PVD Psychological Associates

​ PVD Psychological Associates   offers the following Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) services: Individual, DBT-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — This therapy follows a traditional CBT framework with a focus on identifying the interaction between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and also integrates specific skills and strategies from DBT for clients who would benefit from this. Individual, DBT-Informed Therapy is ideally attended twice weekly. In some instances, the DBT skills are taught in session, but in many cases, clients will also attend a DBT group. https://www.pvdpsych.com/dialectical-behavior-therapy.html

PVD Psychological Associates offers individual and family therapy across the lifespan for a range of issues.  Depending on your personal preference, therapy history, and   what brings you to treatment now ,  dynamic, behavioral, or another type of therapy may be most appropriate for you.  We will work with you to understand why you are seeking therapy, and collaboratively construct a treatment plan. While we specialize in women's issues, eating disorders, school/career concerns, adolescent issues, relationship difficulties, perinatal mental health, and working with LGBTQIA individuals, we regularly see clients for a range of other issues. https://www.pvdpsych.com/therapistinprovidence.html

Individual Therapy is a process that focuses on growth and change. Talking about our issues and understanding our feelings paves the way to becoming more aware of the source of our struggles and painful feelings. This awareness allows us to perceive and create options in our lives, of which you may not have been aware. It focuses on finding ways to deal more effectively with feelings, behaviors, relationships, and life’s challenges. PVD Psychological Associates offers individual therapy across the lifespan for a range of issues.  https://www.pvdpsych.com/therapistinprovidence.html

Controlling anger before it controls you. We all know what anger is, and we've all felt it: whether as a fleeting annoyance or as full-fledged rage. Anger is a completely normal, usually healthy, human emotion. But when it gets out of control and turns destructive, it can lead to problems—problems at work, in your personal relationships, and in the overall quality of your life. And it can make you feel as though you're at the mercy of an unpredictable and powerful emotion. PVD Psychological Associates is here to support you. www.pvdpsych.com

Stress   is often defined as a bodily response to the demands of life. But there are also emotional and mental aspects of stress. It is experienced as thoughts and feelings as well as in the body. Another way to define stress could be as an internal and conditioned response to external pressures.  Mental health professionals often help people reduce and manage their stress. They can also help people work through other mental health issues that have developed while coping with high levels of stress over a period of time. https://www.pvdpsych.com/

If you need support, contact us today for  Panic Attack Therapy  in Providence, Rhode Island. www.pvdpsych.com

Sandy Muraoka, PhD Licensed Psychologist I am a licensed clinical psychologist in Rhode Island providing individual therapy for college students and adults of all ages. My areas of interest and specialization include women's issues, life transitions, multicultural issues, depression, anxiety, and aging.  https://www.pvdpsych.com/dr-sandy-muraoka.html

Teen depression is a serious mental health problem that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities. It affects how your teenager thinks, feels and behaves, and it can cause emotional, functional and physical problems. Although depression can occur at any time in life, symptoms may be different between teens and adults. Teen depression isn’t a weakness or something that can be overcome with willpower — it can have serious consequences and requires long-term treatment. For most teens, depression symptoms ease with treatment such as psychological counseling . For any support contact to PVD Psychological Associates https://www.pvdpsych.com/coaching.html

Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, LICSW Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker I received my Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from Columbia University. I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with over twenty years of experience with a diverse range of clients: ranging from children through older adults. I specialize in working with survivors of trauma and domestic violence, as well as those coping with loss. Throughout my career, I have obtained advanced training in several evidence-based treatments for trauma, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Sensorimotor Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), and mindfulness based approaches. I also incorporate elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Narrative therapies into my work as indicated. My pronouns are she/her/hers. I am licensed in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and offer online therapy to individuals residing in both of those states, in addition to my in-person practice i...

