Multicultural Therapists in Laurelhurst, Portland, OR

Olivia utilizes a holistic, client-centered approach marked by presence and curiosity, honoring people's lived experiences. Trauma sensitivity, socioeconomic awareness, and cultural intersectionality inform her practice. Olivia is committed to fostering a non-judgmental therapeutic environment while exploring the facets of clients' lives that clients wish to navigate. Employing an array of integrated tools and leveraging client strengths, Olivia works collaboratively with individuals, couples, and families, illuminating pathways for personal and systemic growth.

I want to work in a collaborative manner to help you heal your pain and achieve your goals in order to live your best life. I use a trauma informed version of Narrative Therapy and Crisis Intervention from a Strengths Perspective to help you work through your pain and achieve your goals.

***Currently available for in-person and Teletherapy appointments*** I am passionate about people leading empowered, connected, and purposeful lives. I provide counseling services to diverse clients as they learn, change, grow, and function in increasingly inspired, creative, healthy, and adaptive ways. I work collaboratively with clients in identifying needs, making changes, and practicing new skills in a safe and supportive setting. I am experienced in working with adults, couples, families, as well as adolescent clients, on issues including depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, anger, identity, and unwanted thoughts or emotions.

Currently no couples work, no crisis work. Individual telehealth therapy only. Finding the right therapist is a key part in having a positive and effective therapeutic experience. Whether you are beginning your therapeutic journey or continuing on, the growth toward self-discovery and healing is truly a commendable one. I am here to provide guidance toward gaining insight, authenticity to self, confidence, and an opportunity to break patterns. I specialize in: family of origin concerns, creating meaning in difficult hardships, accessing your strengths, rewriting narratives causing distress, and empowering you to be your best self.

Having the courage to make changes in our lives can be a stressful time. I am here to support you. I believe finding the right therapist is a key part of having a successful and positive therapeutic experience. If you’re looking for strategies to deal with anxiety, depression, stress, or feeling lost or stuck, I am here to provide guidance and space in re-discovering your inner strength and promote healing.

Are you experiencing a tough transition in your life? I help those going through life transitions to manage and reduce their anxiety, depression, and panic. Learning how to manage life's stress can help you feel like yourself again. I employ a variety of techniques based on what you may be going through, and help you get back to your best level of functioning. There's no need to go through this time alone, feel free to reach out for help.

If you are looking for an experienced, warm and inviting therapist to support you, I welcome people of all backgrounds with all sorts of issues. In the early years of my 26-year career as an LCSW, I founded, developed, and operated a camp for grieving children. I've also worked extensively with terminal illness and end of life issues and everything in between. I also have expertise with and welcome the LBGTQ+ community, parenting, family issues, and am ready to support you with an open, non-judgmental space for healing.

Have you been scrolling through psychology today, trying to find a good fit? If you want a safe space to discuss trauma, grief & loss, major life transitions or would like help managing your anxiety/depression, I am here to help. Most people have experienced some form of trauma in their lives. It may have been an extremely stressful event. Or, it could be the cumulative experience of long term neglect, abuse or violence. Being in this survival mode may come with persistent feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, feeling trapped, disconnected & detached. Current patterns are a result of strategies to survive & no longer serve us

I specialize in issues important to teenagers and young adults/families, including issues related to family dynamics, depression, anxiety, bipolar/schizophrenia, substance abuse concerns, transracial adoptions, grief, LGBTQ dynamics, racial identity, gender transitioning process, and abandonment trauma. My relational approach to therapy can help you gain awareness of your road blocks and provide you with the tools (skills/coping strategies) you have for your own growth.

Are you seeking a POC clinician, someone with lived experience as a first-generational immigrant, or as an international student? Do you need support with family issues or a partner, cultural support, or support for mental health in a culture where stigma exists? I can help you with depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, trauma, issues related to cultural adaptation, relationship issues, boundary setting, procrastination, life transitions and self worth. I also speak fluent Cantonese and Mandarin. Its never easy to walk alone in distress, feeling lost and helpless. Together, lets create a safe space for you to heal.

