Paul Gitterman, M.S.W. ‘94, LICSW, MSc, CGP is a staff psychotherapist in Williams College’s Integrative Wellbeing Services (IWS); he also has a private practice. Summers, he comes to the Smith campus as an adjunct faculty member to teach Group Theory and Practice and Advanced Group Theory and Practice.
Whatever his schedule, every day begins with yoga. Then, unless New England is dishing up some especially nasty weather, he bicycles to work. “Mostly I’m riding on a dirt road or a trail; it’s quite lovely. There was a time when I’d be rushing out the door, flip phone to my ear. Starting my day this way gives me a reference point to return to when things get challenging.”
Name: Paul Gitterman
Degree: M.S.W. ‘94
Location: Williamstown, MA
At IWS, Paul meets primarily with young adults 18 to 22 years old, although older, nontraditional students, including veterans and graduate students are also in the mix. He might see “a first-generation student who has worked really hard to gain mastery but now has to adapt to a new environment. Not only is it academically intense, but there’s also the social and emotional aspects of campus life to manage.”
The next student might be a person of color with similar issues. “The college is more aware and diverse than it’s ever been and it’s committed to disentangling white supremacy,” Paul said, “but still there are students who feel marginalized. They may be used to acclimating themselves to settings where they are in the minority but doing so has come at a price.”
Then, it’s an athlete seeking help. Paul has been a part of IWS’s Sports Psychology since 2013, when it began offering dedicated mental health services for athletes, in light of the fact that they were less likely than other students to access such resources. “Maybe the coach suggested they get some counseling. To start, we discuss sports-related things: how to handle anxiety, pressure to perform, competition. Then the student might say their family is having health or financial problems or experiencing stress around their immigration status. Worrying about them makes it hard for the student to concentrate on school work, and that makes it harder to keep up in their sport.”
In the afternoon, Paul meets with interns and post-graduate fellows receiving advanced clinical training in IWS. He also co-facilitates a group therapy session.
“Group work is my passion,” he said, “it’s a way to connect to something bigger than oneself.”
That’s so important on a college campus, he believes. “Students can feel very lonely because they don’t have friends—even when they’re surrounded by friends. Group therapy gives them a place to talk about psychological and emotional subjects; it’s a unique social dynamic that enables connection.”
Loneliness also comes up in his private practice, particularly for the men he sees, in person and remotely. “As men, they have had opportunities and advantages, but at some point in their lives, they realize they’re not particularly happy. They’re not where they wanted to be in their career. Their family is not a refuge they come home to at the end of the day. Maybe they don’t have close friends or a good romantic relationship. I work with them to develop their emotional connections in relationships, build awareness of their own psychological and emotional states, become part of the community, more connected with the world.”
Threaded through each week are activities related to his membership in the American Group Psychotherapy Association. He serves on its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force, gives presentations, and participates in panel discussions. This aspect of his life has long been and continues to be very meaningful to him.
“Meeting with people from around the country, with colleagues I ‘grew up with’ professionally, folks with similar passions, who share my interest in social justice—these experiences sustain me,” Paul said. “Being part of a community, of different groups, having places that hold me and having gracious and supportive family and friends, are really important to me. I’m grateful for my life and being able to do the work I do. It’s a pretty good gig.”
