Sessions are conducted primarily online through secure telehealth for clients across Oregon, Washington, and Maine. If you are located in the Portland area and interested in meeting with a provider in person, please contact our office at (207) 316-2609 to discuss current availability.
Olubunmi ("Bunmi") Basirat Oyewuwo, PhD, Clinical Social Work Associate / Therapist (She/Her)
You’re Allowed to Rewrite What You’ve Been Carrying
You might be here because something hasn’t been sitting right lately, even if, on the outside, things look like they should be working.
You might be carrying more than you’ve had space to slow down and make sense of, or maybe you’re walking through something that’s been heavy to make sense of like trauma, connection challenges, a major life transition, of questions around your identity, faith, and what it means to belong in the way you really want to.
Wherever you find yourself right now, we can start there. My goal is to offer a space where you can speak openly and feel taken seriously.
Let’s Bring a More Human Approach to Therapy
There’s so much more to you than the challenges you may face. The more I understand your full context, the more we can figure out what actually helps, not just what sounds good in theory.
As humans, we’re shaped by our history, community, values, and lived experience. All of these things belong in the room with us, so we can honor the complex and meaningful life that brought you here.
You can count on me to spend time getting to know what it’s been like for you lately, and what feels most important as you move forward in a manageable way.
When your experiences are understood in context, things tend to make more sense and that’s often where change can start to feel possible.
What You Can Expect As We Work Together
From the start, I want you to feel my warmth, curiosity, and respect.
In our first sessions, we’ll spend time talking about what pulled you inside to come to therapy, and anything else that comes with that as you think about this as your time to release. There’s no pressure to come in with everything figured out, and we’ll go at your pace to make sense of things together.
Each session is collaborative and grounded in what feels most important to you. You’ll notice me asking thoughtful questions and listening closely to guide us in conversations that stay connected to what’s actually coming up for you in that moment.
Over time, my hope is that you feel empowered to:
- Put words to what you’ve been carrying, even the parts that have been hard to name
- Understand how your identity, culture, and experiences have shaped how you relate to yourself and others
- Set limits without feeling like you’re letting people down
- Move toward a life that feels more balanced, more intentional, and actually sustainable, not just something you’re managing to get through
Areas of Focus
A lot of the work I do is shaped by the communities I come from and the people I’ve spent years listening to and learning from. I’ve seen how much people take on emotionally while still showing up for the various responsibilities and requirements in their lives, and that continues to guide who I work with and how I show up in this space.
Here are a few areas I’m particularly passionate about:
- Trauma and recovery from intimate partner violence
- Depression and anxiety
- Burnout, perfectionism, and high-pressure environments
- Life transitions and identity exploration
- The invisible labor and mental load of working mothers
- Experiences specific to people of color, Muslim communities, and immigrant or first-generation individuals
- Faith-informed and spiritually grounded care
I’ve loved my work with women balancing multiple roles and expectations, while also welcoming anyone who resonates with these very real experiences.
The Heart Behind My Work
Your life is made of so many moments that we never want to put in a box, and that’s how I feel therapy should be for you too.
I came to this work through a deep love for my communities. I spent my career alongside Black women, Muslim women, and immigrant communities, not as an outsider, but as someone who understands the strength, complexity, and responsibility these spaces hold.
Before becoming a therapist, I spent over a decade as a researcher studying how trauma, violence, and mental health show up within these communities, and how identity, faith, and systemic factors shape both the experience of harm and the path forward.
I draw from different approaches depending on what actually fits you, not the other way around.. These include trauma-informed care, narrative approaches, and practices like solution-focused therapy. I also lean into Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Even if you’ve never heard of these before, you can rest assured that they’re tools we can use when they’re helpful and leave aside when they’re not
My lived experience shapes how I understand the person sitting across from me, not just what they’re going through, but everything around it. I am a Muslim woman, Nigerian, Black, American-born, and the child of immigrants. I know what it means to move through multiple worlds at once, to carry expectations, and to navigate spaces that don’t always fully see you.
