PVD Psychological Associates

With low self-esteem, we don’t value our own opinions, needs, and ideas as much as those of other people. We’re self-critical and focus on our perceived weaknesses and flaws, yet ignore or dismiss our strengths, skill, and success. We negatively compare ourselves to others who we think are more attractive, capable or successful. We have difficulty accepting negative feedback and may be risk-averse due to our fear of failing. Therapy and changing our beliefs, behavior, and how we think about ourselves can raise our self-esteem. Since many people have struggled with self-esteem issues from early childhood until the present, it’s often necessary to seek therapy for this condition as it’s one that most people aren’t often able to treat on their own.  Having a supportive and caring therapist to guide you to a more realistic sense of self, as well as encourage and help you to take risks and focus on the positives to overcome the grip that low self self-esteem can have. https://pvdpsych....

  5 Ways To Use DBT To Reduce Conflict During COVID One of the unexpected outcomes of COVID-19’s presence in our world is the divisive nature of our feelings and actions about it. One of the unfortunate outcomes of dealing with the pandemic has been its divisive nature. It seems to have only amplified a divide in the country, with some individuals being very cautious while others are not. Some have identified generational contributions to this divide while others have pointed to political differences. Sometimes, too, the urge to participate in important life experiences (i.e. parties, major life events, school, sports) leads to disagreements. As colleges and universities are soon resuming in various forms, students will undoubtedly start having conflict around navigating living together and not becoming isolated. Ultimately, we need to figure out how to manage conflict around our differences in opinion as covid-19 will likely be with us for a while. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DB...

  PVD Psychological Associates offers online therapy/teletherapy to clients in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York. Through a secure, online platform, we offer confidential video therapy to you in the privacy of your own home, office, or other location of your choosing. When you factor in busy schedules, difficulty finding childcare, and potential transportation challenges, getting to therapy can be difficult, if not impossible. Online therapy makes therapy portable; this is particularly useful for clients who relocate or who are looking for a specialist and cannot find one in their area. We also find that occasional online therapy or our concierge time management services to supplement ongoing, in person sessions can help greatly with the application of strategies discussed in therapy because we are able to work in real time with our clients. Contact us  to discuss whether online therapy/teletherapy might be appropriate for you. https://pvdpsych.com/online-the...

  Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders The  Therapists   at   PVD Psychological Associates  specialize in working with women throughout their pregnancy and postpartum. We will assess for important shifts that may indicate postpartum depression and/or anxiety or, in the case of traumatic labor experiences, postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder. Together we can work on behavioral strategies to manage individuals’ mood, anxiety, disruptions in sleep, breastfeeding concerns, prioritizing self-care, and combatting isolation and loneliness that may come with being a new parent. https://pvdpsych.com/mary-elizabeth-ruggiero-phd/

  Couples frequently seek treatment at PVD Psychological Associates to work on improving communication, conflict resolution, financial difficulties, and sexual issues. If you need support,   contact us today . https://pvdpsych.com/relationship-difficulties/ Location :  150 Lloyd Ave#1, Providence, RI 02906 Phone: 401 330 5882

  PVD Psychological Associates offers online therapy/teletherapy to clients in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York. Through a secure, online platform, we offer confidential video therapy to you in the privacy of your own home, office, or other location of your choosing. https://pvdpsych.com/

  5 Ways That Negativity Affects Brain Chemistry, and What to Do Our thoughts have a profound impact on our brain chemistry and basic physiology. Our bodies are programmed to respond in certain ways to different situations. Based on your appraisal of, or thought about, a given situation, your brain will have a specific chemical reaction which communicates to your body how to respond. For example, when you are faced with danger, your thought process might be “there is danger and now I need to run,” but more likely than not, the process happens more instantaneously because you have a thought about danger and your brain then takes over. Here are some specific ways that negativity can affect your brain and body: Negative thinking can lead to decreased cognitive functioning. When you have emotionally charged thoughts, most often negative ones, your limbic system (the reptilian brain – the part that is not as evolved) takes over and your prefrontal cortex which is used for cognitive func...

  A mental health counselor is a professional who utilizes a variety of psychotherapy methods and techniques to help people experiencing psychological distress. In the United States, about one in four adults are suffering from mental illness at any given time, and research shows that close to fifty percent of adults will have at least one mental illness during their lifetime. https://pvdpsych.com/

  Children and adolescents may be struggling with adjusting to a new school environment or may be experiencing behavioral issues secondary to anxiety, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD), or learning differences. We see many students in high pressure environments who are struggling with perfectionism, time management, stress management , and social adjustment. We also work with students to navigate the college application process. https://pvdpsych.com/what-we-treat/

  As couples struggle to deal with the emotions of pregnancy loss, many approach the process of grieving in ways that inhibit healing, which can negatively impact their relationship. Given the potential difficulties, many couples seek therapy to help them with the challenges that may follow pregnancy loss. Therapy is a natural fit when treating grieving couples as it allows them to coauthor their story of loss and coauthor a story of healing. Therapy provides a space for couples to share their story, externalize problems related to the loss, find unique outcomes to support an alternative story, and solidify a new narrative related to their pregnancy loss. https://pvdpsych.com/therapy/

  Mental Health Counseling is a self-discovery process that helps individuals become more aware of themselves and their environment while learning to better manage and cope with their daily life stressors as well as those of others. Utilizing a wellness approach, it incorporates the principles of mental health, psychology, and human development into cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and/or systemic interventions that address wellness, personal growth, career development, and pathology to empower clients to independently solve their own problems. https://pvdpsych.com/therapy/

  How to Tell if Your Partner Resents You, and What to Do Resentment in a relationship can destroy positive feelings, respect, and warmth your partner otherwise felt toward you. Instead of being your cheerleader and biggest fan, they may start to hold you back from opportunities or activities you enjoy. Once a relationship turns competitive, it is in dark territory. Since resentment can be so detrimental to relationships, it is essential to develop an awareness of whether you are starting to feel resentful of your partner or detect if they are starting to feel resentment toward you. Often, resentment can creep up on people in an insidious way and quietly build until there’s an explosion, of sorts, and that is why it is so important to catch it early. Some early signs your partner resents you: They have the same or similar complaints repeatedly. If your partner notes that you are always staying late at work and they feel lonely, but nothing changes, resentment will likely start to s...

