Aya Okumura, LCSW

Aya Okumura is a licensed clinical social worker with 20 years of experience supporting people through stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, depression, and life changes. She speaks English and Japanese and practices from Hawaii. Aya frames first contact as a practical step toward feeling more capable and steady. She focuses on topics such as cancer, caregiver stress, hospice and end-of-life counseling, HIV/AIDS concerns, and isolation or loneliness. Workplace issues, social anxiety, panic, post-traumatic stress, and midlife questions are also areas she commonly addresses. Aya adapts conversations to each person's situation rather than using a one-size-fits-all plan. In sessions she uses client-centered methods to listen and reflect what matters to the client. Motivational interviewing helps when someone needs support finding energy or direction. Narrative and solution-focused techniques make it easier to spot small changes that improve daily life. Aya emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and compassion in how she works. She and the client develop a tailored plan with clear goals and simple steps to try between meetings. She does not provide paperwork for disability, Social Security, FMLA, court, parole, or employer needs. Taking that first step can feel risky. Aya aims to keep the process straightforward, practical, and focused on things that help someone feel more confident and stable in everyday life.

Approaches that translate to online care

Aya draws on client-centered therapy to build sessions around what matters most to the person. This approach focuses on listening carefully, reflecting what the person says, and shaping conversations around their priorities. Motivational interviewing is used to help people find and strengthen their own reasons for change, which can be useful when someone feels stuck or unmotivated.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Aya will talk with each client about goals and preferences, and choose methods that match those needs. That collaborative planning helps make sessions feel relevant and practical from the start.

The profile does not list specific session formats here, so confirm the available options before booking. Many people find online work helpful for fitting therapy into a busy day, having shorter check-ins when needed, avoiding travel time, or working when energy is limited. Licensed professionals can adapt client-centered and motivational techniques well to remote sessions, focusing on clear conversation and concrete next steps without promising specific outcomes.