With a graduate degree from Argosy University after eight years of practice as a pediatrician in Russia, Olina provides counseling to a diverse population of clients. Her aims include addressing communication skills, parenting challenges, anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction/recovery, bereavement, and low self esteem. She also has training in EMDR with Laurel Parnell, PhD, intensive ongoing training in CBT /communication skills with Dr. David Burns’s group (TEAM model) and Control Mastery Theory. Olina also works part-time as MFTi for Mental Health Division of Contra Costa Health Services Psychiatric Emergency Services.
Olina worked in residential and outpatient treatment for substance abuse and recovery. She served as a MFT trainee in Kaiser Hospice Martinez bereavement program from 2009 to 2010. She worked with adults and children of patients in their homes. Her style is genuine and compassionate. With warmth and sensitivity, she supports her clients to capitalize on their abilities and strengths, empowering them to lead richer, fuller lives.
She is always looking for new approaches to helping children and families and believes that people have great capacity to heal. She is incorporates in her work a belief in the healing power of the arts. She assists her clients to examine behaviors that aren’t working, and she seeks to impart new skills to help them achieve their goals. She uses a variety of methods and techniques including EMDR, relying on the most effective approach for each individual.
She truly loves her work and feels privileged to act as her clients’ allies in their efforts to change their lives.