Dr. O is a world renowned International Psychologist, Author, Trauma Expert & Consultant
12/06/2025
What if healing could feel like beauty?
Ever notice how a simple reminder—like a neon sign glowing 'You're so beautiful'—can shift your entire mood? Sometimes, the first step in trauma recovery is letting yourself believe you deserve to feel good, right here and now.
Today, pause and name one thing you love about yourself. Say it out loud. If that feels hard, borrow these words: 'I am worthy of love and healing.'
Ready to surround yourself with a community that sees your light? Join us in Duluth or Berkley Lake. Healing is real. Together, we rise. 💖
With love, solidarity, and service,
Dr. O
12/04/2025
Healing is possible. Here’s living proof today.
Every day, I meet women and girls of color who carry invisible scars. Some walk in feeling unseen, unheard, and unsure if healing is possible. But together, we create a space where pain meets compassion, and transformation unfolds.
Recently, a client shared, “Dr. O, I finally see myself as worthy. I never thought I could feel whole again.” That’s what keeps me showing up—with love, solidarity, and service.
If you’re searching for a place where your story matters and your healing is honored, reach out or stop by. Your journey is just as important. 💖
Ready to take the first step? Message me or book your session today.
12/03/2025
What the world taught me about healing.
Every city I visit, from Lagos to London, I meet women and girls whose stories echo resilience and hope. It’s humbling to witness how healing looks in so many cultures—and how our shared struggles connect us beyond borders.
Here in Georgia, I carry those lessons into every session, every group, every conversation. Because healing isn’t just personal. It’s collective, and it’s global.
Curious how a global perspective can transform your journey? Let’s connect at our Duluth or Berkley Lake office. I’d love to welcome you into a space where your story matters.
With love, solidarity, and service,
Dr. O 🌍💛
11/29/2025
Healing isn’t linear. But it’s possible.
Ever wondered what self-love looks like after trauma? Sometimes it’s as simple as showing up for yourself, even on the days when it feels hardest. Small steps matter. Each breath, each boundary, each moment you choose YOU is a victory.
Here are three trauma-informed self-love practices to try today:
🌱 Name one thing you’re proud of—big or small.
🌱 Give yourself permission to rest, without guilt.
🌱 Reach out to someone who “gets it.” Community is medicine.
You are worthy of healing, joy, and belonging. If you’re ready to take the next step or want to talk, my door in Duluth and Berkley Lake is open.
Let’s walk this journey together. DM me or click the link in my bio to book your first session.
With love, Dr. O
11/28/2025
What does healing look like for you?
Sometimes it’s a quiet moment on a swing, head resting, heart open, daring to hope again. Other times, it’s bold colors and bright lipstick—a reminder that you get to show up as your full, vibrant self, no matter what you’ve been through.
I sat with a client this week who said, “Dr. O, I never thought I’d feel safe enough to just BE. But here, I’m learning to trust my story—and myself.”
This is what healing can look like. Not perfect. Not linear. But deeply yours.
Ready for your own healing story? Reach out. Your journey matters, and you don’t have to walk it alone. 💖
With love and solidarity,
Dr. O
11/27/2025
Ready to rewrite your healing story today?
Healing from trauma isn’t about erasing your past. It’s about honoring your journey, embracing your UNIQUENESS, and choosing self-love every single day. You deserve care that sees all of you—your culture, your strength, your softness.
Here are three trauma-healing tips I share with my clients:
💖 Give yourself permission to rest. Your body and mind need space to recover.
🌱 Practice self-affirmations out loud. Say, “I am not less than. I am differently positioned.”
✨ Find community. Healing is easier when we’re not alone. Join a group, reach out, or DM me if you need a safe space.
Your healing matters. Your story matters. If you’re ready for support that honors who you are, book a session or join our next group—link in bio.
With love,
Dr. O
11/25/2025
What does healing look like worldwide?
Every time I step into a new classroom—whether in Atlanta or across the ocean—I’m reminded that our stories connect us. In this moment, surrounded by brilliant women of color, I see courage, hope, and the power of shared healing.
My journey as a Navy veteran, psychologist, and global advocate has taught me that transformation happens when we honor every voice in the room. No matter where I travel, our collective strength shines brightest when we show up for each other.
Curious about how international experiences shape our local healing work? Or want to see how global lessons can empower your own journey?
Let’s talk. Drop a comment or reach out to book a session with me at our Duluth or Berkley Lake office. 🌍✨
With love,
Dr. O
11/22/2025
Healing starts when we hold each other close.
Ever wonder how much power there is in a simple, supportive touch? In our community, every hand held is a promise: you are seen, you are valued, you are not alone.
Today, give yourself permission to pause and say: “I am here for me.” Place your hand over your heart. Breathe in love. Breathe out doubt. It’s a small act, but it’s a radical step toward self-love and healing.
Ready to feel more supported? Come join our next group session or mentorship circle and discover the power of togetherness.
With love,
Dr. O 💖
11/21/2025
Her smile says: healing is possible here.
Ever wonder what it feels like to finally exhale? To step into a space where your story matters, and every part of you is celebrated? This is what we witness every day at Out of the Box.
Real healing is about being seen, heard, and supported by people who understand your journey. For so many women and girls of color, that first swing toward self-love takes courage—and community.
Ready to see what’s possible for you? Book a free consultation or share your story in the comments. 💖
With love,
Dr. O
11/15/2025
7 stories. 7 journeys. One powerful truth.
Every woman who walks through our doors carries a story—sometimes heavy, sometimes hopeful, always unique. I’ve witnessed first-hand how healing happens in the warmth of community, where laughter and tears both have a seat at the table.
What does it look like when women of color find a space that truly sees them? It looks like journals filling with dreams, tea cups clinking in solidarity, and the quiet strength of being surrounded by sisters who get it.
