PVD Psychological Associates

  Benefits of Grief Counseling Grief counseling isn’t some miracle cure for dealing with loss. It won’t help the bereaved forget about a deceased loved one or avoid the pain of loss. Instead, it can help the bereaved understand, accept, and manage emotions to live a full life — but there’s no guarantee that everyone will experience the same benefits. Grief can exact a heavy toll, leaving sufferers feeling drained physically, mentally, and emotionally. Counseling can guide patients toward self-care strategies to help them cope and recover, including mindfulness practices and simple tips like exercising and getting enough sleep. https://pvdpsych.com/therapy/

  Sometimes, the victim is able to coerce the abuser into emotional abuse treatment either in a couple or individual therapy setting. This is rarely helpful and can actually harm the relationship. In couple's therapy, the abuser has the chance to misrepresent themselves, paint themselves as a victim and charm the therapist into believing there is nothing wrong with them and indicating that the victim has all the problems. Most abusers are skilled manipulators and quite capable of getting a therapist, particularly one not specializing in emotional abuse, on their side https://pvdpsych.com/about/

  Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan to help individuals who have difficulty managing their emotions, handling “crisis situations” of peak distress without engaging in impulsive and self-destructive behaviors, and navigating relationships effectively. In order to achieve best results, individuals will participate in both individual DBT and group skills training. https://pvdpsych.com/dialectical-behavior-therapy-pvdpsych/

  Cognitive behavioral therapy is defined as "psychotherapy that combines cognitive therapy with behavior therapy by identifying faulty or maladaptive patterns of thinking, emotional response, or behavior and substituting them with desirable patterns of thinking, emotional response, or behavior. https://pvdpsych.com/dialectical-behavior-therapy-pvdpsych/

  It’s not news to anyone that the holiday season is one of the most stressful times of the year for many. From conflict with family and financial strain to just plain stress about having an enjoyable time and making sure others do, too, this time of year can present many challenges. The following six tips can keep you feeling more grounded and in control of your emotional response, and that can make all the difference. Practice mindfulness by tuning into your environment in order to move your focus back to the present and away from your worries. Count holiday decorations in a store, like the number of Santas you see while you’re shopping. If you’re at a holiday party or meal, focus on the taste of food. Count how many times you are chewing each bite.  Take steps each day during the holiday to bring your baseline anxiety down so that your threshold for what you can tolerate increases. Do this by taking a couple minutes at night to count your breath or do progressive muscle re...

  Body-focused repetitive behaviors, or BFRBs, are a set of disorders categorized by self-grooming routines that essentially go awry. These include pulling, picking, biting, or scraping one's hair, skin, or nails. The disorders include trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling), dermatillomania (compulsive skin picking, also called excoriation disorder), and onychophagia (compulsive nail biting). The prevalence of BFRBs is estimated to be at least 3 percent of the population, affecting both children and adults. Treatment recommendations for BFRBs include cognitive behavioral therapy and medication. https://pvdpsych.com/dialectical-behavior-therapy-pvdpsych/

  Psychologists can help people recognize and avoid the triggers that make them angry. They can also provide ways to help people manage the inevitable anger that sometimes flares without warning. https://pvdpsych.com/contact/

  Stress is a normal part of life — good stress and bad stress. With bad stress, you have both physical and emotional reactions to certain triggers that can cause you to worry and feel on edge. Stress can fluctuate at work or at home, while challenging situations and other changes in your life can trigger it, too. If you’re curious about how you can manage stress through therapy, learn more about what types of therapy and therapists can help. https://pvdpsych.com/

  Emily Maher, Ph.D Postdoctoral Fellow I provide in-person and online individual therapy to adults of all ages in Rhode Island. I take an integrative approach to therapy, drawing especially on my experience with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I believe that the relationship between therapist and client is of paramount importance, and I prioritize this relationship first and foremost in my work with all my clients. I have a particular interest in working with individuals wishing to process and move forward following trauma, whether recent or in the distant past. I have received specialized training in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE), two evidence-based approaches for treating post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as CBT for Insomnia. I also enjoy working with clients confronting other types of loss or life transition, including the transition to parenthood, transition to adulthood, grief and loss, and...