  EXCEPTIONAL THERAPY IN PVD PVD Psychological Associates (PVD Psych) is a private psychology practice in the College Hill neighborhood of the East Side of Providence, Rhode Island. We specialize in providing evidence based treatment across the lifespan for depression, anxiety, eating disorders, college and graduate student mental health, trauma, and relationship difficulties. We are a BCBSRI certified LGBTQ Safe Zone practice and offer LGBTQIA Affirming and Gender Affirming Therapy. We strongly believe that everyone has the right to safe, respectful, and affirming, high quality care. https://pvdpsych.com/

  Talk therapy , also known as psychotherapy, is based on the core idea that talking about the things that are bothering you can help clarify them and put them in perspective. Call us to inquire about therapy, or  have us call you ! https://pvdpsych.com/

  Insurance Coverage ​ PVD Psychological Associates greatly values improving access to quality care to our community, and we are proud to be “in-network” with Blue Cross, and accept UnitedHealth Student Resources. Prior to your initial session, we recommend that you contact your insurance provider to inquire about your “in-network” and “out-of-network” mental health benefits. This will ensure that you are aware of your financial obligation for each session and what your insurance provider will cover prior to beginning therapy. Service codes: 90791 Intake Appointment 90834 Individual Therapy 90847 Family/Couples Therapy ​Private Pay ​Some clients prefer not to use insurance for therapy in order to protect their confidentiality and prevent mental health diagnoses/treatment from being included in their medical record. If you feel strongly about keeping your permanent medical record separate from your therapy, but finances are a barrier, please feel free to contact us to discuss priva...

  The therapists at PVD Psychological Associates have expertise working with LGBTQIA+ identified individuals, couples and their families. https://pvdpsych.com/lgbtqia-affirming-services/

  5 Signs of ‘Walking Depression Walking Depression is not an official medical term. It refers to a clinical presentation of depression that is easily disguised and which allows the sufferer to go about their daily life without anyone knowing anything is wrong. Synonyms for walking depression include high functioning depression and apparent competence. This clinical presentation can be particularly dangerous because individuals who easily disguise their depression are likely unable to get the emotional support they need. If they were able to acknowledge their feelings and express them to others, they would be able to get support but instead they are left to have a private experience of depression. It is a hidden experience and can also make people especially lonely. In fact, these depressed individuals may not even know they are depressed because they do not look like a typical person with depression and they also don’t take their experience so seriously. It is important to differe...

​Skin picking and hair pulling are two of the most common body focused repetitive behaviors we see in therapy. Another example of a body focused repetitive behavior that is nail biting. Body focused repetitive behaviors result in a sense of release of tension. CBT is used to treat these behaviors by helping individuals understand their triggers and then engage in different behaviors instead, often ones that are more healthy or adaptive. https://pvdpsych.com/anxiety-disorders/

During the assessment process, you will participate in a clinical interview, where you be asked to provide information about your background and history, including medical, psychological, educational, and social history. If you are seeking psychological testing for your child, you and your child will participate in the interview process. We may also contact your child’s school to gather information and data about their learning, behavior, and presentation at school. The assessor will work directly with your child or adolescent in order to complete a cognitive assessment. A cognitive assessment includes a set of tasks that are given to a student in order to measure brain activities, including areas such as verbal communication , concept formation, problem solving, reasoning, memory, speed of task completion, and Executive Functioning. https://pvdpsych.com/psychological-testing/

  Self-esteem  is the degree to which one feels confident, valuable, and worthy of respect. It exists on a continuum from high to low. Where a person’s self-esteem falls on this spectrum can influence one’s overall well-being. People with high self-esteem often feel good about themselves and their progress through life. People with low self-esteem often feel shame and self-doubt. They often spend lots of time criticizing themselves. Low self-esteem is a symptom of several mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression . https://pvdpsych.com/

Online counseling is an alternative to traditional counseling sessions. During online counseling therapy, professional counseling services are offered through the Internet. Counseling provided by Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Online Counselors and trained professionals can make a huge impact on the mental health and quality of life of individuals, families and communities.  Anxiety, depression, stress is on the rise and the conventional avenue of seeking recourse are risky, online counseling is a way to avail counseling services from the comfort of your own home. You can also search on the internet for ‘Online Therapists near me’ or ‘ Talk to a therapist online ’ to find some of the top online counselors in your city . https://pvdpsych.com/online-therapy/

  8 CBT and DBT Skills To Use This Fall And Winter During a “normal time,” the approach of the cooler months can elicit feelings of dread. Many struggle with seasonal depression and are impacted greatly by the shorter days, having less time outside, less social interaction due to changes in weather, and the holiday season. This year is unique in that we now have to add fears of COVID-19, an election and everyone’s reaction to its outcome, the most intense social unrest in decades, and adjusting to (continued) school and working from home. We don’t know if we will be able to see loved ones for the holidays or if we will be alone. The list goes on and on. In short, it is completely reasonable to have concerns about what the fall and winter will bring. Now is a good time to think about coping strategies to use during that time and start to mentally prepare. 8 CBT and DBT Skills To Use This Fall And Winter: Cope Ahead.  I recommend trying to cope ahead for the season change. The m...