Pamela WinE, MA, NCC, LPC, Registered Play Therapist, PCIT

My children are pieces of my heart walking around outside of my body. They are pure light and love; truly magical, resilient, connection seeking souls; my MOST magnificent accomplishment. As a mother, I know at a soul level how I love my children, and the level of careful tenderness, respect and love at which I desire others will interact with them. I extend this nurturing approach toward all of my clients. Lovingkindness, nurturing, and connection are the foundation of my practice. Every day, in an effort to create space big and soft enough for clients to feel safe being vulnerable, I am driven to walk beside them with great HOPE; through anger, sadness, grief, varying diagnoses, trauma, shame and myriad other difficult life experiences. I believe my clients know what they need in order to heal, and it is a honor to participate in processing and guiding them toward resources and coping skills to cultivate that healing. Through behavioral parent training, Play Therapy, attachment focused interventions, and inner child work for adults, clients are given the opportunity to process, and resources to RISE above adversity and let their inner light SHINE.   

I love what I do. Being a therapist is far more than a job for me. It reflects a core part of me that enjoys and is passionate about getting to know people on a real, connected level. For as long as I can remember, I have been drawn to hearing others’ stories, advocating for them, and supporting them as they pursue health, meaning,   and hope. The therapy process provides the perfect space for authentic, face-to-face conversations in the midst of a busy and stressful world. As a therapist, I guide children, adolescents, and women through personal challenges, help ease emotional burdens, and empower them to achieve healthier minds and relationships. 

Since 2015, I have worked closely with children and adolescents who have been impacted deeply by various forms of trauma and unique struggles. I have enjoyed encouraging, motivating, and empowering these strong and resilient young folks as they navigated challenges, relationships, and transitions. By using an integrative approach, I use elements of Person-Centered, Solution Focused, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy tools and techniques to tailor sessions specific to the needs and desires of my clients. Above all, it is my desire to create a safe, validating, and supportive space to instill hope and build on the unique and stunning strengths of every one of the children, young people, and women I work with.   

Everyone has a story. I have dedicated my life to listening, holding space for feelings, processing and growth, and walking beside clients in their journey to find inner peace. For the past 22 years, I have been an elementary school counselor. It has been an amazing experience that lends itself toward a natural transition to include seeing clients privately, and I am excited to continue my passion at Rise + Shine Counseling. By utlilising elements of Cognitive Behavioral and Solution Focused Therapy,  I intend to empower others by helping them discover strengths, celebrate resilience, and support their goals through introduction of new coping strategies through a client centered relationship. 

Born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas, I moved to the great (and HOT) state of Florida to earn a bachelor’s degree in Family and Child Sciences from Florida State University, and a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University. I then became a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) and practiced at Miami Children’s Hospital and later at Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina. As a CCLS, I was clinically trained to support infants, children, youth, and families to cope with stress and uncertainty of acute and chronic illness, trauma, disability, loss and bereavement. My work as a CCLS developed my profound appreciation for how incredibly resilient children can be when given the right tools.

After returning home to Kansas City to start my own family, I continued to refine my skills as a play therapist through the Play Therapy program at MidAmerica Nazarene University. Leaning on my knowledge of child development, family systems, Conscious Discipline, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Polyvagal Theory, and the belief that every client is the agent for change if provided the right atmosphere and connection, it is my hope that our work together will bring about the peace you’re seeking. I intend to do this by holding space for you in a nonthreatening and nonjudgmental way, allowing for the authenticity and vulnerability necessary to elicit the growth and lasting changes you're seeking.

It is truly my privilege to meet you with an open heart and offer my knowledge, experience, and unconditional support. I look forward to getting to the root of whatever issues bring you and your child into therapy.

   “When you can’t look on the bright side, I will sit with you in the dark.” – Unknown

Through my personal experiences, I have learned there is no bright side without a dark one, and the dark side can feel lonely. By being a therapist, I have the opportunity to create a safe place in my office for people to choose to sit on the dark side with someone, learning to be less afraid of the shadows. As a therapist, I help individuals embrace their experiences and empower them to live a life in which they are proud of themselves and their resilience. 

I have worked in mental health since 2015 where I worked with teens and their parents at a residential boarding school, where the most important task I was charged with was to connect and sit with the teens in dark and challenging times. I use a variety of approaches including person-centered, solution focused, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to address depression, anxiety, and trauma symptoms impacting individuals.

When I’m not in the office, you can find me spending time with my family and friends or reading a book. My form of self-care is through connection, whether it be with the people I love or in someone’s story in books. I look forward to connecting with you and walking with you on your journey of knowing yourself better, learning to live a life you enjoy.