Counselor in Providence RI


Mary Elizabeth Ruggiero, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist

I earned my Psy.D. from William James College (formerly the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology), and my master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. I completed my pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the Personal Counseling Center at Providence College, where I currently hold a position as staff psychologist. I really enjoy working with young adult/college aged individuals, as this is an opportune time in identify development, and therapy can offer a creative and safe space for insight building, self-awareness, and it can lay a foundation for emotional healing and other changes. Previously, I held a position for several years as a clinical therapist in a community mental health center, where my primary focus was working with children, adolescents and families.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist and am a bicultural and bilingual therapist (native fluency in Spanish). I provide individual and group therapy to college students, adolescents, and adults. I have advanced psychodynamic training and practice within a psychodynamic-interpersonal framework, though I often use strategies from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness, compassion based techniques, and narrative approaches. I specialize in the areas of complex traumas, identity development, depressive disorders, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, relationship issues, and working with LGBTQIA-identified individuals.
​In addition to clinical work, I involve myself in other parts of the field of Psychology, including resiliency studies, suicide prevention programs and social justice efforts within the LGBTQIA community. I like to continue to challenge myself within the field and continue to grow, personally and professionally.
In my work, I take great care to develop a safe, warm and collaborative relationship with my clients, as I believe this relationship is a key conductor towards healing, hope and change. I typically like to understand all of my clients from a holistic perspective, taking into account early life experiences, their attachments and relationships. As a therapist, I believe in tailoring treatment to the unique needs of each person at that specific point in their life. I believe that the key instruments necessary for the art of therapy are: empathy, attunement, play, hope and patience. It is my belief that we can all find a life that is worth living, where we can express our most genuine and authentic self, with love and compassion. As a therapist, I remain very humble in my stance and for me, it is an honor to witness my client’s unfolding narrative and healing process.
Location: United States

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