Hello! I’m Stephanie-Jane Okpara (said Oh-paw-rah, the k is silent) and I am a licensed clinical psychologist in the Hampton Roads area. My therapeutic stance is client-centered and collaborative. I believe that the client is the expert of their own experience. As your therapist, I join your healing journey and create a safe space for you to explore who you are and who you want to be. All parts of you, especially the ones you have had to hide or suppress, are welcome on this journey.

That being said, I take an integrative therapeutic approach. I use a multicultural framework and skills from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) to create change. So, what may that look like? In our first few sessions, we identify unhelpful coping strategies and thought patterns. We discuss how familial and societal messages have influenced these strategies and patterns and take note of what is no longer working or applicable. Through the therapeutic process, my clients are empowered to set firm boundaries and engage in self-care. I emphasize that self-care is not selfish but is essential when taking care of others. As my clients become more aware of their emotions and needs, they also find their voice and use it to communicate their needs in helpful ways. Lastly, and often most importantly, my clients become less self-critical and more compassionate toward themselves.

Because of my training in a primary care setting, I am also able to provide health behavior intervention for a variety of medical issues such as insomnia and chronic pain. This can be very helpful for clients whose difficulty with sleep and/or chronic pain impacts mood and daily functioning.  My other areas of expertise include women’s mental health, multicultural issues, life transitions, healthy communication, and the management of stress, anxiety, and depression.

A Little More About Me:

I am a first generation Nigerian American born and raised in Maryland. I obtained my Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and my Masters and Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology from Wright State University. I completed my predoctoral internship and informal postdoctoral residency in a medical setting. I enjoy spending my free time drinking coffee, reading (via Audible), listening to podcasts, eating good food, binging shows, and spending time with my loved ones. I LOVE a good meme or GIF. I’m also a big journaler and love deep, thought-provoking conversations. I am passionate about my faith, social justice, and mental health and the intersection of the three.

Podcast Features

AfroJournal: Mental Health within the African Community

The Christian Dialogue: The Traumatic Reroute

Diaspora Daughter: Should I sacrifice my happiness for my family?