Hello and welcome! My name is Pamuela Halliwell (she/her) and I’m a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. I’ve been working in the mental health field for the past 10 years, largely working with folx that identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, especially trans/nonbinary folx, military members, both active duty and transitioning out, and other marginalized communities such as African American, BIPOC, folx seeking asylum, and folx impacted by trauma. As a Black trans woman that has had to navigate her own transition, I incorporate lived and professional experience to help folx tap into their own strength and resilience and become improved versions of themselves. Treatment modalities that I use include TFCBT, CBT, EMDR, Solution Focused, Schema Therapy and elements of Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, DBT, and Narrative Therapy.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

Our first 2-3 sessions will be focused on completing an intake. This is a vital in our therapeutic process because it allows both of us to get a feel for how it will be for us to work together and provides plenty of opportunities for you to ask questions as well. We will go over paperwork and I'll ask questions relating to your past experiences in therapy and what your goals for therapy are. It is normal to feel like we are not going deep in the initial sessions as it is mainly information gathering but it often does happen that bringing up past experiences will bring up feelings. After the initial intake, we will start to go deeper into our work together.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

Cultural Sensitivity, Diversity, and Inclusivity: As a Black female with trans experience, I possess a deep understanding of the cultural nuances and experiences that may shape your worldview and experiences that may impact your life. I am committed to providing an inclusive and affirming space where your cultural background is not only respected but celebrated. This allows us to explore how your cultural identity impacts your mental health and navigate the unique challenges you may face. Gender Affirming LGBTQ+ therapy – I’m very supportive to our community and understand many challenges that we face on various levels. As a member of this community, I have experience to support you in your journey and to provide additional resources that may also help. Intersectional Approach: Our identities impact the ways we experience life, including how we see things and experiences that we may be more likely to encounter. Our identities include gender identity (both internal and perceived), sexual orientation, class, racial identity and what’s perceived, language, ability, and etc. I believe in using this approach throughout our work to find ways to have a happier life and to help you feel seen. Collaboration & Teamwork: You are here for a reason. It's important that we can work together to help you make the best decisions you can for your life. In this space, you can count on me to work with you to figure out how to get there at your own pace. Transparency and Respect: I'm not one of those therapists that will just ask you how you feel. Parts of our process will be hearing and validating you while other parts require us to take action. You can count on me to be honest, transparent and to communicate with you with respect. Empathetic Connection: I prioritize building a strong therapeutic alliance based on empathy honesty, trust, and understanding and I recognize that this can take some time. Know that my goal is to support you and provide a safe space for you to share you really feel in a nonjudgmental way while being aware and explicit about bias that may impact our relationship.

About Pamuela Halliwell