Julie Herzlinger, LICSW Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker I earned my bachelors degree in Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania. Following several years working in NYC, I then obtained my masters degree in social work from New York University in 2007. I have worked in a variety of clinical settings including community mental health centers, youth programs in under-resourced communities, nursing homes, clinical programs for individuals with dementia, and private practice. My pronouns are she/her/hers. https://www.pvdpsych.com/julie-herzlinger-licsw.html

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that some individuals develop after exposure to a traumatic event. It’s normal to experience intense fear, anxiety, and sadness during and after a traumatic experience. For some people, these feelings subside on their own over time. But for others, living through such experiences can lead to mental health challenges that interfere with their day-to-day life. In these instances, they may be experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. Any intensely distressing experience might qualify as traumatic, but common traumatic events range from upsetting events, like an accident or the loss of a loved one, to more extreme events, such as sexual assault, war, or natural disaster. In some cases, PTSD can also be caused by hearing about a traumatic event that a loved one has undergone, rather than experiencing such an event directly. www.pvdpsych.com

Dr. Mary Elizabeth Ruggiero is a Clinical Psychologist at PVD Psychological Associates. She is a bicultural and bilingual therapist (native fluency in Spanish) and provides individual therapy to college students, adolescents, and adults. In addition to her focus on college mental health, Dr. Ruggiero specializes in the areas of complex traumas, identity development, depressive disorders, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, relationship issues, and working with LGBTQIA-identified individuals. The majority of Dr. Ruggiero’s work as a therapist has been with a college and graduate student population. She enjoys working with young adult/college aged individuals, as this is a critical time in identity development. For several years, she also worked in community mental health and intensive outpatient hospital based settings, working with children/adolescents, and adults, respectively. Therapy can offer a creative and safe space for insight building, self-awareness, and it can lay a foundat...

Personality is a way of thinking, feeling and behaving that makes us unique and individual. It is generally thought that our unique personality develops through a combination of genetics, our environment and interactions between the two. Our personality usually stays pretty much the same throughout our lives. Some people find that their personality characteristics create challenges and cause distress. A personality disorder is when personality differs to cultural expectations, causes distress, interferes with participation in normal daily activities like work or relationships, and remains that way over time. The problematic patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving that are characteristic of personality disorders usually start by late adolescence or early adulthood. Without treatment, personality disorders can impact on a person’s life over the long-term. It’s common for people with personality disorders to also experience other challenges like depression, anxiety or substance abuse. ...

Dr. Jolie Weingeroff is a Clinical Psychologist at PVD Psychological Associates in Providence, RI. She has advanced training in evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for adults, college students, and adolescents. Her areas of specialization include anxiety, eating disorders, relationship issues, and student and graduate student mental health. She also has extensive experience working with LGBTQIA-identified individuals and their families. As a Clinical Psychologist with extensive training and years of experience in academic and research settings, Dr. Weingeroff has a particular interest in working with graduate students, fellows, faculty, and others working in academia or academic medical settings. Dr. Weingeroff enjoys helping these clients navigate the unique stressors and challenges associated with being part of this culture. Graduate school, fellowships, and residency are critical times in identity development an...

PVD Psychological Associates In most cases, grief is a normal and healthy reaction to an emotionally significant loss. Grief gives us a window in to our caring for the person or thing we’ve lost, and it can help us move forward into a new phase of life after the loss. Often, grief comes with symptoms of common mental health conditions like depression or anxiety, but it is not in itself a mental illness. However, when feelings of grief remain intense and last for a long time after a loss, they can keep you from moving forward with a healthy lifestyle. Therapists for loss and grief . www.pvdpsych.com

PVD Psychological Associates Nicole Issa Psychologist, PsyD Dr. Nicole Issa is a Clinical Psychologist in Providence, RI and is also the Founder of PVD Psychological Associates . Dr. Issa specializes in working with college students, adolescents, and adults. She also works with individuals of all ages who identify as members of the LGBTQIA community. PVD Psychological Associates is one of few BCBS of Rhode Island LGBTQ Safe Zone certified providers. In addition to seeing her clients in Rhode Island, Dr. Issa offers online therapy to clients in Massachusetts and New York. Dr. Issa treats a wide variety of issues, including depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. She is particularly passionate about supporting college and graduate students as they navigate academic and career stressors, adjustment to change, and relationship challenges. She also enjoys helping adolescents identify their strengths, process their emotions, and find healthy ways of coping with challenges. Dr. Issa meets ...

