Olivia Hanley

I'm Olivia Hanley, a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in Ventura, California. I completed my MSW at USC and have spent the last four years doing this work because I believe people deserve real, substantive support — not a one-size-fits-all approach.

I specialize in maternal mental health (postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, and the identity shift that comes with motherhood), anxiety and trauma in teens and adults, and play-based therapy for children and adolescents. I work with clients across California via telehealth and am in-network with Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Cigna, and Carelon Behavioral Health.

I tend to attract clients who are high-functioning but quietly struggling — moms who look like they have it together, teens who internalize everything, and adults who've been "fine" for a long time and are finally ready not to be. I'm direct, curious, and warm. I will challenge you — gently — when it's useful.

I pull from several evidence-based approaches depending on what each client needs. For anxiety, depression, and stress, I lean on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) because it gives people practical tools quickly. For trauma — whether big-T or small-t — I use Trauma-Focused CBT and psychodynamic approaches that explore the roots of patterns, not just the symptoms.

For children and families, I use Play Therapy and Child-Parent Psychotherapy because kids communicate through play and action, not always words. For new and expecting mothers, I bring a perinatal mental health lens — because postpartum struggles are real, common, and very treatable.

What you'll always get from me: honesty, warmth, and a session that feels useful — not just processing for the sake of it.

Expect a real conversation — not an intake form read aloud. I'll ask you what brought you here, what's been going on, and what you're hoping to feel or do differently. We'll talk about what's working, what isn't, and what you actually want from therapy (not what you think you're supposed to want).

By the end of the first session, you'll have a sense of my style and whether it fits. If it does, we'll sketch out a direction together. I see the first session as a two-way interview — you're figuring out if I'm the right fit for you, and I'm learning how to best support you.

There's no homework on day one. Just a good conversation and a clear next step.