Olivia采用了一种以客案为中心(Client-Center) 的整体方法，与个案想处且对个案经历的好奇心为 轴心，她尊重个人的生活体验，对创伤的敏感度，成长背景的 社经地位与文化影响，是她主要的 治疗方向。 她致力于探索个案期许能在生命中寻找的各个方向，并且提供客观而非批判性的治疗 环境。 她采用了所有系列的工具和阐明客户优点，她能与所有个人，夫妇或家庭成员合作，能充 分协助个人和团体系统性的成长道路!

As a therapist, I believe my first job is to witness. I aim to support a space that is safe enough for you to tell your own story, heal, and step further into your own power. I welcome open discussion of your identities, cultures, relationships, and experiences, including your experience of therapy itself, as it is happening. We’ll work to name how your experiences with structural oppression may have shaped your beliefs about yourself and how you cope. We’ll identify your strengths, and when it’s helpful, we’ll try out tools to support changes you may want to make.

Relationships are the fundamental building blocks of human experience. We are shaped by and devote many resources to them, and they can be sources of inspiration, support, and consistent love. They can also be harmful and even dangerous, especially when an individual's relationship templates have began as dysfunctional in their families of origin. Many of my clients have been or currently are in relationships with narcissistic/disordered partners, family members, or bosses, or were/are members of high-control groups. Healing is possible after these relationships, and there is hope for choosing healthier people to love.

My focus includes gender and gender transition, sexuality, racial identity, trauma, and personal growth. I welcome people of all identities. I have trained in supporting people through gender affirming surgeries including letter of support. We will create a safer container for you to explore what hurts and what helps. I find it useful to consider how social, racial, gender, and economic injustice intersects with your experience. This work can be hard and sometimes we uncover painful spots. I incorporate mindfulness and grounding work to promote a safer experience.

I have found that I work best with people wanting to honor their positive assets while making changes that will support new goals. Those feeling stuck, ready to dive deep, willing to do work outside of our sessions to create change in their lives. While my approach is gentle and respectful, I am ready to help you face your concerns frankly and honestly. I consider our therapeutic relationship to be the most important factor in our work together.

I trust the healing and growth potential of the therapeutic process and therapist-client relationship. My approach to counseling is relationship-focused, client-centered, and holistic. I am skilled at listening, asking effective questions, and inviting clients to examine their presenting concerns or struggles in a safe and supportive way. I specialize in relationship issues, depression, anxiety, trauma, parenting, the psyche of current and former athletes as well as themes of race and cultural identity.

Why does this keep happening? Why can't I let this go? Why do I find myself in the same relationship over and over? Most of our personal challenges in life come from events in our early childhood or are passed down from trauma in our families. Theses things are challenging to heal or transform when we either don’t remember what they are or never knew to begin with. Even with events we do remember it can be hard to get to a place of transformation. That is why I work with modalities that get deep into the the unconscious so that change can take place on that deep level that is very challenging to get to with thinking and talking.

Unhappy at work, have unsatisfying relationships, feel burned out or stressed out? Maybe you're feeling stuck, somewhat anxious or depressed--know there's a better way? Dealing with serious health issues? Don't know how you're going to get through life's new twist? Often, our problems are the little "initiators," our opportunities for creating change. Usually, that first email or call, deciding to begin, means you're halfway there. You've prepared. Now's the time for a skilled, supportive hand to walk with you. I've had 25+ years experience helping folks calmly, with insight, to find their own best solutions.

I am not accepting new clients and do not keep a waitlist. I specialize in working with adults and teens as they navigate life transitions and stressors. My approach is warm, client centered, strengths based, and relational, with the intent to walk alongside a person during transition and change processes. My work facilitates a deepening understanding of self to support people in accepting who they are and knowing that they matter.