Therapists in Oakland, CA

Do feelings of overwhelm, stress or unworthiness have you at an impasse? Struggling with the impacts of trauma, abuse or grief? Working through issues around racial identity, sexual orientation, or internalized oppression? Dealing with depression or anxiety? Do you have difficulty establishing healthy boundaries and making yourself the main character of your life? I am here to support you with holding the range of human emotions and experiences with greater ease, and unpacking patterns and behaviors that no longer serve you. Together, we will create a path forward that enhances your sense of agency, peace and fulfillment.

Hello and congratulations on taking the first step towards healing. My name is Olivia McArthur and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California. As a Black/Multiracial Woman, I am passionate about working with BIPOC individuals. I believe it is important to have a therapist that can relate to your lived experience. My style is playful, reflective, empathetic and humble. I work with youth, adults and parents to address concerns including, but not limited to: stress, relational issues, life transitions, managing emotions, racial trauma and racial identity development.

When you've decided to get help, seeking a psychologist you feel comfortable with is as important as their skill and training. If I'm so honored to have you as my client, you'll find I utilize an integrated approach; a mix of gentle yet direct communication, mindfulness, cultural dynamics including family systems, psychoeducation, skill building using cognitive behavioral techniques, and of course explorative questions that help to uncover the emotional obstacles to your healing and progression in life.

I am motivated to work with adults experiencing anxiety, stress, depression, grief; feelings of being overwhelmed, sadness, frustration and loneliness. I work with clients who just feel stuck. I meet my clients where they are to collaborate on their wellness needs to meet their goals. I believe that we all have the capacity to become the best versions of ourselves within our families, relationships and community.

I have a strong passion for helping individuals feel empowered and strive to live their best lives by finding meaning and purpose within themselves. Let’s face it, life can be difficult, but those difficult experiences do not have to define you as a person. By creating a safe and healing space my goal is to tap into your own personal power and natural strengths to focus on what is most important to you and your wellness.

Life can be challenging – we all know that – but the difficulty of these challenges and the way we adapt to them, looks different for everyone. Compassion and kindness while working through these challenges is critical to your success in being able to overcome current challenges and build upon your strengths and skills to prepare for the next. My goal as a therapist is to collaborate with you on your goals in a judgement-free environment where you can feel seen and heard, and truly be your authentic self. Together, we create the tools and techniques needed to improve your mental health and wellbeing.

My ideal client is someone who is ready to commit to their journey of change. Having an awareness of what they desire to focus on and what it means to them to grow in that area is imperative to making consistent strides in our work together.

My ideal client is anyone—individuals, couples, or families—yearning for a compassionate and culturally attuned therapeutic journey. They face life's challenges with resilience, eager to embrace the vibrancy of feeling "alive." Seeking a therapist who comprehends the impact of social inequities on wellness and life quality, they aligns with my values. Together, we navigate towards the restoration of a beloved community, unlocking the fullness of their lives beyond the burdens. My commitment lies in fostering a therapeutic space where they feel profoundly "seen" and empowered to pursue the desires of their hearts.

My work with every client and family is personalized, trauma-informed, rooted in strengths, collaborative, neurodiversity-affirming, and culturally tailored to your needs and experiences. I believe that each client possesses the intergenerational heirlooms of innate resilience, spirituality, and introspection that serve as tools to assist in your healing journey. You are the expert of your experience and I am here to offer hope and support you as you share your narrative and author a new chapter of healing, continuing to grow into your best self, discovering balance, serenity, joy, and connecting with yourself and surroundings.

I enjoy working with people who want support as they engage in self-exploration and attempt to make sense of the complexity and intersections of their identities, including race and ethnicity, spirituality, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. I also believe that it is important for the people I work with to approach therapy as more than a culmination of sessions, but as part of a lifestyle and commitment to take time and space to prioritize one’s health. Additionally, I understand the power of self-study and that my role as a psychologist is to provide guidance and reminders as people connect with themselves and others.