  Many of us may have a panic attack or two during our lives, and the brief episodes don’t lead to anything else. But for some people, they happen a lot more. The racing heartbeat or other discomforts that go with an attack can resemble other illnesses, such as heart disease. So your doctor will probably start by giving you a complete physical exam. That way, they can make sure that the symptoms aren’t coming from a disease you didn’t know about. If no medical condition like that shows up, your doctor may send you to talk to a psychologist or psychiatrist trained to recognize when someone has been having panic attacks. https://pvdpsych.com/therapy/

  Experiencing trauma is not uncommon; an estimated 60% of men and 50% of women experience at least one trauma in their lives.  When trauma starts to affect one’s daily life, trauma therapy , a form of talk therapy, may be beneficial. https://pvdpsych.com/

  Treatment for Depression Depression is unlikely to simply go away on its own. In fact, if ignored and left untreated, depression can go on for months, sometimes years, and can have many negative effects on a person’s life. Every person needs to find the treatment that’s right for them. It can take time and patience to find a treatment that works. Psychological therapy provided by a mental health professional or via online e-therapies. https://pvdpsych.com/online-therapy/

  What You Need to Know About Postpartum Anxiety It’s natural to worry after the birth of your little one. You wonder,  Are they eating well? Sleeping enough? Hitting all their precious milestones? And what about germs? Will I ever sleep again? How did so much laundry pile up? Perfectly normal — not mention, a sign of your already-deep love for your newest addition. But sometimes it’s something more. If your anxiety seems out of control, has you on edge most of the time, or keeps you up at night, you may have more than the new-parent jitters. You’ve probably heard of  postpartum depression (PPD) . It’s gotten a lot of press, and trust us, that’s a good thing — because postpartum depression is very real and worthy of the attention. But are you aware of its lesser-known cousin, postpartum anxiety disorder? https://pvdpsych.com/infertility-and-reproductive-health/

  Lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) affirming therapy is a therapeutic approach that focuses on embracing diverse sexual and gender identities. LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy is much more than being kind and welcoming to clients of diverse identities. It is about validating clients’ experiences and holding space for them to explore the complexities of these social identities. LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy understands that sexual and gender identities are not choices and cannot be pathologized or changed. LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy also works to help clients combat internalized homophobia and transphobia and resolve contradictory or incongruent beliefs clients may have towards themselves. https://pvdpsych.com/lgbtqia-affirming-services/

  Group therapy allows people to receive the support and encouragement of the other members of the group. People participating in the group can see that others are going through the same thing, which can help them feel less alone. The setting allows people to practice behaviors and actions within the safety and security of the group. https://pvdpsych.com/

  From mood swings to school issues, all teens have problems. But sometimes, a teen's distress might rise to a level where it's important to seek professional help . Therapy certainly doesn’t need to be reserved for life-altering events or serious mental health problems, however. Meeting with a therapist can prevent minor issues from turning into major problems. https://pvdpsych.com/student-mental-health/

  Counseling For Children And Families Families come in all different combinations, shapes and sizes with unique needs and challenges. When you need help finding solutions for issues that are affecting your family and your child, PVD Psychological Associates offer support. Together, we’ll develop a plan for success that works for your family. Appointments for child counseling programs and services are available during the days and evenings. https://pvdpsych.com/therapy/

  What Is Family Therapy? Family therapy is a type of treatment designed to help with issues that specifically affect families' mental health and functioning. It can help individual family members build stronger relationships, improve communication, and manage conflicts within the family system. By improving how family members interact and relate to one another, family therapy can foster change in close relationships. Some of the primary goals of family therapy are to create a better home environment, solve family issues, and understand the unique issues that a family might face. https://pvdpsych.com/

  People may seek therapy to help them decide if they should leave a marriage. Others may seek counseling for help changing from married to single life. One-on-one or couples therapy can help you work toward either of these goals. Therapy can teach coping skills that may help people work toward a new life. It could help someone have a healthier outlook on their divorce. Therapy for divorce can make people feel encouraged and empowered. It can be a safe place to share feelings and thoughts. This can be helpful during what is often a difficult time. https://pvdpsych.com/contact/

  Individual therapy is one type of psychotherapy in which a trained professional helps a single person work through personal issues they have been facing. It is an effective treatment for a variety of emotional difficulties and mental illnesses. Also known as talk therapy, it can help improve or control symptoms that influence an individual’s well-being. https://pvdpsych.com/about/

  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 la...

  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. https://pvdpsych.com/what-we-treat/