We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Meshai Dixon-Olivares. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Meshai below.

Meshai, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

This is such a great question especially since we are in-between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. I was born into a military family, and we moved around the country and overseas for the first 14 years of my life. There adventurous spirit allowed me to see what resiliency looks like on repeat. They encouraged me to see each move as an opportunity to not only learn something new about how I wanted to show up in the world, but to engage in new spaces with a curiosity mindset instead of fear of the unknown. Additionally, many military families (especially the ones that were overseas) often became bonus families. Hence, an early love for community building and relational support was strongly encouraged throughout my early years. That love for community created a decades long love for community service and non-profit work. I found that these engagements with meeting people where they are emotionally, physically, and mentally are the foundation for what I do now as a mental health therapist. I firmly believe that when you Help one person, you uplift a family, you strengthen a family, you uplift a community, you help uplift a community and you help reshape the world. This concept of creating a ripple effect is my ‘personal why’ speared on through the witnessed and lived resiliency of my family and the men and women in the armed forces reminds me that we are all in need of each other’s talents and personal whys.

Meshai, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I provide therapy services for individuals and couples ages 17–65, supporting clients through a wide range of concerns including sexual health and dysfunction, relational intimacy, mood disorders (including borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety), communication challenges, trauma and PTSD, LGBTQ+ concerns, and religious trauma. I offer both in-person and virtual therapy sessions, as well as walk-and-talk sessions when weather conditions permit.

One of the most meaningful parts of my work is witnessing clients begin to see themselves with greater compassion while developing the confidence and motivation to create meaningful change in their lives. I believe therapy should offer a safe, supportive space where clients can fully explore and process their emotions without judgment. Being able to walk alongside individuals and couples as they navigate growth, healing, and transformation is a privilege I deeply value.

I became a therapist because I believe that when individuals and couples heal, they positively impact the larger communities and systems around them. My hope is that this work contributes to creating more compassionate relationships, families, and environments.

My therapeutic approach is integrative, strengths-based, and rooted in self-compassion, resilience, and empowerment. I utilize evidence-based modalities, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which focuses on mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. This approach can be especially beneficial for individuals navigating complex emotional experiences, relationship concerns, and mood-related challenges.

I hold dual graduate certifications in Trauma Therapy and Sex Therapy from Richmont Graduate University and am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). My clinical training also includes specialized experience in DBT, allowing me to effectively support clients experiencing emotional dysregulation, relationship difficulties, and mood disorders.

I offer therapy services for individuals and couples Monday through Friday and provide a sliding-scale fee structure to help increase access to quality mental health care. Whether you are seeking support for yourself, your relationship, or your family, I am committed to helping you create meaningful and lasting change.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

There is one lesson in life that I have had to unlearn and will continue to unlearn through all seasons. This lesson is that nothing is permanent. Like most people safety is important to me and the way individuals engage in making themselves safe can be maladaptive to the way in which we want to live our lives, engage with those around us, or let go of what no longer serves us. I am unlearning the habit of holding onto what is comfortable or low functioning simply because it is familiar. Change can be hard, scary, and disconcerting. Change can make us second guess ourselves or face truths that we have been running from for a long time. To challenge this fear of change I often have to remind myself of the beautiful things I have overcome when I leaned into the discomfort of change. For me, leaning in has brought about authenticity, standing up for myself, becoming better at holding boundaries with myself and others, and learning to radically accept that I can’t control the outcome of most things in my life. Which simply leaves the present! I have chosen to engage in actions and relationships that allow me to enjoy the journey.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Beyond training and clinical knowledge, I believe one of the most important factors for success as a therapist is the ability to build a strong, safe, and consistent therapeutic relationship. The connection between therapist and client is foundational to meaningful change. Clients need to feel emotionally safe, seen, and supported within the therapeutic space in order to engage fully in the healing process.

I’ve also learned that authenticity and goodness of fit matter deeply in this work. Not every therapist is the right fit for every client, and I’ve come to trust that the clients who will benefit most from the environment and approach I offer will find me when they are ready. Recognizing this allows me to remain grounded, genuine, and client-centered in my practice.

Another important aspect of succeeding in this field is maintaining curiosity and passion for continued learning. Mental health is an ever-evolving profession, and ongoing education is essential. I intentionally pursue training in modalities and areas of study that I genuinely enjoy and feel connected to, which helps me stay engaged, energized, and invested in my clinical work.

Finally, collaboration with colleagues has been invaluable to my growth as a clinician. Consulting with other professionals and exploring cases through different therapeutic lenses allows for deeper case conceptualization and often opens new pathways for supporting clients more effectively. I believe humility, openness to feedback, and a willingness to continue learning from others are all essential qualities for long-term success in this field.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.greenspace-therapy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meshai.d.olivares/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100056452789187
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meshai-olivares-202736364/