Therapists in Oakland, CA

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.

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.

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.

COVID and 2020 shifted many of your values and priorities. Adjustment to this change may be impacting your relationships to your career, your communities and even yourself. I strive to create a judgment free therapeutic partnership that supports alignment of your values and actions.

As someone navigating the world between cultures, ethnicities, and labels, you have been given the gift of insight, adaptability, and attunement. You can see what others don't, and are highly sensitive to what goes unspoken or unacknowledged. The gift of being adaptable in any environment can be a major strength, and it also presents a challenge.  ​When we are highly skilled at anticipating, understanding, and accommodating the feelings and needs of others, it is easy to lose sight of what is most important for our own physical, mental, and emotional well being.

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.

Being neurodivergent can be difficult in this society, whether you are on the spectrum, have ADHD, identify as HSP, or other traits. And feeling unseen, unaccepted, or stagnant can often be overwhelming. If you're grappling with emotional challenges, or find yourself stuck in life, know that you're not alone. Whether you’re wanting to better understand yourself, looking to improve your experiences with others, or wanting help with a new diagnosis, we can navigate these waters together. You've demonstrated resilience and introspection by seeking help, now let's create the path towards healing and transformation—together.

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 am passionate about working with: People of Color; Trans, non-binary, and genderqueer individuals, and their partners and families; Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer folks; Polyamorous and non-monogamous individuals, couples, families and other relationship configurations; Activists and organizers involved in social justice movements and struggles for liberation; and especially, people at the intersections of these categories. Therapy with me may be able to help with: depression and anxiety; grief and loss; PTSD and complex trauma; difficulty forming and maintaining nourishing relationships; and distress related to oppression.

My therapy focuses on stress management and relaxation techniques for Silicon Valley professional women. To address the unique pressures facing females in tech, including but not limited to: work life balance, gender and race issues in the workplace, and professional advancement, I use evidence-based practices, informed by strengths and systemic perspectives, to help decrease stress and worry, and cultivate enhanced energy, joy, and vitality.

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.

Do you feel misunderstood and overwhelmed? Is people pleasing or code switching exhausting? Do you feel disconnected from YOU? Are you searching for a space that is safe to be YOU? Are you hyperaware of your melanin in white spaces? Are you searching for a therapist that understands the minority experience? I recognize the struggles of living while Black. And I champion disrupting White Supremacy and systemic racism. I am a firm believer in order to dismantle racism and White Supremacy we must individually address our trauma, unlearn internalized racism and develop skills to elevate our thinking and regulate our emotions.

Do you feel depleted by constantly having to show up for others? Despite having achieved a lot of success, you still feel like it’s not enough. You are constantly receiving messages about who you “should” be, and you often find yourself second guessing yourself and feeling like there are parts of you you have to hide in order to "fit in" and be respected. You often feel the pressure of attending to the needs of others. You are left feeling misunderstood, unseen, and unappreciated. Your needs often come last, and when you are able to focus on yourself you are left feeling guilty and overwhelmed by the thought of it.

Are there topics you're nervous or scared to discuss with your partner, friends or family due to embarrassment or fear of judgement? Do you continue to tell everyone you're "fine" when internally you may be experiencing a variety of emotions that you're unsure how to manage? Were you raised in a family that did not discuss emotions or perceived them as "weak"? These are very common thoughts that I would love to unpack with you. I understand the difficulty in being vulnerable and discussing your emotions. My purpose is to create a comfortable environment for you to work through these feelings and practice coping skills.

We go through so much in life, and so quickly—but when do we get the chance to make sense of it all? With things moving so fast, how do we find a chance to make changes or different choices? Are you looking for a space to slow down, process your experiences, and find a new way forward? I’m Maha, a second-generation South Asian cisgender woman, and have been fortunate enough to work with folks from all walks of life coping with trauma (including intergenerational and racial trauma), depression, anxiety, interpersonal issues, life transitions, and identity exploration/integration.

You’ve needed changes but for too long, your efforts get complicated by self-sabotage and triggered reactions. When triggered, you prefer to isolate and withdraw so you don’t need to worry more about straining your relationships. You’ve had to be self-reliant for so long that you can’t imagine asking for what you need without feeling selfish or worrying about burdening others. Much of your attention is preoccupied with anticipating harm or preventing social rejection. You know that you’re self-aware and knowledgeable about your struggles. But you don’t know how to implement the steps towards actual deep, lasting healing and change.