Your healing journey matters. Ready to join a circle where your story is honored and your power is real?
👇 Share your story, or reach out to book your spot in our next group session. Let’s heal—together.
11/14/2025
What if healing started with self-love?
Most of us were never taught how to truly care for ourselves—especially as women and girls of color, navigating a world that often misunderstands our pain. But here’s the truth: your healing journey doesn’t have to be lonely or confusing.
Today, I’m sharing three trauma-informed self-love practices that changed my life (and the lives of so many clients in our Duluth and Berkley Lake spaces):
• Pause & Breathe: Take three slow breaths, letting each exhale remind you that you belong—just as you are.
• Affirm Your Worth: Write down one thing you love about yourself. Say it out loud. Feel the power in your UNIQUENESS.
• Connect in Community: Healing happens together. Find a safe space—whether it’s a group session, a sister circle, or a trusted friend—where your story is honored.
Ready to reclaim your joy? Book a session or join our next group at Out of the Box Counseling. Let’s walk this journey—together.
💖 Drop a heart if you’re choosing self-love today!
11/13/2025
Healing looks different for every woman here.
What if your story could be the start of someone else’s breakthrough? At ToGetHer Empowered, I’ve witnessed incredible journeys—women and girls of color, from all walks of life, gathering in our sunlit circle to reclaim joy, trust, and self-love. Each week, I see courage bloom: a mother finding her voice, a teen learning to breathe through anxiety, a survivor daring to hope again.
Their stories remind us: you are never alone, and healing is possible—especially when you’re seen, heard, and supported by people who truly understand your culture and your pain.
Ready to step into your own healing journey? Reach out today or invite someone you love to join our community. 💖
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Hi, my name is Dr. Bertrina Olivia West Al-Mahdi. But most people call me Dr. O. I am a U. S. Navy veteran, International Psychologist, Coach, Trauma, Diversity & Inclusion consultant, and a Human, Social, Civil Rights Advocate and Activist, and Clinical Director at Out of the Box, Counseling, Coaching, and Consulting. I specialize in the area of trauma recovery and I have dedicated my life and career to helping individuals, families, couples, adolescents, and children overcome emotional, cognitive, social, and behavioral challenges. Some of these challenges may include family or individual crisis, trauma, death, loss, or divorce, depression, anxiety, ADHD, behavioral issues, addiction, eating and body image disorders, personality disorders, sexual dysfunction, self-harm, and su***de, or complex mental health disorders.
I received my Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University in Phoenix, Arizona. I graduated with honors and specialized training in cognitive therapy and trauma-focused therapy. Following my master’s degree, I participated in the Diplomacy Fellows Program with the U. S. Department of State. I completed my doctorate degree in International Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, with a concentration in Trauma.
Over the past 8 years, I have provided mental health services in both private and not for profit sectors; including 1-year at an inpatient substance abuse residential facility, 1-year at an outpatient clinic for substance abuse, 1-year at an outpatient clinic for veterans, and 1-year at a state psychiatric hospital.
As a trauma and Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) consultant, I provide consultation to various private, government, and nonprofit organizations internationally. With over 10 years of experience in the field, I have shared my expertise in trauma and diversity-related issues via educational seminars, workshops, and training. Some of my topics include: Understanding and Coping with Trauma as a Trauma Worker: Vicarious Trauma, Compassion Fatigue, and Burnout; Coping with and Understanding Traumatic Experiences Including: Posttraumatic Stress, Sexual Abuse, Physical/Domestic Abuse, Death and Divorce, Natural Disaster, International Trauma and War and Conflict; as well as conducting diversity workshops, seminars, and presentations on how to address diversity, inclusion, and discrimination issues and resolve D&I related problems in the workplace, cultural competency, raising awareness and understanding of diversity, inclusion, and discrimination, colorism, religion, and effective communication with diverse populations.
I have had the pleasure of working with the Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer in the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration and the Office of Global Women’s Issues, the LemonAide fund, and Operation Bobbi Bear. Her duties included providing aid and sustainable solutions for refugees, women, victims of conflict and stateless people around the world, by ensuring that women’s issues were integrated in the formulation and conduct of U.S. foreign policy, promoting stability, peace, and development by empowering women politically, socially, and economically, and through government-funded resettlement programs in the United States. My areas of expertise include female ge***al mutation, colorism, vicarious traumatization, and diversity-related trauma, sexual abuse, discrimination, diversity and inclusion, issues of acculturation, anxiety, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, loss, addiction, invisible disability-related issues, and conflict resolution.
I believe in taking a holistic approach to therapy, coaching, and consulting. Because not everyone is familiar with therapy, or on the same level of recovery, I believe in stepping Outside of the Box of traditional talk therapy, and doing whatever it takes to meet my clients where they are at their current stage of life. I believe therapy is not just about “fixing the mind” (ie thoughts and behaviors), but it is important to understand how our physical health and personal affairs also play a part in our mental well being. Thus, I incorporate an equal balance of wellness and harmony in your mind, body, and personal affairs. Some may call my approach to counseling, coaching and consulting unorthodox, as I step away from traditional approaches and ways of thinking. However, I believe in truly partnering with each individual client to meet their unique needs and accomplish goals.
I am passionate about supporting individuals, couples, families, children, adolescents, organizations, and communities throughout all of life’s transitions and challenges; as well as advocate for equality across nations. My compassionate demeanor is, undoubtedly, impacted by my own multicultural background, traumatic experiences and exposures. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband, playing with my two children, traveling, writing poetry, and working out.
I offer virtual, in-home, and in-office appoints. Again, I believe in meeting my clients where they are both figuratively and literally! To schedule an appointment with me or to book me as a guest speaker please contact me at olivia@outoftheboxccc.org.
