Why name this blog  “The Last Judy”?  Because I am often struck by the dichotomy in my life between being a person rooted in tradition and history, versus wanting to press on towards what might be new in culture, and trying to bring about a better and more just world.  Pressing towards the new is exciting, but fruitless in the end, if one is not rooted in something that can bear the weight that change demands.  Something eternal, completely powerful and completely good must support that change.

As a therapist working with individuals, couples and families, I try to help my clients to achieve radical, and yet sustainable, positive change in their relationships.  My energy does not come from having the power to affect people and their relationships, playing God, as it were.  I know who God is, and I am not that Person. Rather, I find myself being energized by coming alongside suffering people, and watching God heal them.  I especially love working with couples, and watching God use them to heal each other and to develop shared meaning.   Sometimes the move towards positive change requires the client to make a great personal sacrifice, or to humbly release their existing paradigm for meaning, in favor of trying something new and unknown, but perhaps better.  I am energized by assisting people to break out of their old timeworn patterns, not only to become happier, but also to become more fully human.  I deeply value the opportunity to  listen to people’s stories.

What’s my story?  I live and work in New York City, where I have a private practice as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  I have been doing psychotherapy  since “B.C.”, which, for those non-parents reading this, means “Before Children.”  I also enjoy writing in the areas of faith, parenting, life transitions, and therapy.  I have been happily married to Mako Fujimura since 1983, and we have three wonderful offspring, by God’s grace, and not due to perfect parenting on our part.  They are Ty, a college student; C.J., a high school student, and Lydia, also a high school student.   All three of them are joy-givers to us.  I enjoy biking along the Hudson River, reading good old books, doing home decorating projects, and playing Scrabble.  

I grew up in Woodbury, New Jersey, a Quaker town of significance in the War of Independence.  As a young person, I enjoyed 4H Club, biking, ice skating, roller skating,, and reading good old books.  At some point in my growing-up years, I noticed that, while there were numerous older girls and women with the name Judy, I was the only Judy I knew who was my age.  This may be a fitting metaphor for my position in life as someone who treasures the things of the past, but also wants to participate in creating a  new and better world.