Aya Okumura, LCSW

Licensed in California · 20 years in practice

Aya Okumura is a licensed clinical social worker with two decades of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, and depression.

License and registration

LCSW, California: 20347 · expires March 2027
LCSW, Hawaii: LCSW-4210 · expires June 2028
NPI: 1356405781 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 20
Languages: English, Japanese

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check any license with the state board and any NPI with the national registry.

About Aya

Aya Okumura is a licensed clinical social worker with two decades of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, and depression. She speaks English and Japanese and works with clients living in Hawaii and beyond. Aya focuses on practical, steady support when life feels overwhelming or when big changes arrive.

She keeps sessions simple and direct. Conversations are guided by what the client needs in the moment. Aya tailors each plan to the person, using gentle questions and goal-focused steps rather than one-size-fits-all techniques.

Background and approach

Her background includes long-term clinical work across a range of challenges, including caregiver stress, end-of-life and hospice concerns, cancer-related strain, and workplace issues. That experience shapes a calm, problem-solving approach that respects cultural differences and varied life situations.

Aya draws on client-centered listening to understand priorities, uses motivational interviewing to build momentum, and applies narrative and solution-focused ideas to reframe problems and set small, achievable goals. Sessions often balance emotional processing with concrete actions clients can try between meetings.

She makes clear what she does not provide: formal paperwork or reports for disability, Social Security, FMLA, courts, parole officers, or employers. Aya invites clients to take the first step toward change and offers steady support as they move forward.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Aya lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Approaches Aya names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.

Online support

Approaches that guide online sessions

Aya uses client-centered therapy to focus sessions around each person’s priorities, listening first and letting the client lead the pace and topics. This approach helps when someone needs a safe space to sort feelings and decide what matters most.

She also uses motivational interviewing to help people find their own reasons to change. That method is useful for building momentum on goals like improving mood, reducing anxiety, or making lifestyle changes. Narrative therapy and solution-focused techniques are woven in as well to help reframe difficult experiences and set small, achievable steps forward.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Aya will talk with clients about their goals and try methods that match those aims. Decisions about techniques are collaborative and may shift as progress is made.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy flexible. Video allows for face-to-face conversation, phone can be a good fit when bandwidth is limited, and chat or messaging work well for shorter check-ins or when writing out thoughts helps. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy days and different time zones.

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Questions people ask

What concerns does Aya help with?

Aya supports people facing stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, depression, and coping with life changes. She also works with issues such as caregiver stress, cancer-related strain, workplace problems, and social anxiety.

How would you describe her therapy style?

Her style is practical and person-focused. She listens closely, tailors conversations to each person, and balances emotional work with clear, doable steps.

What kind of professional experience does she have?

Aya has 20 years of professional experience in clinical settings. That includes work with grief, hospice and end-of-life counseling, multicultural concerns, and mood disorders.

What are her credentials and where is she based?

She holds the Licensed Clinical Social Worker credential, listed as HI LCSW and CA LCSW, and practices from Hawaii.

Can sessions be done in other languages or from other countries?

Sessions are offered in English and Japanese. International clients are accepted.

Which session formats are available?

Therapy is available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.

How is cost handled for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling according to therapist availability.

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