Recovery NOW, Inc.

Pamela C. Robertson, Psy.D, L.C.S.W.
Psychotherapist Adults & Children

          Helping People Realize Their Potential for Over 20 Years

Specialty Experience:

• Substance Abuse & Dependence
  I have worked with adolescents and adults with substance use issues helping them to achieve and maintain sobriety as well as reducing harm around substance use.
• Families
  Families often experience difficulties in communication, problem solving, and changes that occur as members grow and change.  I have worked with families experiencing these types of issues in relation to mental health concerns as well as substance use.
• Adolescents 
  As adolescents experience the changes incurred in becoming and adult, they often require someone to talk to outside the family.  I believe that all individual work with children and adolescents should include close contact with parents to ease the transition within the family.
• Art Therapy
  Art can be a powerful means to communication for both adults and young people.  I have extensive experience in utilizing creative expression to help individuals and groups to express themselves more fully and experience healing.
• Spiritual & Existential Issues
  People want their lives to have meaning and figuring out what that meaning is for each individual is a journey.  In my work with clients over the past 20 years I have gained experience helping others to explore these questions.
   

Professional Experience:

• Star View Community Services 
  Assisted children, adolescents, and adults with improved ability to communicate which is a fundamental component in improving relationships.  Assisted with family unification and resolving problems related to drug and alcohol use.  Helped families and individuals with understanding how to manage mental illness.  Supervised Functional Family Therapy team.
• Booth Memorial Center
  Engaged with adolescent girls in domestic violence groups, provided art therapy for stress reduction, led substance use groups.  Provided education and support to assist with breaking the cycle of violence.  Improved self-esteem and built on individual strengths allowing for victims of domestic violence to realize their options as opposed to feeling powerless to change the situation.
• Cedars Sinai Medical Center Hospice Program and Hospice of the Western Reserve
  Provided support and assistance to family and friends struggling with the loss of a loved one.  Provided encouragement in order to create a forum for the expression of grief and loss.  Often family and friends struggle with when and how to grieve.  Helping them to understand their own individual process, and give themselves permission to grieve, is an important part of the acceptance and grieving process.
• Covenant Adolescent Chemical Dependency Day Treatment Center
   Worked with chemically dependent adolescents in problem resolution, goal setting, and emotional expression.  Provided therapy to assist with understanding how family dynamics influence chemical dependence.  Encouraged the expression of feelings and ability to tolerate uncomfortable feelings which is an important aspect of recovery.
• Center for the Prevention of Domestic Violence
  Focused on growth of self awareness and self esteem, education of domestic violence issues with women in group and individual settings.  Provided education on risk factors, cycle of violence, and what constitutes healthy communication.  Provided education on how to avoid and prevent domestic violence.
   
  

Education and License:

• Ryokan College, Los Angeles, California
  Doctor of Psychology 
   
• California State University, Long Beach, California
  Master of Social Work
   
• Ursuline College, Pepper Pike, Ohio
  Master of Arts in Art Therapy 
   
• Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
  Master of Divinity   
   
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  Bachelor of Arts
   
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker #LCS 26984
  Member:  National Association of Social Workers