Dwayne Bartholomew

I've spent more than 15 years working inside the systems that shape people's lives - child welfare, crisis intervention, family courts, and community organizations across Greater Boston. I've seen what happens when trauma goes unaddressed, and I've seen what's possible when someone finally gets the right support. That background informs everything about how I practice. I bring clinical precision and a real-world perspective to therapy, and I take seriously how race, identity, culture, and life circumstances shape a person's experience. I work especially well with men who've been strong for everyone else and are ready to do something for themselves. You don't have to have your thoughts organized before the first session - you just have to show up.

I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) alongside strengths-based and solution-focused techniques. In practice, that means we work together to understand the patterns that aren't serving you, build concrete skills for managing difficult emotions and stress, and identify the strengths you already have - because you have them, even if they've been buried under everything else. My approach is DEI-informed and trauma-informed. I genuinely account for how systems, institutions, and structural experiences shape mental health, and I don't ask clients to separate their identity from their healing.

The first session is a real conversation - not an intake form read back to you out loud. I'll ask about what's been going on, what's felt most difficult, and what you're hoping therapy can offer. You set the pace. There's no pressure to share more than you're ready to. By the end of our first hour together, you'll know whether working with me feels right, and you'll have a clear sense of where we might go. I typically offer evening and weekend availability for clients who work during the day - telehealth across Massachusetts, so there's no commute involved.