Aya Okumura , LCSW

Aya Okumura is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with two decades of professional experience supporting adults through stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and major life transitions. She brings a compassionate, culturally aware approach that respects each person’s background and individual needs, offering therapy in both English and Japanese. Aya tailors conversations and treatment plans to match a person’s goals, preferences, and pace, emphasizing respect, sensitivity, and practical coping skills to build confidence and self-esteem.

Aya has experience addressing concerns related to caregiving, cancer, hospice and end-of-life counseling, HIV/AIDS, isolation and loneliness, workplace difficulties, and other multicultural and life-stage challenges. Her work often focuses on helping people navigate grief and loss, manage panic and mood disorders, and improve interpersonal communication. She supports clients who are processing trauma, facing midlife transitions, or seeking greater self-love and resilience.

Aya holds LCSW credentials and maintains licenses in California and Hawaii. She offers collaborative, client-centered care and helps people take concrete steps toward a more fulfilling life. Please note Aya does not provide official documentation for disability, Social Security, FMLA, parole, courts, or employers.

Client-Centered and Motivational Care Online

Aya draws from client-centered therapy to create a respectful, nonjudgmental space where the person’s priorities guide each session. This approach focuses on active listening and empathy to help individuals explore feelings, strengthen self-esteem, and make decisions that align with their values. Motivational interviewing complements that work by helping people resolve ambivalence and find internal motivation for change - it’s useful for addressing mood shifts, lifestyle adjustments, and steps toward new goals. Narrative therapy offers tools to reframe painful experiences and separate a person from the problems they face, which can be especially helpful for processing grief, trauma, and identity concerns.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Aya works with each person to identify goals, try methods that fit their needs, and adjust the plan over time so therapy stays practical and relevant.

Online sessions by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging make it easier to access consistent support from licensed professionals, offering flexibility for different schedules, time zones, and comfort levels. These options let people continue progress even when life is busy or travel is necessary, while maintaining the therapeutic focus and continuity of care therapists provide.