- Gentle goal focus
- Respectful listening
- Practical steps
About Aya
Aya Okumura is a licensed clinical social worker with 20 years of professional experience. She helps people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, grief, and major life changes. Aya brings a calm, respectful approach and aims to make the first step feel manageable for anyone feeling overwhelmed.
She focuses on practical conversation and clear goals. Sessions are shaped around each person's needs, and she adjusts pace and style to fit what is working. Aya emphasizes compassion and sensitivity while helping clients find small, realistic steps forward.
Her background includes long-term clinical work in Hawaii and California. That experience informs her approach to complex issues such as caregiver stress, illness-related concerns, and the emotional impacts of loss. She also supports people facing workplace stress, social anxiety, and panic disorder and panic attacks.
Aya uses a blend of client-centered techniques, motivational interviewing, narrative work, and solution-focused strategies. In practice this means she listens for what matters most, helps people clarify motivation, and looks for skills and stories that can be shifted toward better outcomes.
She works with English and Japanese speakers and accepts international clients. Aya does not provide documentation for disability, Social Security, court matters, or employer legal needs. To begin, people are asked to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule based on the therapist's availability.
How her approaches guide online sessions
Aya draws from client-centered therapy and solution-focused therapy to guide her online work. Client-centered therapy means she listens closely and reflects what matters to each person, helping them name priorities and feel heard. Solution-focused therapy emphasizes small, practical steps and building on what already works, which can be helpful for stress, panic, and day-to-day coping.Finding the right mix of approaches is treated as a collaborative process. Aya will work with each person to identify goals, try strategies, and adjust methods based on what feels most helpful. The focus is on partnership rather than prescribing a single method up front.
Many people find online sessions make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life. Online work can reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins during a hectic week, and make scheduling around work or caregiving more practical. Session format options are not detailed here, so confirm the available formats before booking. Aya aims to help people apply techniques learned in sessions to everyday routines, so therapy can feel more manageable and directly applicable.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
California, Hawaii
Languages
English, Japanese
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Aya help with?
Aya supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, self-esteem issues, panic disorder and panic attacks, and other life changes.
How would you describe her therapy style?
She uses a respectful, client-centered style that focuses on listening, clarifying goals, and taking small practical steps that fit daily life.
What kind of experience does she bring?
Aya has 20 years of professional experience working in clinical settings across Hawaii and California.
What credentials and region are listed?
She holds an LCSW credential and is associated with practice in Hawaii and California.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English and Japanese, and international clients are accepted.
What session formats are available?
Session formats are not specified here; please confirm current session options with the service before scheduling.
How is pricing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Aya?
Choose the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.