Dr. Pamela Blackwell is a licensed psychology associate who specializes in providing comprehensive evaluations. She works with children, adolescents, and adults that present with an array of developmental, cognitive, behavioral, and social-emotional challenges. Dr. Blackwell utilizes a client- centered approach that evaluates and conceptualizes the individual as a whole person; her assessment focus extends beyond symptoms and pathology and includes the intersectionality of the individual’s unique identities, experiences and environment(s). Dr. Blackwell strives to provide assessment data that will assist client’s and their families with cultivating treatment and educational planning that will enhance the client’s overall quality of life.
Education
- Spelman College, B.A. in psychology
- Savannah State University, MSW clinical concentration
- George Washington University, MPsy in clinical psychology
- George Washington University, PsyD in clinical psychology
Internship and Post Doctoral Training
- APA accredited internship program at Howard University; private practice in Maryland
Membership
- The American Psychological Association
- The American Psychoanalytic Association
- The Maryland Psychological Association
- Society for Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychology
- Connecticut Society of Psychoanalytic Psychology
- The Association of Black Psychologist
- National Association of Social Workers
- National Alumnae Association of Spelman College
Credentials
- Licensed Psychology Associate in Maryland
- Licensed Master Social Worker in Maryland
Services Provided
- Comprehensive Psychological Evaluations
- Psychoeducational evaluations
- Social, Emotional, and Behavioral assessments
- Admissions Testing
Expertise
- ADHD and Executive Functioning Challenges
- Developmental and Cognitive Functioning
- Learning Disabilities/ Differences
- Giftedness
- Mood Disorders
- Anxiety Disorders
- Disruptive and Behavioral Disorders
- PTSD/ Trauma Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Culture and identity injuries
Background
Dr. Blackwell’s background in assessment consists of diverse clinical experiences. After receiving her degree in psychology from Spelman College, Dr. Blackwell enlisted in the United States Army as a military police officer, and this experience became the catalyst for her clinical interest. She transitioned out of the military and began clinical training as a social worker for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) where she was exposed to assessments for a wide array of mental health challenges. Dr. Blackwell elected to further her education and training by pursuing her doctorate in clinical psychology. During her doctorate studies, Dr. Blackwell received comprehensive and psychoeducational assessment training at the Frost School under the Sheppard Pratt health system and the GW center clinic. She completed her psychology internship at Howard University where she participated in a clinical rotation at the DC Superior courts, child guidance clinic, and trained in forensic assessment. As a Hansell award recipient, Dr. Blackwell was affirmed for her profound skill in restructuring and decolonizing the mental health treatment model.
Upon completion of her doctorate degree, Dr. Blackwell ventured into her specialty in reproductive psychology where she assists families with the emotional and psychological challenges related to human reproduction. This includes psychological assessments for gamete donors, traditional surrogates, and gestational carriers. Conjointly, she has continued to provide comprehensive and psychoeducational assessments for children and adults as well as service-connected disability evaluations for veterans. Galvanized by her love and passion for knowledge and academia, Dr. Blackwell became a professor at her alma mater where she teaches courses related to forensic psychology in order to help transform the next generation of psychologist.
Dr. Blackwell’s therapeutic framework is rooted in this quote by Matt Haig, “Mental health problems don’t define who you are. They are something you experience. You walk in the rain and you feel the rain, but, importantly, YOU ARE NOT THE RAIN.”
