Professional Experience

I am a Latinx Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and owner of Wellness Therapist LLC, a private practice for psychotherapy, clinical consulting, and life/wellness individual and group coaching. I am licensed to practice in Massachusetts and Maine.

I hold a Bachelor in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts-Boston (UMB); Master in Social Work and a Certificate in Child & Adolescent Trauma, both from Simmons College (Boston, MA). And, completed clinical practicums at the Latin American Health Institute in Boston, Massachusetts and at Massachusetts General Hospital’s (MGH) Chelsea Healthcare Center in Chelsea, Massachusetts.

My practice offers a comprehensive, client-centered and collaborative approach informed by evidence based practices geared towards improving the lives of those experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorder, grief and other reactions to trauma and loss.

My career began over 19 years ago with 4+ years in early childhood education as a preschool teacher; since then, I have dedicated more than a decade to behavioral health in administrative, clinical and consulting roles within various levels of care including: residential facilities, in-home, and outpatient at institutions such as Vinfen Corporation, Bay Cove Human Services, and Massachusetts General Hospital’s (MGH) Chelsea HealthCare Center and several Massachusetts General Hospital’s research and clinical programs such as PRIDE, Resilience and Prevention Program, and Center of Excellence for Psychosocial and Systemic Research. I have delivered individual psychotherapy, family, and group therapy to children, adolescents, and adults as well as skills-based groups to teens and parents, and coaching groups to adults.

In 2016, I created Wellness Therapist LLC, a private clinical practice where I provide:

• Individual psychotherapy for adults

• Group therapy for adults, parents/caregivers, and adolescents

• Consultation for clinical and research programs, community projects, and behavioral health providers

• Life Coaching for college students and adults

Two of my passions are to guide individuals towards their self-defined healing and growth through a mindful and intentional approach and to drive positive change in the communities I serve.

I work with my clients to create greater awareness, examine and unlearn unhealthy habits, and redefine their lives through identifying and pursuing goals that are aligned with their values.

Through a process of self exploration and active acquisition of knowledge and skills, clients can learn to connect and utilize their current strengths to integrate new skills in their journey to self empowerment.  In a few words, my passion is to help individual and communities "Connect The Dots."

Intersectionality and Personal Identity

I am passionate about issues related to inter-sectionalism and work within diverse communities and individuals from many walks of life, achieving growth and improvements in their lives that many considered were not within their reach.

Personal life experiences including but not limited to biculturalism, bilingualism (Spanish), being an immigrant, and first-generation college student from a low-income household, along with professional experiences within culturally, socially and economically diverse communities have allowed me to develop a unique and comprehensive approach to psychotherapy.  

I actively consider multiple facets of societal phenomena and how it influences the individual experience. "Wellness Therapist” is representative of this comprehensive approach to therapy and sits on a personal commitment to offer a non-judgmental space with compassion, empathy, support and guidance with clear, honest, and practical feedback geared to help the client transform patterns that foster their distress. 

The client is always THE driver and I am an aide.

Therapeutic Approach

My approach to assessment, diagnosis, and treatment is comprehensive, client-centered, and collaborative and anchored around personal introspection, relational mindfulness, and active engagement as well as social justice  What that means is that I actively work WITH you to DEFINE and outline what OUR work will look like.

I have trained and practiced extensively with evidenced based treatment modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which is known to help with a wide range of mental health diagnoses including Anxiety and Depression.  Also, I frequently utilize Motivational Interviewing (MI), known to facilitate and elicit behavior change by helping clients explore and resolve ambivalence, and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), a well-known and effective treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which I have successfully utilized with adults with a trauma history, those diagnosed with PTSD, and individuals experiencing Complicated Grief after a major life transition or loss. I consistently rely on psychodynamic psychotherapy, which focuses on the psychological roots of emotional suffering.  Its hallmarks are self-reflection and self-examination, and the use of the relationship between therapist and client as a window into problematic relationship patterns in the client’s life. Exploring and integrating relational approaches to reflect on the influences of temperament, attachment, family relationships, and other environmental factors can help elicit potent layers of general awareness and self-empowerement. I also integrate other therapeutic approaches and strategies to elicit greater awareness, engagement, and successful outcomes in treatment such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness practices, and narrative therapy.

The goal is not only to address and alleviate the symptoms, but to UNDERSTAND and ACCEPT oneself more DEEPLY to lead a HEALTHIER life.

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Note on Availability: You may leave a message at my confidential line (617) 249-4910 ; please your name, phone number, best days and times to reach you, and your reason for calling. 

You may also email me at YliraPimentel@Ylira.com

Please keep in mind that email should not be used for communication of sensitive information as email may not be secure ( confidentiality of such communication may be reached by a third party).