I am offering in person and telehealth appointments for individuals and couples. My practice focuses on the experiences of people of color, adult children of immigrants, young adults ages 18-25 and people working in social justice, helping and healing professions (including healthcare workers, teachers, social workers and therapists). I support individuals and couples who are seeking relief from symptoms of anxiety, depression, race based stress, trauma, generational trauma, grief, burnout and vicarious trauma.

Are you constantly telling others you’re “fine” when that is the furthest thing from the truth? Do you feel your family, personal and work relationships could be better? Are you constantly telling yourself that you need to get your “ish” together? Whether you want to get support around new changes in your life or to work through problems that have been with you for years, let me support you in your steps towards wellness. I will assist you to uncover some of the assumptions and biases you hold about yourself, and help you break unhealthy cycles you may find yourself stuck in, while discovering and building upon your strengths.

What you went through and your experiences are complex and multidimensional. As a therapist, I always hold my client's experiences with compassion and empathy. Healing is the aim, and it is my commitment to provide the highest quality of attention and care to each individual and couple I work with. I am also consistently expanding my therapy skills to provide the most relevant tools to support my clients. From a theoretical perspective, I primarily utilize a combination of cognitive, relational, and psychodynamic approaches. I am depth-oriented and am always seeking to explore the deeper layers of any experience.

Starting therapy can be an important life decision. Whether you are hoping to focus on specific concerns, or exploring broader, longer standing challenges, therapy can be useful in understanding how aspects of one‘s temperament and relational tendencies interfere with living life authentically, and with reaching one’s full potential. By addressing issues in real-time, while also considering the impact of situational factors and past experiences, therapy can help to identify areas of one’s life to examine and evolve. Importantly, effective therapy often promotes resiliency, self-awareness and personal growth.

Healing looks different for all of us. As we navigate different seasons, relationships, and themes in life, it can be helpful to have a space that is yours. You are the expert of your experience, and I believe in healing practices that emphasize collaboration and connection. I show up with a relational approach, ready to meet you where you are and how you want to support growth and exploration. I value social justice, supporting a good fit between therapist and client, and flexibility. My practice integrates the honoring of your cultural values, intersecting identities and meaningful relationships that inform who we are.

Hello, and welcome. You may have arrived here because you've done everything the "right way" but that hasn't led to happiness. You wonder, what do people mean when they say "go with the flow"? Or, you can't shake that feeling you've somehow missed important life milestones, and you need a little clarity. I offer warm, empathic engagement in a safe space, where we can assess your needs, comfort level and tolerance to create a plan unique to you.

Is stress, anxiety, depression, or chronic illness, affecting your life? Does imposter syndrome reduce enjoyment of your achievements. I can help. I specialize in stress management, depression, health anxiety, pain management, panic, smoking cessation, and support for those living with chronic illness (e.g., cancer). I am trained in techniques for those experiencing imposter syndrome. I utilize short-term cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), relaxation /meditation, mindfulness, and cognitive restructuring techniques to get you back to living your life. Phone / video sessions only for CALIFORNIA residents and FLORIDA residents.

Feeling like others don't “get” you can be lonely. You may feel like you aren't being seen, heard, or understood the way you would like. Perhaps you struggle with truly living your truth versus simply stating it. What if you could feel more comfortable expressing your authentic self and live a meaningful life? It is possible to feel more confident, assured, and ready to become the person you want to be. Let me show you how.

I first and foremost adapt my style of therapy to meet your needs. We work together to identify what best supports you toward your goals or areas of focus in therapy. Some clients progress through insight and understanding about an issue while others progress through tangible present-moment skills and tools, all of which I can provide support you with. I also feel that Identity (race, gender, sexual orientation, etc) plays an important role about how we experience the world and how the world views us and I incorporate this into therapy. I see therapy as an equal and collaborative effort between us.