PVD Psychological Associates What is depression? Depression is a mental health condition that entails persistent sadness, apathy, hopelessness, and/or lack of interest in life. Mild versions of these feelings are normal parts of day-to-day life. It’s common, and even healthy, to feel sad or hopeless in reaction to a difficult life event, the state of the world around you, or just to go through a period of time where things feel off. But when these feelings become especially frequent, intense, or long-lasting, they can interfere with the daily life activities. Find therapists who specialize in depression near you. www.pvdpsych.com

Topics addressed in couples counseling Couples counseling can help you navigate urgent concerns, address ongoing issues, or learn general relationship skills. People choose to see a couples counselor for many reasons. The catalyst could be a pressing, urgent issue that you’re not currently equipped to handle, or it could be a subtly simmering issue that you want to tackle before one of you snaps. Still other couples choose to go to a therapist simply to build relationship skills or grow closer as a couple. The exact focus of your treatment will depend on the particulars of your relationship, and your therapist’s approach. https://www.pvdpsych.com/couples-and-relationship-difficulties.html

College Mental Health: Resources & Self-Care Strategies College is an exciting time for students, but also one that often poses challenges. Not only are you in a new environment and perhaps away from home for the first time, but also, the college age range has the highest prevalence of mental illnesses among any age group. These may include anxiety, depression, ADHD, learning disabilities, and alcohol and marijuana use. Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, and is generally not something that a person can simply “snap out” of. A mental illness can affect all aspects of a person’s life, including school and grades, relationships, social life, work, and everyday functioning. If you feel that you are struggling with your mental health, it is important to reach out to get the help you need and to take your mental health seriously. Learn about anxiety and depression in college, self-care strategies, and how to find a therapist below. Prevalence of mental illness among college ...

Anxiety disorder is a mental health disorder that entails excessive, repeated bouts of worry, anxiety, and/or fear. Feeling nervous or apprehensive is normal – even healthy at times. After all, that “fight or flight” feeling is what incentivizes you to prepare for a test or presentation, or makes your palms sweaty before a first date. But when anxiety runs deeper and feels unshakeable, it can potentially stand in the way of a healthy lifestyle. When worrying becomes the go-to response to everyday situations, it becomes debilitating. Prevalence of anxiety disorder Anxiety is very common in the United States. According to the ADAA, anxiety disorders are cumulatively the most common mental illnesses in the United States. Additional stats on anxiety:   Anxiety disorders affect 40 million adults in the United States aged 18 and up – over 18% of the population Women are twice as likely to experience anxiety disorders as men, according to some studies Your ...

Relationships are an important part of all of our lives. Whether romantic or platonic, our relationships with our nearest and dearest can bring us joy, meaning, and connection like nothing else. But in part because they mean so much to us, relationships can be stressful. What are relationship issues? While some level of conflict in any relationship is normal and can even be a healthy way to grow and connect, relationship issues can also lead to symptoms of common mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression. In some cases, relationship issues can escalate into emotional and/or physical abuse. When relationship issues become extreme or frequent, they often interfere with a healthy lifestyle. Therapists differ in their approaches to treating relationship issues. www.pvdpsych.com

Self-harm, also called self-injury, is where someone deliberately injures themselves in a way that is not intended to end their life. Strong emotional reactions to self-harm are common, and some people may find it distressing to read the following information. It is important to seek help if you are feeling distressed. There are many different ways a person might hurt themselves, such as: Cutting Burning Scratching Punching or hitting Taking too many tablets Swallowing things In many cases, people self-harm as a way of coping with or expressing overwhelming emotions; however, while self-harm may provide short-term relief, it poses risk and danger to the individual’s safety, and people usually end up feeling worse. With the right treatment, it is possible to learn safer and healthier coping mechanisms, soothing techniques, and communication skills. Prevalence of self harming behavior Research suggests that 1 to 4% of adults and 15% of adolescents in the United State...