Biography
Shari R. Pearlman, RCSW, LCSW, JD is an experienced registered clinical social worker in BC and licensed clinician in Oregon. She works with adult individuals, supervising newer clinicians, couples, and facilitates groups and workshops. Shari specializes in working with lawyers, students and professionals who work in high stress environments. Shari uses an eclectic approach which includes but not limited to strength based, Mindful, Self-Compassion, CBT/DBT, with a trauma informed lens. She is qualified and welcomes BCCSW applicants as supervisees.
Her mission is to help clients create positive connections with themselves and others and successfully navigate through life’s crossroads. She specializes in helping adult clients of all ages be at the helm of their lives and careers so that they can make informed and healthy transitions. Shari prides herself in being the eye of the storm so that clients can feel more comfortable and gain stronger footing through life and mental health challenges and periods of overwhelm and crisis. Shari works with individuals and groups to foster successful career and life transitions, manage mental health challenges and heal from trauma. She is adept at empowering clients struggling with alcohol and substance misuse and other addictions/unhealthy patterns. She enjoys helping individuals and couples with relationship challenges using eclectic approaches to creating healthy relationship with themselves and each other. She likes to hold supportive space for people to work through stuck points and healing.
After working for organizations for most of her career, Shari is using her experience, knowledge and enthusiasm in her private practice. For the past 26 years Shari worked supporting members of the legal community and their family members at the Lawyers Assistance Program of BC (2020-2026) and the Oregon Attorney Assistance Program (1999-2020). Shari’s prior experiences include working in alcohol and substance use treatment, refugee life and work transitions, diagnosing veterans for service connected mental health disabilities, mental and crisis counselling. Shari worked as a criminal defense lawyer in Portland, OR from 1995-1999.
Education
Rutgers Camden School of Law, Camden, NJ -JD 1989-1992
Portland State University, Portland, OR-Certificate in Business Management 2005
Wurzweiler School of Social Work, NY, NY-MSW 1985-1987
RCCW BC- Registration #16790 since 2023
LCSW Oregon, USA- License # L4769 since 2010