Dr. Amara Okafor, PhD

Hi there -- I am Dr. Amara Okafor, and I specialize in helping people who feel like their brains are working against them. Whether you have been recently diagnosed with ADHD, struggling with intrusive thoughts from OCD, or simply feeling overwhelmed by anxiety that will not quiet down, I want you to know: there is nothing wrong with you, and you do not have to figure this out alone.

I completed my doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania, where I focused my research on the intersection of neurodiversity, cultural identity, and mental health. As a Nigerian American woman, I bring a deep understanding of how cultural expectations and systemic pressures can compound the challenges of conditions like ADHD and OCD -- especially when those conditions have gone unrecognized or dismissed.

My approach combines thorough psychological testing with evidence-based treatments like CBT and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). I believe that understanding your diagnosis is the first step toward empowerment. Together, we will build strategies that work with your brain, not against it -- strategies that fit your actual life, not some idealized version of it.

Outside of work, I am an avid puzzle enthusiast (yes, the irony of a psychologist who loves solving puzzles is not lost on me), a devoted auntie to five nieces and nephews, and a regular at Portland's Saturday Market. I bring the same warmth and genuineness to therapy that I bring to every part of my life.