THERAPIST

Pamela Pitchford, LCSW

Pamela Pitchford graduated with a Criminal Justice degree from Shippensburg State University and was planning to work for the Pennsylvania state police. However, fate intervened and she began working with at-risk adolescents in a wilderness program. This included traveling across the country on a wagon train, in Conestoga wagons as well as living in a tipi with adolescent girls. I share this earlier experience, as it reflects that life is a journey, which includes twist and turns; as well as a whole spectrum/range of emotions. Given the unprecedented circumstances during the last several years in our country and around the world, it is evident that having a listening caring ear is needed now more than ever. Through my many years of experience, I have developed eclectic strategies to work with the unique individual needs of each client, including music, the outdoors, humor and fun activities geared to promoting health and wellness.

While working at a residential facility, I attended graduate school at VCU, attained my master’s degree and earned LCSW status, over twenty years ago. I have worked in a variety of treatment settings, such as long term residential programs, an acute psychiatric hospital, group homes, schools and in community based settings. I have a long history of working with children, adolescents and their families. A recent passion has been providing individual and group therapy for grandparents who are raising grandchildren. For many years, I have conducted therapeutic summer programming for children/adolescents who would not have been accepted into a typical summer program due to their severe mental and behavioral health issues.

I specialized in counseling older children/adolescents and their families who are encountering behavioral issues, depression, anxiety, being bullied, loneliness or exposure to trauma and family discord. I also have experience working with adults who are contending with grief, anger, stress, depression or anxiety. I am skilled in working with other professionals contending with work-related stress and vicarious trauma. I also offer clinical supervision for licensees in Social Work.