Aloha,

I am a licensed clinical psychologist at Nautilus Mental Health and a research scientist at an Indigenous public health institute. I received my doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA, which is consistently ranked among the top programs nationally for its scientist-practitioner model and its contributions to evidence-based treatment. I trained at the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System for my pre- and post-doctoral fellowship and completed Rural Mental Health and Trauma/PTSD focused tracks.

My philosophy as a provider is person-first treatment. I am a multiracial, multinational woman who had lived in eight states before entering high school. As such, my personal and professional interests have centered on the impact of community, belonging, and identity on mental health. After living and practicing in Hawaiʻi, and with deep roots in Pacific Northwest through my training at the University of Washington, I am honored to serve clients in both communities.

Education & Credentials

• PhD, Clinical Psychology — University of Washington, Seattle, WA
• Hawaiʻi Licensed Clinical Psychologist — PSY-1880
• Washington Licensed Clinical Psychologist - PSYT.TE.70040046

Selected Publications

Eakins, D., Gaffney, A., Magarati, M., Marum, C., Wangmo, T., & Parker, M. (2026). Co-designing the Indigenous evaluation toolkit for opioid prevention in American Indian/Alaska Native communities. Health Education & Behavior, https://doi.org/10.1177/10901981261443483

Eakins, D., Williams-Nguyen, J., Schoenberg, N., & Tofaeono, V. (2025). Characterizing risk and protective factors for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in American Samoa. SSM – Mental Health, 7, Article 100446. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmmh.2025.100446

Nelson, L. A., Shinagawa, E., Garza, C. M., Squetimkin-Anquoe, A., Jeffries, I., Rajeev, V., Taylor, E. M., Taylor, S., Eakins, D., Parker, M. E., Ubay, T., King, V., Duffing-Romero, X., Park, S., Saplan, S., Clifasefi, S. L., Lowe, J., & Collins, S. E. (2024). A pilot study of virtual Harm Reduction Talking Circles for American Indian and Alaska Native adults with alcohol use disorder. Journal of Community Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.23127

Eakins, D., Gaffney, A., Marum, C., Wangmo, T., Parker, M., & Magarati, M. (2023). Indigenous evaluation toolkit for tribal public health programs: An actionable guide for organizations serving American Indian/Alaska Native communities through opioid prevention programming. Seven Directions. https://www.indigenousphi.org/tribal-opioid-use-disorders-prevention/indigenous-evaluation-toolkit

Eakins, D., Neilson, E. C., Stappenbeck, C. A., Nguyen, H. V., Cue Davis, K., & George, W. H. (2022). Alcohol intoxication and sexual risk intentions: Exploring cultural factors among heavy drinking women. Addictive Behaviors, 131, Article 107314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107314

Larimer, M. E., Parker, M., Lostutter, T., Rhew, I., Eakins, D., Lynch, A., Walter, T., & Duran, B. (2019). Perceived descriptive norms for alcohol use among tribal college students: Relation to self-reported alcohol use, consequences, and risk for alcohol use disorder. Addictive Behaviors, 102, Article 106158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106158

Staples, J. M., Eakins, D., Neilson, E. C., George, W. H., Davis, K. C., & Norris, J. (2016). Sexual assault disclosure and sexual functioning: The role of trauma symptomatology. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 13(10), 1562–1569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.07.014

Buti, A. L., Eakins, D., Fussell, H., Kunkel, L. E., Kudura, A., & McCarty, D. (2012). Clinician attitudes, social norms and intentions to use a computer-assisted intervention. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 44(4), 433–437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2012.09.003

Why "Nautilus" Mental Health?

The nautilus is one of the ocean's oldest survivors — an ancient, deep-sea creature whose perfectly mathematical spiral represents continuous growth, spiritual evolution, and harmony with the universe. As a freediver, I find my own clarity and grounding in the ocean through breathwork and mindfulness. The nautilus felt like a natural home for this practice and its symbolism maps directly onto the work we do together:

Growth & Renewal — Each chamber represents a completed stage of life; therapy helps you build the next one

Endurance & Resilience — The nautilus has survived under immense pressure; so have you

Balance & Sacred Geometry — Order emerging from chaos; the underlying harmony that becomes possible when we do the work