Julia Hirata
London
Summary
A community mental health professional with a BA in Psychology and MSc in Global Health and Development, bringing a multidisciplinary perspective to mental health support that bridges clinical practice, public health, and social justice. Grounded experience in supporting global majority communities and developing culturally responsive services that centre equity and lived experience. Passionate about making therapy more accessible to marginalised communities and actively challenging systemic barriers to mental health support.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Project Support Officer
Sesame Organisation
London
2024.05 - 2026.04
- Collaborating on the design of trauma-informed, person-centred therapeutic services, embedding lived experience and participatory practice across provision for global majority, LGBT+, migrant, and gender-specific communities.
- Delivering a national mental health project supporting 500+ individuals across England through group therapy, one-to-one therapy, and a befriending service.
- Leading referral pathways with 50+ organisations including mental health charities and NHS trusts, ensuring robust therapeutic support.
- Conducting one-to-one assessment and support calls with service users to establish therapeutic readiness ahead of joining therapy services.
- Designing and delivering training on cultural competence and race in mental health, equipping professionals to engage across difference with greater confidence.
- Acting as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, managing risk assessment and escalation in complex, sensitive cases.
- Leading funding applications and produce biannual impact reports to inform programme development and service delivery.
Outreach Officer
Sesame Organisation
London
2023.05 - 2024.05
- Developed and led a national outreach framework, building partnerships with 40+ organisations across statutory, voluntary, and community sectors.
- Designed and delivered 20+ community events reaching 1,000+ people, increasing trust and access to support services among underserved communities.
- Engaged marginalised communities through outreach and community consultations, ensuring experiences and needs directly shaped service design.
- Redesigned the volunteer programme, introducing structured training and support to expand the network by 300% across England, Scotland, and Wales.
- Designed and delivered training on racism, mental health, and cultural competence, equipping staff and volunteers to provide culturally competent, trauma-aware support.
Front of House
Acme
London
2022.09 - 2023.05
- Delivered exceptional customer service in a fast-paced environment, ensuring positive experiences for all visitors.
- Coordinated and managed multiple tasks simultaneously, maintaining high standards of organisation and efficiency.
- Collaborated effectively with team members and worked independently to meet service demands and operational goals.
Title Assistant
Lawyers Title
San Diego, CA
2020.01 - 2021.08
- Managed core administrative functions, including document filing, data entry, and virtual office operations, ensuring efficiency and accuracy.
- Coordinated cross-departmental workflows, streamlining project execution and improving operational efficiency.
- Liaised with buyers, sellers, lenders, and attorneys to facilitate seamless transactions and resolve administrative issues.
Behavioral Interventionist
Intercare Therapy
San Diego, CA
2019.12 - 2021.03
- Delivered one-to-one behavioural therapy for autistic children, tailoring support to individual needs and developmental goals.
- Managed a caseload of clients across home and telehealth settings, conducting regular assessments to monitor progress and adjust intervention plans accordingly.
- Collected, analysed, and interpreted behavioural data to monitor client progress, ensuring adherence to intervention plans and making data-driven adjustments to improve outcomes.
- Trained and guided primary caregivers to ensure continuity of therapeutic strategies.
- Collaborated with multiagency teams to deliver holistic, clinically informed support.
Education
MSc - Global Health and Development
University College London
London 2021.09 - 2022.09
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of California San Diego
San Diego, California 2017.09 - 2019.06
Certification
- Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (In Progress) - CPCAB, completing July 2026
- CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills - CPCAB, February 2026
- Peer Support Coach CPD Certified- Knus, February 2026
- Community Resilience & Trauma-Informed Practice - Thrive LDN, May 2025
- Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning - University of Wolverhampton, January 2025
Volunteer Experience
Befriender, 03/2026 - Current
Chatterbox - London
- Providing weekly one-to-one telephone support to socially isolated individuals, holding a consistent, empathetic space for clients navigating illness, loneliness, and mental health difficulties.
- Applying active listening and reflective communication to build trusted, person-centred relationships in a sensitive and confidential environment.
- Identify safeguarding concerns and signpost appropriately.
Peer Support Coach (in-training), 01/2026 - Current
Knus - London
- Currently completing training to provide confidential emotional support and signposting to individuals experiencing mental health difficulties.
Youth Mentor, 02/2025 - 06/2025
Every Future Foundation - London
- Mentored young people in a one-to-one role, planning and launching racial justice activism campaigns, offering consistent encouragement and emotional support to build confidence and bring their projects to life.
- Fostered leadership and self-belief by creating a supportive space where young people felt empowered to develop their voice and drive meaningful change.
Sponsorship Researcher, 12/2020 - 07/2021
Take Back the Night - San Diego, California
- Conducted research to identify corporate sponsors and managed fundraising initiatives to support organisational programmes.
Camp Counsellor, 06/2018 - 08/2018
Camp Kesem - San Diego, California
- Provided emotional and grief support to children affected by parental cancer.
- Coordinated fundraising initiatives to support operational budgets and programme delivery.
Timeline
Project Support Officer
Sesame Organisation
2024.05 - 2026.04
Outreach Officer
Sesame Organisation
2023.05 - 2024.05
Front of House
Acme
2022.09 - 2023.05
MSc - Global Health and Development
University College London
2021.09 - 2022.09
Title Assistant
Lawyers Title
2020.01 - 2021.08
Behavioral Interventionist
Intercare Therapy
2019.12 - 2021.03
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of California San Diego
2017.09 - 2019.06