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3 therapists available in Westborough
The world can feel very loud and overwhelming, and I am here to help guide you through the difficult times that life can bring and...
About
The world can feel very loud and overwhelming, and I am here to help guide you through the difficult times that life can bring and help you work toward being the healthiest version of yourself.
Hannah Fishman is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). Hannah has been working in the mental health field for five years. Hannah is passionate about working with adults (18+) who are struggling with a wide variety of mental health issues and looking for guidance and support. Hannah specializes in anxiety, depression, personality disorders, stress, and anger issues, as well as those battling co-occurring disorders, including mental health diagnoses and substance abuse disorders.
Hannah holds a master's in social work from Our Lady of the Lake University. Hannah utilizes cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based therapy, client-centered therapy, and motivational interviewing to help her clients learn healthier ways to cope, grow, and work toward their personal goals.
Hannah believes that individuals are able to learn from difficult situations they have experienced or are dealing with by addressing debilitating thoughts and emotions. She is confident she can help you feel heard and accepted in a safe and therapeutic space. If you are ready to become the best version of you, book an appointment with her today!
Education and training
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Clients often share that they feel truly heard and supported with me, and that together we’re able to bring clarity, balance, and ...
Clients often share that they feel truly heard and supported with me, and that together we’re able to bring clarity, balance, and a deeper mind-body connection to their wellness journey.
Pamela Piliero is a Mental Health Clinician seeking licensure who brings decades of experience working with young adults in university settings and adults in the non-profit sector to her clinical practice. Pamela transitioned into the counseling field two years ago, working closely with clients in inpatient and PHP/IOP settings to provide support during times of heightened need. She is passionate about guiding individuals through challenges such as stress, anxiety, life transitions, and trauma. Pamela is dedicated to creating a supportive space where clients can discover resilience, clarity, and meaningful growth.
Pamela earned her Master’s in Counseling from Salem State University. She integrates evidence-based approaches with mindfulness and trauma-sensitive practices, tailoring her care to meet the unique needs of each client. Through compassionate listening and practical tools, she helps clients build coping skills and emotional balance.
Pamela understands that seeking support can feel overwhelming, and she strives to create a warm, nonjudgmental environment where clients feel heard and supported. She welcomes the opportunity to walk alongside clients as they explore new pathways toward healing, balance, and a more fulfilling life.
I meet clients where they are, offering compassion and understanding as I support them in achieving their goals and overcoming lif...
I meet clients where they are, offering compassion and understanding as I support them in achieving their goals and overcoming life’s barriers.
Ken Burke is a dedicated mental health professional with 9 years of experience supporting individuals and families through life’s toughest challenges. He has helped parents build nurturing homes, guided teens through anxiety and behavioral struggles, and empowered clients to navigate trauma and major life transitions. Ken creates a warm, safe space where clients are met with respect, empathy, and a clear path toward healing and growth.
Ken holds a Master’s in Social Work and specializes in trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and clinical case management. His client-centered and culturally responsive approach focuses on meeting people where they are and helping them move toward their goals with compassion and practical guidance.
Ken is here to help you. Tackling life’s challenges can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be done alone. With the right support and guidance, healing is possible. If you take the first step to meet with Ken, he’ll walk with you every step of the way in your therapeutic journey.
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
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In working with a client who has a trauma history, the element of trust must be established before any other work can be done. Working to emphasize empathy and unconditional regard for the client’s feelings helps me as a clinician to cultivate this therapeutic alliance. I support my clients’ growth with the acknowledgment that each individual determines the pace at which they traverse their healing journey.
In working with clients who have a trauma history, one essential tool that I teach my clients is to learn how to access their feelings. We cannot express what we cannot feel. Trauma defense mechanisms can include the “shut down” of feelings, often referred to as “feeling numb.” This avoidance is a maladaptive coping mechanism that protects us from feeling emotional pain. Another essential tool in trauma therapy is to develop an understanding of what feels unsafe to us, which leads to an exploration of why this may be. Trauma healing is a process that includes allowing ourselves to feel safe within our own bodies.
In my work with clients who are on a healing journey from their trauma, I assess progress in different ways. One demonstration of progress is observing how and when the client allows themselves to be vulnerable. Another assessment of progress is the evidence of the client’s growth in self-compassion and self-respect. Progress is often a complicated journey with its setbacks and its breakthroughs. The journey requires patience with no expectations.
In therapy, clients may be encouraged to do specific acts to restore a sense of safety and stability. A client who is in therapy due to trauma is advised to refrain from any intentional activity that might trigger a reaction. Watching movies that have violence in them or innuendos of abuse can be triggering. Trauma-focused exposure therapy, i.e. returning to a place of previous trauma (physical location or a memory), can be beneficial if guided by therapeutic support. An exploration during trauma therapy of what would benefit a client outside of therapy is an important part of the work in order to minimize trauma-related distress.
Prior to starting treatment for PTSD/trauma therapy, I would advise a client to assess their level of care needs for treatment. Sometimes, outpatient therapy is appropriate for a client, be it virtual or in-office. Sometimes a higher level of care might be more appropriate for one’s needs. These programs are known as IOPs (intensive outpatient programs) or PHPs (partial-hospitalization programs). If a client is unsure about the appropriate level of care to best meet their needs, having a first appointment (intake session) with a Thriveworks counselor can help clarify this.
At Thriveworks, Trauma/PTSD therapy involves dedicated efforts to address and navigate through past and/or recent traumatic events. Therapists specializing in trauma create a secure environment to process and heal from these experiences, aiming to reduce trauma-related symptoms and enhance overall quality of life.
Our Thriveworks providers use Trauma/PTSD therapy treatments like eye movement desensitization and reprocessing EMDR, CBT, and exposure therapy with the goal of helping clients process the traumatic events they have experienced so that they can to start feeling safe and secure again.
The symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can vary but often include:
The best way to overcome PTSD triggers is to seek the assistance of a professional therapist, such as those at Thriveworks, who can help you to understand and treat your PTSD triggers.
In most cases, a therapist who specializes in Trauma/PTSD therapy is the best type of mental health professional to address the symptoms of PTSD.
PTSD/trauma therapy at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
If a client is working through a single traumatic event that occurred as an adult, trauma or PTSD therapy may only take a few months, but in general, it can take a year or more to effectively treat trauma symptoms and PTSD. The duration of treatment is highly dependent on the client and the severity of their symptoms.
The success rate of therapy for PTSD depends entirely on the individual’s symptoms, commitment to attending sessions, and personal abilities.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
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