Pam Bolarinho, LICSW

Pam Bolarinho, LICSW, helps people who are juggling stress, anxiety, grief, mood struggles, and relationship or parenting concerns. She speaks English and Portuguese and brings two decades of social work experience to her clinical practice and leadership roles.

She began her career in home visiting with the Healthy Families Program and later worked for the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. Pam earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Bridgewater State University and has held roles including Clinical Director at an inpatient psychiatric facility and Social Work Manager at an acute medical hospital.

In recent years she has focused on acute care systems and community-based crisis response. She helped launch a co-response program with a local police department that kept many people at home instead of going to the emergency room. Pam has also collaborated with suicide prevention groups, opioid task forces, and other community agencies to improve behavioral health pathways.

Her clinical approach centers on the person and their strengths. She uses client-centered methods alongside Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy to address trauma, addiction, mood disorders, body image, attachment concerns, and caregiver stress. Sessions emphasize practical strategies and clearer thinking about everyday habits and thoughts.

Pam works with people facing adoption and foster care issues, blended family challenges, communication or codependency concerns, and those coping with major life changes. Her practice reflects a long commitment to helping vulnerable individuals get care that fits their life and goals.

Therapeutic approaches and working online

Client-centered therapy focuses on the person’s own goals and strengths. It prioritizes listening, building trust, and helping people find their own solutions to stress, family challenges, and life changes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the connections between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It teaches practical exercises to break unhelpful thinking patterns and build healthier daily habits for anxiety, depression, and mood concerns.

Motivational Interviewing helps people clarify their motivations and move toward change at a comfortable pace. It is often used when addressing addiction, behavior change, or difficult transitions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That choice can change over time as progress is made.

For online therapy logistics, please confirm available session formats before booking. Many people value online sessions because they can fit appointments into a busy day, reduce travel, or allow shorter check-ins when needed. Online work also makes continuing care easier after a hospitalization or during a major life change. Licensed professionals can adapt CBT, client-centered work, and motivational interviewing to an online setting while focusing on practical tools and everyday habits.