Olive Okraku, Ph.D., Registered Psychologist

Dr. Olive Okraku is a registered Psychologist with over 12 years of extensive clinical and research experience. She specializes in clinical and counselling psychology. She currently works for the Department of National Defence, providing psychological assessment and treatment to members of the Canadian Forces. She also works with RCMP members, first responders and veterans in the community.

At CRUX, Dr. Okraku offers online treatment and assessment services through easy-to-use technologies such as Zoom. She works with individuals and couples. Dr. Okraku helps adolescents (12 to 18 years of age) and adults (19 years of age or older) with trauma, PTSD, mood and anxiety disorders, adjustment/transition, chronic illness and health issues, stress/lifestyle-related issues, relationship issues, grief, women’s issues, parenting support, spirituality, refugees, war/combat-related problems and multi-cultural issues.

Dr. Okraku works in collaboration with other psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors, social workers, physicians, nurses and community leaders. She takes a holistic approach that explores the biological, psychological, social and spiritual aspects of individuals. This biopsychosocial(s) model of practice recognizes all these aspects are linked, and we cannot effectively address one without considering the others.

Dr. Okraku is well-trained in evidence-based treatments such as prolonged exposure therapy (PE), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), emotion-focused therapy (EFT) and positive psychology approaches.

Much of Dr. Okraku’s work and experience has involved working with adolescents, adults, couples and families within clinical, health, community, counselling, health and school psychology specialties. Her goal is to continue to practice as a psychologist undertaking clinical work and research.

Dr. Okraku is a licensed psychologist registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists. Psychologists who are fully registered in other Canadian jurisdictions (such as Alberta) can provide online services to residents of other provinces. Dr. Okraku works with clients from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Alberta.