Pivot Collaborative
a trauma informed group practice
Linda Bartoli, LCSW
Founding Director
she/they
As the founding director of Pivot Collaborative, I envisioned a diverse, inclusive practice driven by a deep passion for people and social change.
As a queer person, I sought to bring together individuals who challenge systems, support each other, and advocate for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ folks and intersectional justice — people who thrive on collaboration and are dedicated to dismantling oppression.
I’m proud of this team. We are good people — humble, skilled, eager to keep learning.
My journey began in 1993. I was a respite worker, still finding my footing, while attending Loyola University Chicago. My first focus was on families and children living with HIV and AIDS. In 1999, I moved to New York, chasing knowledge, graduating from NYU’s Master of Social Work program, and diving deeper into trauma, becoming a therapist who sees the wounds and the ways we grow around them.
Over 25 years, I’ve walked with people through change, through loss, grief, life adjustments, trauma, anxieties and depression. I have been awed by their bravery and courage – their ability to find joy and cultivate resilience.
I enjoy the complexities of identity, the way intersections create new layers. I’m passionate about mentoring therapists and about working in consultation. I enjoy the kind of conversations that open up choice.
I think about aging as a queer person, about what it means to grow into yourself instead of trying to fix it.
Relationships matter to me. Knowing oneself matters.
People often tell me I’m patient, a little quirky, witty and kind. But more than anything, I feel lucky — lucky to have lived and worked in places like Chicago, New York, Berlin, and London. Lucky to be part of a practice that allows me to sit with people as they reflect on their lives. I don’t take that lightly. It’s a gift, really, to witness people’s bravery.
Our stories matter.
Sliding Scale/ BCBS PPO/ BCBS Blue Choice/ Aetna/ USHIP
email:lbartoli@pivotcollaborative.com / phone 8723365160
Pronouns: she/they