New to Grow
I’m Chisara Okehi, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 15 years of experience supporting women and children through anxiety, depression, trauma, and life stress. My work is grounded in trauma informed, evidence based care that prioritizes emotional safety and trust. I provide a compassionate, supportive space where clients can build coping skills, strengthen resilience, and create meaningful, lasting change in their lives.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
During our first session, you can expect a supportive and nonjudgmental space where you or your child can begin to share what has been weighing on you. We will talk about what brought you to therapy, your current concerns, and what you hope to gain from the process. I’ll ask thoughtful questions to better understand your history, strengths, and goals, but there is no pressure to share everything at once. The first session is about building comfort and clarity. Together, we will begin identifying next steps and creating a plan that feels aligned with your needs. My goal is for you to leave feeling heard, supported, and hopeful about the path forward.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
One of my greatest strengths is my ability to create emotional safety quickly while still providing structured, evidence based care. Clients often share that they feel deeply heard and understood in our work together. I combine trauma informed therapy with practical tools from ACT, CBT, and attachment based approaches to help clients move beyond insight into meaningful action. My approach balances compassion with accountability, supporting women and children in building resilience, emotional regulation, and lasting change rather than temporary coping.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
My ideal clients are women and children struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, or emotional overwhelm. Many appear strong on the outside but feel exhausted or stuck internally. They are ready to better understand their emotions, build healthier coping skills, strengthen self worth, and create lasting change in their lives.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients develop psychological flexibility and build a healthier relationship with their thoughts and emotions. Rather than trying to eliminate difficult feelings, ACT teaches clients how to accept internal experiences without being controlled by them. In my practice, I use ACT to help women and children struggling with anxiety, depression, and trauma related stress learn how to step back from unhelpful thought patterns, regulate emotions, and make choices aligned with their values. We focus on mindfulness skills, identifying core values, and taking small, meaningful actions even when discomfort is present. ACT is especially effective for clients who feel stuck in cycles of worry, avoidance, or self criticism. It empowers them to move forward with intention, resilience, and greater emotional clarity.
Attachment-based
I use an attachment based approach to help clients understand how early relationships and life experiences shape their current emotional patterns, self worth, and relationship dynamics. Many women and children I work with struggle with anxiety, depression, trauma, or fear of abandonment rooted in attachment wounds. In my practice, I help clients identify their attachment patterns, build emotional safety, and develop healthier ways of relating to themselves and others. Therapy becomes a secure, consistent space where trust, regulation, and self compassion can grow. For children, I work closely with caregivers to strengthen secure attachment and emotional connection. This approach supports long term healing by addressing the root of relational and emotional distress, not just the symptoms.
Child Parent Psychotherapy
I use principles of Child Parent Psychotherapy to support young children and their caregivers in strengthening attachment and healing from trauma or stressful experiences. This approach focuses on the parent child relationship as the primary vehicle for emotional growth and recovery. In my practice, I help caregivers understand how trauma, anxiety, or life stress may be impacting their child’s behavior and emotional regulation. Through guided interactions, play based strategies, and reflective conversations, we work to build emotional safety, strengthen connection, and improve communication. CPP is especially helpful for children experiencing anxiety, behavioral changes, or trauma related stress. By supporting both the child and caregiver together, we create a more secure attachment foundation and promote long term emotional resilience.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. CBT is highly effective for anxiety, depression, and trauma related stress because it teaches practical skills for identifying and challenging unhelpful thinking patterns. In my practice, I help women and children recognize automatic negative thoughts, reduce catastrophizing and self criticism, and develop healthier coping strategies. We work on building emotional regulation skills, problem solving tools, and behavioral changes that support stability and confidence. CBT is structured and goal oriented, helping clients experience measurable progress while gaining tools they can use long after therapy ends.
Cognitive Processing (CPT)
I use Cognitive Processing Therapy principles to help clients heal from trauma and PTSD. This approach focuses on identifying and challenging unhelpful beliefs that often develop after traumatic experiences, such as self blame, shame, or feelings of danger and mistrust. In my practice, I guide women and adolescents in examining how trauma has shaped their thoughts about themselves, others, and the world. Together, we work to process painful experiences safely, restructure distorted beliefs, and develop more balanced, empowering perspectives. Cognitive processing work helps reduce trauma related symptoms, improve emotional regulation, and restore a sense of safety and control. Clients often experience decreased guilt and fear, increased clarity, and greater confidence as they move forward in their healing.