A Bit More About Me
I hold a PhD in Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago, a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Bachelor of Social Work from The University of Texas at Austin.
My work has been published in peer-reviewed journals including Affilia, the Journal of Muslim Mental Health, and the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma. I have also contributed to national research and training efforts focused on domestic violence and mental health in Muslim communities.
I currently serve as Program Chair for the Muslim Mental Health Conference and have worked with organizations across the country to support survivors of domestic violence and advance culturally responsive care.
Outside of work, my faith is central to my life. I value growth, intellectually, spiritually, and personally. I recently relocated to the Pacific Northwest and am slowly learning to embrace the rain through guided hikes. And if you ever want to bond over a board game, I will absolutely play to win.
If You’re Considering Working Together
Reaching out can feel like a big step, especially if you’re used to handling things on your own. This can be a great opportunity to reach out without all the answers and simply allow yourself to begin shifting that weight off your shoulders. We can take this one step at a time, in a way that feels manageable and real.
You can easily self-schedule an intake assessment using the calendar below, give us a call at (207) 316-2609 or complete a quick contact form to reach out with any questions.
Accepted Forms of Payment
- Self-Pay
- Aetna
- Blue Cross Blue Shield (Anthem, Premera, Regence, etc.)
- Cigna
- While I accept the insurances indicated above, I may not accept your specific insurance plan. Clients are responsible for ensuring our organization is in-network with their specific insurance plan and ensuring services are covered by their plan.
- I do not accept Medicare and Medicaid
Schedule Your Intake Assessment
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Practice
- I accept Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield (Anthem, Premera, Regence, etc.) and Cigna. However, I may not accept your specific insurance plan. It is your responsibility to verify that our organization is in-network with your plan and that services are covered.
- If at any time we discover that we are not in-network with your insurance plan, you will be responsible for the full costs of all sessions (past and future).
- Please note, I do not accept Medicaid, Medicare, or work with EAPs.
- Services are available to self-pay clients and those with out-of-network benefits.
- Please call our office at (207) 316-2609 or complete our contact form if you have any questions.
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For individuals using insurance to cover appointments, the cost of appointments is determined by each insurance’s contracted rates with our organization. Thus, the cost of appointments may be notably different than the cost of appointments for individuals who are self-pay. Furthermore, the cost of appointments may vary from session to session depending on several factors to include the length of the appointment and the complexity of the appointment. If you plan to use insurance, our office can provide a better estimate of costs once you provide your insurance information. Please contact us at (207) 316-2609 if you require further assistance.
- For individuals who are self-pay:
- Rates vary depending on type of service (therapy vs. medication management) and length of session. Please contact our office for additional information.
Payments are completed through our patient portal. Payments can be made using major credit/debit cards (American Express, Visa, Mastercard, etc.) as well as FSAs and HSAs.
Our policy is to collect payments before rendering services. However, we cannot always predict the cost of sessions in advance because services and length of sessions may vary from appointment to appointment. For clients using insurance, you will likely be responsible for either a co-pay or for paying the full costs of sessions until your deductible is met. Please ensure you fully understand your insurance benefits to prevent future billing concerns.
Regardless of your insurance status and payment method, we will always be as up-front with you as possible about the cost of treatment.
- The online scheduler above shows my availability over the next 20 days. If no appointments are available, please check back in a few days.
- For appointments beyond this 20-day window, you can return closer to your preferred appointment date. Alternatively, you can view availability for our other therapists here.
Clients must cancel or reschedule appointments at least 48 hours before their appointment. If appointments are not canceled or rescheduled with at least 48 hours’ notice, or if clients do not show to their appointment, they will be charged a late cancellation fee of $150. To ensure we treat all clients consistently and ethically and to be respectful of our providers’ time, we must enforce our late cancellation and no-show policy. Fees incurred for late cancellations and no shows are out-of-pockets expenses. They cannot be billed to insurance.