LICENSED THERAPIST IN BOSTON, MA

CHIOMA OPARA, MA (she/her)

ASSOCIATE, PSYCHOTHERAPIST

My name is Chioma (pronounced Chuh-ma), and I am a Mental Health Counselor passionate about supporting individuals as they navigate a wide range of mental health concerns, with a particular focus on trauma and its impact across the lifespan.

I earned my Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Boston College, where my clinical training emphasized integrated behavioral health. This experience deepened my appreciation for the connection between emotional and physiological well-being and shaped my commitment to making mental health care accessible, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive. I have worked collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams in medical settings, providing time-conscious and holistic care to diverse populations.

During my graduate studies, I served as an Integrated Behavioral Health clinician in Boston Medical Center’s general internal medicine department. There, I provided clinical care to adults of all ages, many of whom were navigating PTSD and complex trauma histories. I also completed an internship at Summer Stars, a non-profit summer camp, where I partnered with psychologists and educators to promote social-emotional learning and healthy peer interactions in children aged 7-8 with ADHD and other emotional or behavioral challenges.

I received my B.A. in Psychology with a concentration in Health Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. My undergraduate years were shaped by hands-on experiences: volunteering at a sexual violence organization, working as a case manager at a detox facility, and conducting research in collaboration with Lowell Hospital and university faculty. These roles solidified my interest in anxiety and trauma-related presentations and fostered a lifelong curiosity about the ways we heal and grow.

As a therapist, I draw from feminist, psychodynamic, and cognitive behavioral approaches, tailoring my work to each individual’s needs. I value meaningful, collaborative therapeutic relationships and believe in exploring how our past informs the present while empowering clients to enact positive, sustainable change. I am dedicated to ongoing learning and regularly pursue continuing education to expand my clinical knowledge and skills.

I currently work with adolescents, adults, couples, and families experiencing anxiety, depression, specific phobias, PTSD, complex trauma, and challenges with emotional regulation and relationships. My approach is curious, nonjudgmental, and grounded in the belief that every person holds the capacity for resilience and growth.

Outside of my clinical work, I enjoy exercising, discovering new recipes, keeping up with movies and TV shows, and experimenting (mostly unsuccessfully) with baking.