PAULA GARRANT, MSW, LICSW

I wanted to take this opportunity for you to get to know me a bit before I start working with you or your loved one. I have been in the field of Psychology & Social  Work for 20+ years, including my schooling, field training, internships, travel abroad to Uganda Africa to study international social work, and of course employment. It has been a long road, but worth all of the hard work! I thought it was important to show you the level of my expertise, so you could choose me in confidence as I work with your children, spouse, parents, grandparents, families, & friends. I love what I do and have a great passion for helping others who need it. Thank you for considering me as your therapist!

Paula M. Garrant, MSW, LICSW

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Education

I graduated from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts (MA) with an MSW (focus: mental health) and prior, a BA in Social Psychology from The University of Massachusetts, Boston in Boston MA. I also continued my education with a Post Master’s Certificate in Traumatic Stress Studies from The Trauma Center in Brookline, MA and a certification in Clinical Field Education/Supervision from Simmons College, Boston MA. September of 2018 I obtained my certificate in Traumatic Grief Counseling/Compassionate Bereavement Care from The MISS Foundation, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Family Trust & The Center for Loss and Trauma.

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Training & Career

I’ve worked as an Emergency Crisis Clinician Performing Psychiatric Evaluations for both children and adults and later was promoted to Mobile Crisis Intervention Coordinator, directing Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative for Emergency Services at Health and Education Services, Haverhill MA.

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I moved on to become the Regional Director with The Institute for Family Centered (IFCS) Services/The Mentor Network , Boston/Lawrence MA and led the start-up of the In Home Family Therapy Team.

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Post IFCS, I was the Social Work Coordinator for Psychiatry at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Brighton MA. I supervised 9 clinicians there (7 LCSW's/LICSW’s and 2 Simmons College Interns) on a 32 bed adult unit and a 16 bed geriatric unit. I started the first social work internship program in psychiatry at St. Elizabeth’s with the support of Simmons College and overall with the help of my team, created a more involved clinical philosophy of serving our patients with the focus of patients and their families being the experts in their own care. 

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Most recently I was the Northeast Director of Youth & Family with Eliot Community Human Services, Malden & Lawrence MA. I had oversight of the Children's Behavioral Health Initiative Programs there: Community Service Agency (CSA), In-Home Therapy Program, Therapeutic Mentoring, Family Support & Training and Intake. I supervised the directors for each of these programs, both clinically and administratively.

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During my undergraduate field training, I interned as a Rape Crisis Counselor with Health & Education Services, Beverly MA and then volunteered/worked as a back-up supervisor for numerous years. 

 

My graduate training began at Catholic Charities, Peabody MA, where I did play therapy with school-aged children as young as 4 years old and collaborated with their families and outside agencies to deliver the highest level of care. 

 

I spent the following year as a Psychosocial Clinician at Dana Farber Cancer Institute/Children’s Hospital Boston, Boston MA, interning in Pediatric Oncology at The Jimmy Fund Clinic and doing individual and family therapy with children who had been diagnosed with cancer, undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and bone marrow transplants.  In some cases, end-of-life work was necessary dealing with loss/grief.

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Everyone has a purpose in life…a unique gift or special talent to give to others. And when we blend this unique talent with service to others, we experience the ecstasy and exultation of our own spirit, which is the ultimate goal of all goals." – Deepak Chopra