Patricia Palmer

Patricia Palmer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of New Jersey. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree as a double major in Psychology & Family Science from the University of Maryland in College Park. Patricia then earned her Master’s in Social Work with a concentration in Children and Families from Rutgers University. 

Patricia began her career in the social work field working as a Care Manager working with youth and families in Union County, and has since then served as a Behaviorist, Psychotherapist, Intensive In-Community Therapist, and Parent Mentor. Throughout this career, she has had the opportunity to obtain specialized training in various modalities including Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Nurtured Heart Approach, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – for Eating Disorders, and more.

Patricia’s goal throughout the duration of her career continues to be making make mental health services accessible for children and families of color and other marginalized populations. She has a particular interest in the role mental health and socialization plays in the lives and trajectory of African American males.  
In her current role, she serves as a Behavioral Health Consultant under the Center for Integrated Care within Rutgers University Behavioral Healthcare. She serves as the behavioral health support primary Rutgers Child Health Institute, providing and service and interventions to families seeing specialist physicians in Gastroenterology, Rheumatology, and Adolescent Medicine departments. 

Patricia is a proud Rutgers alumni, employee, and social worker. She feels her personal and professional life have come full circle as she moves into her journey to obtain her DSW at Rutgers and is delighted to be part of the DSW Class of 2026!

Supporting Black Female Adolescents with Obesity in Healthcare

Obesity is a growing public health concern in the United States that disproportionately impacts Black girls and women, who often face unique social, emotional, and cultural challenges in addition to the physical effects of the disease. This MMP, titled The Weight of Wellness provides an educational and therapeutic resource dedicated to understanding obesity through a compassionate, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive lens. The MMP highlights how factors such as emotional abandonment, weight stigma, blame, and culturally insensitive healthcare practices can affect treatment outcomes and long-term well-being, while emphasizing the importance of compassionate care, supportive relationships, and emotionally safe interventions. Through education, advocacy, and evidence-based guidance, The Weight of Wellness offers strategies for healthcare professionals, youth/teens, and parents/caregivers to promote healthier outcomes by addressing both physical health and emotional wellness. It seeks to improve obesity treatment outcomes and advance more equitable, person-centered healthcare for Black girls and women and other historically underserved populations.