Carolina Pinheiro, MSW in progress
Psychotherapist in Training
The stories we tell about ourselves have the power to limit us—or to open new possibilities for living. Carolina believes that therapy offers a space where those stories can be heard with curiosity and compassion, helping people discover new ways of understanding themselves, their relationships, and the lives they want to create.
At the heart of Carolina’s work is a philosophy she calls Creative Listening. More than listening well, Creative Listening is an ethical and relational practice that creates the conditions for new meanings to emerge. Carolina believes that when people experience being deeply listened to, they often begin to hear themselves differently. In that process, possibilities that once felt hidden can become visible, opening the way for healing, growth, and change.
Inspired by narrative approaches to psychotherapy, Carolina sees therapy as a collaborative conversation rather than a process of fixing problems. Together, therapist and client explore the stories that have shaped a person’s life while making room for alternative stories that reflect their values, strengths, hopes, and preferred ways of being.
Carolina Pinheiro is currently pursuing a dual MSW/PhD in Social Work at the University at Albany while completing her clinical training in psychotherapy. She welcomes clients in both English and Portuguese, recognizing that speaking in one’s preferred language can create a deeper sense of comfort and connection.
She also holds Reiki Levels I and II certifications and completed a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training, experiences that have deepened her appreciation for the interconnectedness of mind, body, and emotional well-being.
Creative Listening has been the thread connecting Carolina’s work for more than twenty years. It first emerged during her legal studies in Brazil, where she explored how listening could contribute to a more relational and democratic approach to justice. She later expanded the concept in her master’s research in International Affairs, and it has continued to shape her academic writing and professional life.
Whether representing Indigenous communities, partnering with grassroots organizations across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, or working in international finance, Carolina found herself returning to the same question: What becomes possible when people are deeply listened to? Today, psychotherapy is the natural home for that lifelong inquiry, bringing together years of scholarship, professional experience, and a deep commitment to accompanying others as they explore their own stories.
