About Dr. Byrd-Olmstead

Your Compassionate Psychologist

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Services Include:

Individual consultations

Organizational training

Wide range of psychotherapy services

Individualized Psychotherapy

Overall, Dr. Byrd-Olmstead’s approach is direct yet compassionate. Depending on what each client brings to the table, treatment is tailored to fit each individual’s personality, style, and level of comfort. The first goal is that you feel as comfortable as possible to talk about your experiences and identify what you would like to work towards in a nonjudgmental and empathetic environment.

How Dr. Byrd-Olmstead Started Her Practice

For more than 10 years, Dr. Byrd-Olmstead has been working within the addiction and recovery community. She became a licensed psychologist in September 2013, and opened her private practice in March 2014.  Since then, she has been providing psychotherapy services as well as organizational trainings.  Through the years Dr. Byrd-Olmstead has worked with:

  • Adults
  • Young Adults
  • LGBTQ Clients
  • Adolescents
  • Professionals
  • Children and Families
  • Individuals in Addiction Recovery

My responsibilities include:

  • Working with Transgender identified clients
  • Helping clients recover from addiction (drugs, alcohol, workaholism, codependency, and other compulsive behaviors)
  • Providing training to organizations
  • Working to decrease stigma to accessing mental health care and helping communities become more inclusive of all people—celebrating diversity
  • Became an advisor for a health care technology startup
  • Helped to develop the Pediatric Gender Program at Kaiser Permanente’s Child Psychiatry Department in Santa Clara, CA
  • Performed policy and advocacy work on both local and state levels for improved mental health care legislation (lobbied in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., together with the California Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association)
  • Published in top-tier academic journals
  • Served as an editor
  • October 2013–Present: Licensed psychologist (PSY25981)
  • 2013–Present: Credentialed health service psychologist
  • 2012: The Goodwill, Working With Offenders and Gang Members
  • 2014: Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office, Working With Offenders and Gang Members
  • 2014: The Sequoia Center, Psychological Implications of Living With HIV/AIDS
  • 2015: Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley, Effectively Working With Youth, Strategies for Success
  • 2016: Santa Clara County Psychological Association, Adolescent Substance Use (in Collaboration With Dr. Sally Broder)
  • 2017: Transgender Youth, Parent Workshop in September 2016, Kaiser Permanente Child Psychiatry in Santa Clara, CA

2011

  • Honorable Mention Recipient for the Outstanding Student Award From the American Psychological Association (APA), Division 18–Psychologists in Public Service
  • Robin Welles Kostenbauder Research Assistantship Award From Palo Alto University
  • National Psychologist Trainee Register (NPTR) Credentialing Scholarship

2010

  • Cultural Competence Stipend From San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
  • Certificate of Leadership and Community Excellence From the California State Assembly in Sacramento, CA
  • Graduate Member Travel Award From the California Psychological Association During Leadership and Advocacy Conference in Sacramento, CA

2009

Diversity and Community Mental Health Scholarship, Workforce Education and Training (WET), Mental Health Services Act (MHSA Proposition 63), Palo Alto, CA

  • 2018–Present: Santa Clara County Psychological Association, Board Member
  • 2011–2012: Women’s Association for Addiction Treatment, Member
  • 2010–Present: Santa Clara County Psychological Association, Committee Member
  • 2010–Present: San Mateo Chapter of California Women Lead, Member
  • 2010–2011: Cultural Competence Council in San Mateo County, Member
  • 2008–Present: California Psychological Association, Member
  • 2007–Present: American Psychological Association, Member
  • 2007–2011: Society for Research on Adolescence, Student Affiliate
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Background and Experience

Predoctoral Internship

Adult Chemical Dependency Program, Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek

Postdoctoral Fellowship

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara

  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Clinical Psychology at Palo Alto University
  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz
  • Asian Americans for Community Involvement
  • UCSF Aids Health Project (Now Alliance Health Project)
  • Youth Services Center in San Mateo County