Therapy that meets you where you are and supports you in where you want to go.
Salem offers virtual therapy sessions in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Specialties include, LGBTQ+, Adolescence, Parenting, and Trauma Work. Though Salem has expertise in these areas, he also works with a wider range of needs and disorders; from anxiety and depression to stress management.
About Salem (He/Him)
Salem Black, who holds a Master’s degree in both Biomedical Anthropology and Social Work, has an extensive background in working with children and families. His academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, followed by a Master’s degree in Biomedical Anthropology from Binghamton University. This interdisciplinary approach provided him with a unique perspective on the intersection of behavioral patterns and public health.
Salem utilized this knowledge in the criminal justice system, where he worked with incarcerated individuals. He developed and taught reintegration classes, which significantly reduced recidivism rates in a pilot program in Pittsburgh. The success of this initiative led to its adoption and implementation in detention centers nationwide.
Recognizing the profound impact of childhood instability, systemic failures, and inadequate mental health support, Salem transitioned into child welfare. He collaborated directly with the Department for Children and Families in Massachusetts and Vermont. His role evolved from direct social work to the development and training of trauma-informed curricula in partnership with the University of Vermont. As a Child Welfare Specialist, he facilitated trauma-informed trainings that enhanced parenting skills, case management, and direct social work. These trainings were utilized statewide by foster and adoptive parents, mental health professionals, and The Department for Children and Families. Salem also contributed to statewide workgroups that influenced policy changes and standards of care.
Identifying a critical need for quality mental health care, Salem pursued a Master’s of Social Work from the Catholic University of America, with a clinical focus. This additional qualification enabled him to serve as a child and adolescent therapist at the Brattleboro Retreat. His work with the state and clinical engagement allowed him to develop expertise in best practices for working with LGBTQ+ individuals, identity development, and the complex systems that various identity communities interact with.
Following his relocation to Boston, he applied his knowledge and experience to the environment of inpatient psychiatry at Boston Children’s Hospital. Salem brings this wealth of knowledge to outpatient treatment, utilizing a strength-based approach and empirically based modalities in his practice. His goal is to support people during challenging periods of healing ,transition, identity exploration, and the increasing complexities they encounter daily.
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It all begins with a step, an inquiry, a desire for change. You can take the smallest possible step, and you are still moving forward.