Hello and Welcome to my Page! 
I’m Olina Rule, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist,
Bilingual in English+Russian.
I provide counseling to couples and individuals in private practice settings.
I specialize in helping people to understand themselves better,
helping them to discover their full potential,
so that they can have more enjoyable lives and fulfilling relationships.
I seek to accelerate personal growth for all clients with different cultural backgrounds.
Areas of experience:
- Couples/Relationships
- Cross-Cultural Relationships
- Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, Self-Esteem
- Navigating difficult life transitions, Immigration
- Divorce Mediation
- Parenting agreements
- Gambling addiction
- Coaching
- Presentations to corporations and non-profit organizations
I personally see therapy is an investment in yourself, intended to alleviate the inner struggles that keep you feeling stuck.
I hold a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from the Argosy University. In addition, I have MD with 13 years practicing experience as a pediatrician in the former Soviet Union.
I have navigated many life transitions myself and overcome many losses in my life, including immigration, career changes, and other challenging situation.
My practice is informed by advanced training in The Couples Therapy Institute, Goffman Couples therapy training, Divorce Mediation training, CBT, EMDR training, Gambling Treatment training and many others. I am always in search of mindfulness, personal growth, self-compassion, confidence, and neuroscience.
I am deeply interested in different cultures, and identity issues for immigrants, and I cultivate a supportive atmosphere that welcomes and normalizes diversity of all kinds.
My office is conveniently located at
828 San Pablo Avenue in Albany, California
Call to schedule an appointment:
415-869-8620
I look forward to speaking with you.
or e-mail to schedule your appointment:
admin@olinamft.com
Professional Memberships :
American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy (AAMFT)
California Association of Marriage & Family Therapy (CAMFT)
East Bay Association of CAMFT
California Marriage and Family Therapist License LMFT #91066
MA, Counseling Psychology
Professional Training:
The Milton H.Erickson Foundation, INC: Couples Conference– 2018 May 3-6,05 2018 05/06/2018:
Law and Ethics: Really Hard Work Part
Stan Tatkin : Sex!
Helen Fisher : Addicted to Love
Ellyn Bader: Strong Leadership in Couples Therapy
Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt : The Space Between: Where Love HappensTerry Real : Working With Difficult Men
Peter Pearson : Untangling Passive Aggressive Dynamics in Marriage
Esther Perel : The State of Affairs: A New Clinical Approach to Infidelity
Keynote Workshop with Esther Perel and Terry Real: The Difference That Makes the Difference.
Ellyn Bader and Sue Diamond Potts: The Developmental Model of Couples Therapy.
Life Mastery Institute, The Premier Training Center For transformational Coaching – Certified DreamBuilder Coach – March – September 2015
Attachment-Focused EMDR: Healing Developmental Deficits and Adults Abused as Childres with Laurel Parnell, Ph.D –February 23-24, 2018
The Developmental Model Advanced Training in Couples Therapy- Level 2 with The Couples Therapy institute, Ellyn Bader, Ph.D. and Peter Pearson, Ph.D- Sept 2017-current
Treating Anxiety & OCD Quickly and Effectively with Dan Kalb, PhD. December 2, 2017
Certified Trauma Support Specialist Training with J.Eric Gentry, D.A.A.E.T.S.,LMHC, Arizona Trauma Institute-Nov. 20-21, 2017
Certified Problem Gambling Treatment Provider Training, Phase I and II – Aug.12-15- 2016 and Sept.20-2017- with CA Department of Public Health, Office of Problem Gambling, multiple presenters.
The Developmental Model of Couples Therapy-Level 1 with The couples Therapy institute, Ellyn Bader, Ph.D. and Peter Pearson, Ph.D- Sept 2016-Sept 2017 (one year)
Bringing The Couple Chasm , Assessment and Intervention and Co-Morbilities- The Gottman Institute. Level 1&2.by Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Gottman. July26-27, 2013
How to Get Couples Unstuck: A workshop Informed by Systems Theory and Emotionally Focused Therapy with Lucy Fine, LMFT. February 2, 2013.
Finding the ‘fit’ and Doing the ‘Do-Loop’: An Introduction to Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) with Kristina Orlova and Easa Camorongan , Seneca Center. August 24, 2012.
Fundamentals of Family Law with Nancy Foster, JD and Sarah Killingworth, JD. Northern California Mediation Center.May 3-4, 2012.
Mindfulness with Children & Families with Gary Buck, PhD & Lesley Grant, MFT. March, 2012. Essential of Mediation & Divorce Mediation. 40 hours Certification Program with Nancy J.Foster, J.D. and Jessica Notini, J.D.. Northern California Mediation Center. March, 2012.
Accelerated NLP Practitioner Certification program 80 hours. Kona University with Matthew James, Ph.D. February 2012
. Post-Graduate Course in Control Mastery Theory, Part 1-2 with Steve Foreman, John Gibbins, Ph.D., Irwin Gootnik, M.D., Peter Schumacher, M.D. The San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Group, Clinic and Training Center. September, 2011–February, 2012
Advanced Applications In Cognitive Therapy. A four day Intensive training. Institute for the Advancement of Human Behavior (Stanford) with David Burns, M.D.–August, 2010
Habit Control Certification. The Life Transformation Company –January, 2011.
EMDR Training with Laurel Parnell, PhD. February/March 2011.
Attachment – Focused EMDR healing Relational Trauma with Laurel Parnell, PhD. January, 2011. The Social and Life Skills MeNU. A Skills Building workshop for Adolescent with Autism Spectrum Disorder with Karra M. Barber. October, 2010.
Helping Clients “Wired Differently”: A Comprehensive Systemic Approach with MärRem Remington, LMFT. July 26, 2010.
Wraparound Training Series–28 BBS- Seneca Center- Multiple Presenters. June, 2010.
The Psychological Residuals of Slavery for Black and White America: Implications for Our Clinical Work with Theopia Jackson, Ph.D. & Susan Wilkens, Ph.D. June, 2010.
Late Life Depression: A Treatable Illness. Presenter: Janet Meiselman, PsyD, Clinical Psychologist. June3, 2010.
Attachment Based Family Therapy Models for Working with Adolescents and Their Families with Bart Rubin, PhD. April 2010.
When Grief Become Depression- JFK University with Ninette Larson, MFT. April 2010
. Family Systems: Past, Present, and Future – Multiple Presenters. April 2010.
Family and Addiction with Tom Radonovich, CADC I– April 2010.
Working with Client’s Families to Improve Treatment Outcomes with Pete Nielsen, CADC II. Apri,l 2010.
Cancer and End-of-Life Care with Michael Stephens, MFT, Director Grief Support Center, March 24, 2010.
Boundaries and Good Practice with Youth- Seneca Center- Multiple Presenters. March, 2010. Using Couples Therapy to Bring Pleasure and Desire Back into the Bedroom with Lonnie Barbach, Ph.D. March, 2010.
Member of Dr. D. Burns/TEAM model Psychotherapy Development and Training Group. February 2011-September 2012.
MAB (Management of Assaultive Behavior ) provider- March, 2011
Special Interest/Hobbies:
Other cultures, dancing, travel, reading, walking, yoga. I have visited several times Germany, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Turkey, Thailand, China, and United Arab Emirates. I lived in Russia, Germany, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and France. My hobbies are Argentine Tango and Yoga.
Additional information;
Experience working effectively with culturally, socioeconomically and ethnically diverse population, public speaking & presentations