Pam Bolarinho , LICSW

Pam Bolarinho, LICSW, is a licensed independent clinical social worker with 20 years of experience in social work, currently serving full time as Vice President of Acute Care Services. She brings extensive clinical and leadership experience across community-based programs, child welfare, inpatient psychiatry, and acute medical settings. Pam began her career with the Healthy Families Program and later worked for the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families before earning a Master of Social Work from Bridgewater State University, where she served as class representative for her MSW cohort.

Pam has held roles that include ESP Director for three years, Clinical Director at an inpatient psychiatric facility, and Social Work Manager at an acute medical hospital for over seven years. A Portuguese American who immigrated to the United States at age five, she has dedicated her career to serving vulnerable populations and strengthening partnerships with community organizations.

Her collaborations have included work with the Suicide Prevention Coalition, Help & Hope Southcoast, labor and human trafficking initiatives, and the Opioid Taskforce. Pam helped launch a co-response program with the local police department that has seen over 400 community-based patient visits and has kept more than 65 percent of those individuals at home rather than in emergency departments. She has also worked with the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership and Beacon Health Options on efforts to reduce unnecessary emergency room use for behavioral health needs.

Pam practices from a patient-centered, strength-based perspective and has experience supporting people affected by trauma, end-of-life concerns, foster care and adoption issues, reactive attachment disorder, elder needs, addiction, and chronic mental health conditions. Her work spans stress, anxiety, family and relationship concerns, grief, parenting and caregiver stress, and other related areas.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Pam uses Client-Centered Therapy to create a respectful, collaborative space where the client’s goals and strengths guide the work; this approach helps with relationship issues, self-esteem, and navigating life transitions. She also applies Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which focuses on identifying and modifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. In addition, Pam employs Motivational Interviewing to support readiness for change and to explore ambivalence, a method that can be especially useful for addictions, health behavior changes, and goals related to recovery.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Pam works collaboratively with clients and with other licensed professionals as needed to determine which methods best fit a person’s needs, goals, and preferences, and she adapts techniques over time based on progress and feedback.

Online sessions offer practical flexibility for people balancing work, family, and care responsibilities. Video calls and phone sessions provide a spoken, face-to-face experience, while live chat and text-based messaging can be helpful for brief check-ins, skill-building, and ongoing support between sessions. These options make it easier for clients to access therapy in a way that fits their schedule and communication style.