Pamela Larkin
Therapeutic Orientation & Techniques
Attachment Theory
Emotion-Focused
Motivational Interviewing
Mindfulness & Acceptance
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Areas of Specialty
Women’s Concerns
African-American / Black Concerns
Professional Background
Illinois LCPC 180.009549
PSI/2020 Mom Online Maternal Mental Health Certificate Course
M.A. in Clinical Psychology, Wheaton College Graduate School, Wheaton, IL
B.S. in Science in Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
B.S. Concentration in Human Development and Psychological Service, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Professional Background
Illinois LCPC 180.009549
M.A. in Clinical Psychology, Wheaton College Graduate School, Wheaton, IL
B.S. in Science in Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
B.S. Concentration in Human Development and Psychological Service, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Locations: Virtual Illinois
Pronouns: She / Her / Hers
Identity, purpose, connection and relationships.
We all struggle with wondering who we are and what we are here for! This is part of being human for us all. Unfortunately, if you are struggling it can feel horrible and influence the lens you see the world through.
I don’t know what you’re looking for and what has brought you to a place of needing support. Maybe you’re looking for healing and restoration around a painful event or relationships. Are you searching for your voice and an opportunity to change the world? Your faith and spirituality are important to you, but do you experience disconnect in knowing how to live a transformed life? Do you just want to be a more authentic person and know counseling helps in some way with that?
Thankfully, whatever is bringing you here does not have to be examined on your own. The truth is, with counseling you don’t have to be alone. You and I will pull the resources, both from your experience and my expertise as a helper (including books, videos, and podcasts, music, etc.), to transform and empower you. If we find an opportunity for you to grow in, we’ll practice together. If we don’t know the answer, we’ll seek it out. Feeling hopeless, insecure, fatigued, or anxious isn’t the end. There is capacity for hope, healing, voice, confidence, and empowerment.
I’m grateful to have experienced growth and transformation in my own life. It came from the help and comfort of a counselor who offered validation, normalized my nerves, created a calm space, and led me to new ways of thinking. Counseling helped me be a more compassionate and empowered individual, and in his office I grew in confidence as a black, Christian woman. My personal experiences around identity development, makes me especially passionate about encouraging people of color to explore and establish personal identity. Whether our experiences are the same or different, growth in your personal identity is my top priority. Growing in confidence and becoming your most authentic self is so important. It is difficult to be a person of color, and I love partnering with people to fight against feeling small, marginalized, misunderstood, and underappreciated. A therapeutic relationship is the comfort I hope to extend towards you. Your identity is your strength.
Women have always inspired me. Married, single, pregnant, not pregnant, leader, supporter, young, mature, mother, daughter, friend, spouse. We could go on and on. The spectrum of issues women are facing and roles we engage in are unique and worth recognition. In all of these we will explore your unique attachment style and how that is currently playing out in your relationships. Attachment is your learned way of coping and connecting. Question is: is it really working for you? My guess is that it both is and is not, but we can work with that! All people and relationships can be made new and well.
Articles by Pamela
Why Seeing a Counselor Makes a Difference
Everyone experiences emotional struggles in life. Transitions are a part of everyone’s lives. Everyone has dreams and aspirations for their future. If everyone shares these life experiences and stressors, how can counseling make a difference? Having Another...
Just Do the Next Right Thing
I’ve seen dark before, but not like this This is cold, this is empty, this is numb The life I knew is over, the lights are out Hello, darkness, I’m ready to succumb I follow you around, I always have But you’ve gone to a place I cannot find This grief has a gravity,...
[VIDEO] A Conversation on Grief with Pamela & Treshana
Pamela Larkin and Treshana Lewis are both mental health therapists at Optimum Joy. Along with our founder and host, Alexandra Hoerr, Pamela introduces different types of grief, concrete vs. symbolic, and Treshana gives insight on the stages of grief not being linear....