Our
Story
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At Olea Counseling and Consulting, we understand that mental and emotional health is just as important as physical health. The name Olea is inspired by our founder's Palestinian heritage, and it's love for olive trees. Olive trees symbolize resilience, peace, adaptability, interconnectedness, growth, and renewal- all of which individuals, families, and organizations strive for and deserve. Our vision at Olea is to draw parallels between the enduring strength and adaptability of olive trees and the journey towards personal and organizational growth. The deep interconnecting roots of olive trees highlight the importance of collaboration and interconnected efforts in therapy and organizational change.
Alia Elasmar, MS, LMFT, PPSC, CWA
My approach is grounded in empathy, empowerment, and collaboration.I believe therapy is a collaborative process that requires a combination of humor, directness, compassion and persistence. I'm committed to your commitment. It's an honor for me to guide you on this journey, so I’m going to make sure you get the most out of our time together. The work that I do allows me to champion your smallest and biggest moments of change and I will always be transparent with you. Change is not easy, so therapy will be comfortably uncomfortable. My goal is for you to build resilience, improve your relationships, and achieve your full potential. I strive to provide a safe and supportive space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings, gain insight and self-awareness, and learn new skills to cope with life's challenges.
“I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.” – Carl Jung
I have a particular interest in helping individuals work through trauma and couples/families navigate relational issues. I also help individuals struggling with acculturation issues, overcoming depression, anxiety, intimacy issues, parenthood challenges, and other emotional concerns.
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In my practice, I utilize an integrative approach to give individuals the most customized and culturally appropriate services. I am also trained in EMDR, an effective modality to help connect neurology and emotional processing to decrease triggers and distress around traumatic memories/ experiences.
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As a woman of color, I’m acutely aware of the added pressures placed on People of Color. Since systems were not built to support us, independence and self-reliance come naturally. However, therapy does not need to be that way. Additionally, I am an ally for individuals from various cultural & social backgrounds as well as different expressions of gender and sexuality.
EDUCATION, CREDENTIALS, & CERTIFICATIONS:
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University of Southern California| Doctoral Student for Organizational Change & Leadership
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California State University, Los Angeles | M.S. in Counseling Option MFT, PPS & CWA
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California State University, Long Beach | B.A. in Psychology
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Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in California #120786
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Associate Professional Clinical Counselor #4870
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Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling, CTC
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Child Welfare and Attendance Authorization, CTC
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EMDR Advanced Training
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Advanced Supervisor in Mental Health
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Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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Crisis Response
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Domestic Violence Training State of California
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Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
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California Association for Marriage & Family Therapists
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California Counseling Association
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Board Member, Amal Mental Health Center
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Southern California Muslim Therapists
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Inclusive Therapists
