teaching-social-work-practice\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brennan, D. J., Souleymanov, R., George, C., Newman, P. A., Hart, T. A.,&nbsp;<strong>Asakura, K<\/strong>. &amp; Betancourt, G. (2015). An examination of masculinity, drive for muscularity, and HIV risk behaviours among gay and bisexual men of colour.&nbsp;<em>Psychology of Men &amp; Masculinity.<\/em>&nbsp;<em>16<\/em>(4), 393-403.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tufford, L., Bogo, M., &amp;&nbsp;<strong>Asakura, K.<\/strong>&nbsp;(2015). How do social workers respond to potential child neglect?&nbsp;<em>Social Work Education: The International Journal<\/em>, 34(2), 229-243. DOI:10.1080\/02615479.2014.958985.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Asakura, K<\/strong>. &amp; Craig, S. L. (2014) \u201cIt Gets Better\u201d\u2026but how?: Exploring resilience development in the accounts of LGBTQ adults.&nbsp;<em>Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 24<\/em>(3), 253-266.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mishna, F., Van Wert, M., &amp;&nbsp;<strong>Asakura, K<\/strong>. (2013). The best-kept secret in social work: Empirical support of the contemporary psychodynamic clinical practice.&nbsp;<em>Journal of Social Work Practice, 27<\/em>(3), 289-303.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brennan, D. J.,&nbsp;<strong>Asakura, K<\/strong>., George, C., Newman, P. A., Hart, T. A., \u2026 Betancourt, G. (2013). \u201cNever reflected anywhere\u201d: Body image among ethnoracialized gay and bisexual men.&nbsp;<em>Body Image, 10<\/em>, 389-398.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wells, E. A.,&nbsp;<strong>Asakura, K<\/strong>., Hoppe, M. J., Balsam, K. F., Morrison D. M., &amp; Beadnell, B. (2013). Social services for sexual minority youth: Preferences for what, where, and how services are delivered.&nbsp;<em>Children and Youth Services Review, 35<\/em>(2), 312-320.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Newman, P. A., Logie, C., Doukas, N.,&nbsp;<strong>Asakura, K<\/strong>., &amp; (2013). HPV vaccine acceptability among men: A systematic review and meta-analysis.&nbsp;<em>Sexually Transmitted Infections<\/em>. Advance online publication. Doi: 10.1136\/sextrans-2012- 05098.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brennan, D. J., Souleymanov, R.,&nbsp;<strong>Asakura, K<\/strong>., &amp; Imagine Men\u2019s Health Team (2013).&nbsp;<em>Colour matters: Body image, racism, and wellbeing among gay and bisexual men of colour in Toronto. A report of the Imagine Men\u2019s Health Study<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Asakura, K<\/strong>. (2010). Queer youth space: A protective factor for sexual minority youth.&nbsp;<em>Smith College&nbsp;Studies in Social Work, 80<\/em>(4), 361-376.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"affiliations\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>&nbsp;Affiliations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Elected Councillor (2019 \u2013 2022), Ontario College of Social Workers &amp; Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), District 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Appointed Councillor (2015 \u2013 2018), CSWE Council on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (CSOGIE)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Appointed Co-Chair (2016, 2017, 2018), LGBTQ+ Issues Track for the CSWE Annual Program Meeting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Member: Council on Social Work Education<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Member: Ontario Association for Social Workers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Washington State (2006 \u2013 Present)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Registered Social Worker (RSW), Ontario (2012 \u2013 Present)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1186,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cu_people_first_name":"Kenta","cu_people_last_name":"Asakura","cu_people_initials":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_people_type":[34],"cu_people_expertise":[],"class_list":["post-94","cu_people","type-cu_people","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","cu_people_type-professor-emeritus-adjunct-professor"],"acf":{"cu_people_job_title":"Adjunct Research Professor","cu_people_degree":"MSW (Smith College), PhD (Toronto)","cu_building":false,"cu_people_office_num":"","cu_people_pronoun":"none","cu_people_designation":"","cu_people_email":"","cu_people_phone":"","cu_people_phone_ext":"","cu_people_linkedin":"","cu_people_bluesky":"","cu_people_twitter":"","cu_people_instagram":"","cu_people_facebook":"","cu_people_website":"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Kenta_Asakura","cu_people_orcid":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/socialwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_people\/94","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/socialwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_people"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/socialwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/cu_people"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/socialwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/socialwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_people\/94\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3506,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/socialwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_people\/94\/revisions\/3506"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/socialwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1186"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/socialwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=94"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_people_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/socialwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_people_type?post=94"},{"taxonomy":"cu_people_expertise","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/socialwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_people_expertise?post=94"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}