Hi, I'm Pamela Washington
My journey
Looking back, I can identify the markers that led me to my passion and role as a therapist. The fiber of who I am has been weaved in my love for people and the stories that shape their lives ever since I can remember. One of my most treasured Christmas gifts was a cassette tape recorder given to me by my grandparents when I was eight. That recorder became the vehicle that allowed me to intimately engage with everyone whose path I crossed, and ask the questions, "What makes your life good, and not so good?" Such big questions for a little kid. More intriguing than the questions, were the heartfelt stories that other adolescents shared about experiences with friends and family, wins and losses, dreams and hopes for a bright future. Adults reminisced about happy and sad childhood memories, major life transitions, successes and failures, and lessons learned along life's journey. Something powerful happened in that intimate exchange as I was genuinely interested in people and how they navigated through the best of times and the worse of times. I listened, asked questions, and was inspired by their endurance, courage, and resiliency. Many years has passed since that 8-year-old girl used her cassette tape recorder to help people share the emotions that were connected to their life experiences. What started out as a childhood knack for connecting with people has evolved into a lifelong career that I am absolutely passionate about. The powerful exchange of sharing, listening, and being moved to deeper level of humanity carves a path for compassion, empathy, healing and restoration to take place. I am deeply honored to be a part of that process.
School and career
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and hold a Master of Arts in Counseling from Houston Christian University. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and English from Sam Houston State University. I enjoy working with adults, parents, and couples experiencing issues stemming from attachment issues, anger, anxiety, depression, domestic abuse, grief and loss, trauma, life transitions, pre-marital/marital, and relationship conflict. Prior to moving to Houston and pursuing a career in counselor, I served as a public school secondary language arts teacher and an administrator for private school and non-profit organizations.
my approach
Making the decision to seek therapy is a courageous step toward personal healing. I believe it is important to create a safe space that honors your willingness to share the issues of your heart. My goal is to foster a deeper insight as you feel comfortable in sharing the experiences that have impacted your journey. I work with clients from a strength-based and client-centered approach. This includes providing a nurturing, supportive environment, meeting clients where they are, and using their personal strengths to improve their lives. A variety of other evidence-based therapies are integrated to meet the needs and goals of clients, some of which include: Cognitive Behavioral, Emotional-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, Experiential Therapy, Solution Focused, Narrative Therapy, and Psycho-Education.
With a strong belief that growth and change is possible, I seek to empower clients to work toward positive change and create a life that restores their joy.