Olayinka "Mary" Akeju, LPC
Compassionate narrative-focused counseling
Details
| Name | Olayinka "Mary" Akeju |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LPC |
| Based in | New Jersey |
| Licensed in | New Jersey |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 17 |
About Olayinka
Olayinka "Mary" Akeju is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in New Jersey who uses a narrative-minded approach alongside other therapies to help people untangle difficult moments. She draws on 17 years of experience to help people manage anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress. Mary works with concerns around relationships, parenting, grief, addiction, and identity questions in a straightforward, supportive way.
Mary frames problems as parts of a person’s story rather than fixed traits.
Background and approach
She listens for the patterns that have developed and helps people tell their experience differently. This can make overwhelming feelings feel more manageable and open new options for responding to stress, anger, or emotional numbness. Her work also uses techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to build practical skills.
Those methods are aimed at changing unhelpful thought patterns and increasing actions that align with a person’s values. Attachment-based and client-centered ideas guide how she builds trust and focuses on the person sitting in the room. Sessions tend to be conversational and goal-focused with attention to safety and pacing.
Mary offers tools for emotion regulation, coping with life changes, and rebuilding after relational hurt. She emphasizes collaboration so people know what to expect from each step. People who choose Mary often want a therapist who listens deeply and helps translate insight into doable steps.
She accepts clients internationally and meets online by several formats for flexibility.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse, Parenting issues among the things Olayinka works with, alongside the areas below.
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Depression
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Antisocial personality
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Avoidant personality
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Co-morbidity
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Fertility issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Hoarding
- Immigration issues
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Intellectual disability
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Olayinka among the ways she works.
- Attachment-Based Therapy: Listed by Olayinka among the ways she works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Olayinka among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Olayinka among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Olayinka among the ways she works.
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT): Listed by Olayinka among the ways she works.
- Existential Therapy: Listed by Olayinka among the ways she works.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Listed by Olayinka among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Olayinka among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Olayinka among the ways she works.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Listed by Olayinka among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Olayinka among the ways she works.
- Somatic Therapy: Listed by Olayinka among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Olayinka among the ways she works.
- Internal Family Systems: Listed by Olayinka among the ways she works.
- Systemic Therapy: Listed by Olayinka among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Olayinka directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Olayinka directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
Therapeutic approaches and online care
Mary often blends Narrative Therapy with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people reframe painful stories and take values-driven steps. Narrative work looks at the stories people tell about themselves, while ACT focuses on accepting difficult feelings and committing to actions that matter to the person.She also uses Attachment-Based and Client-Centered ideas to shape the relationship in sessions. Attachment-Based work helps notice how early relationship patterns show up today. Client-Centered therapy keeps the conversation focused on the person’s needs and pace rather than imposing a preset agenda.
Finding the best mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals, values, and current situation. That means setting goals together and checking in about what is or isn’t helping as therapy progresses.
Online therapy with Mary is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video sessions allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions are helpful when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Chat and messaging can suit brief updates, tracking progress, or people who prefer typing. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives and to continue work across changes in schedule or location.
Common questions about this listing
What concerns does Mary help with?
She addresses a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, parenting stress, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, addiction, and self-esteem challenges.
What is Mary’s general therapy style?
Her style is narrative-focused and collaborative. She combines listening with practical exercises from approaches like ACT and CBT to help people change unhelpful patterns.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Mary has 17 years of experience working with people on emotional regulation, life transitions, and trauma-related concerns.
What credentials and region are listed?
She holds the LPC credential as a Licensed Professional Counselor in New Jersey.
Which languages are sessions offered in and can international clients be seen?
Sessions are offered in English, and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
Mary offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
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 Mary?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions based on therapist availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Olayinka are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Olayinka where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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