PVD Psychological Associates

  Improving access to quality care is very important to us and PVD Psych is proud to have some providers who are “in-network” with ​Blue Cross Blue Shield (commercial plans) and United Healthcare. Many of our therapists also accept UnitedHealthcare Student Resources plans. Prior to your initial session at PVD Psych , we recommend that you contact your insurance provider to inquire about your “in-network” and “out-of-network” mental health benefits. It is important for you to be aware of your financial obligation for each session and what your insurance provider will cover PRIOR to beginning therapy. This information includes copays and the out of pocket cost per session if you have an in-network deductible. Please note that your copay for in-network sessions, and/or the cost for each session while fulfilling an in-network deductible, is set by your insurance provider and specific insurance plan. https://pvdpsych.com/fees-insurance/

  Individual psychotherapy is a treatment of emotional and personality problems or disorders by using psychological means. In other words, just like how a physician would treat fever or cold there are treatments that help with treating problems of an emotional nature. These problems can range from milder emotional conflicts to severe psychopathologies. Thus, a person who is facing marital difficulties as well as someone who is suffering from depression can seek psychotherapy. https://pvdpsych.com/

  Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is marked by intrusive, obsessive thoughts accompanied by compulsions, or behaviors people engage in the lessen these thoughts or neutralize them. In many cases, these thoughts can be disturbing to people and seem foreign to them. Therapy is cognitive behavioral in nature and will focus on identifying the obsessions and compulsions someone may be struggling with and then using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), a research supported therapy for OCD. https://pvdpsych.com/

  Kristina Schrag, PhD, LMHC I am a licensed mental health counselor in Rhode Island and also earned my doctorate in educational psychology. I am a predominantly cognitive behavioral (CBT) therapist and work with adolescents, college students, and adults. My areas of specialization include: college and high school student mental health, working with high achieving individuals of all ages, ADHD, ASD, anxiety, depression, and relationship concerns. I often work with my clients to address issues such as impostor syndrome, perfectionism, feelings of being overwhelmed, and difficulty establishing and maintaining work-life balance. https://pvdpsych.com/dr-kristina-schrag/

  Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a type of CBT developed to treat difficulties with emotion regulation, unstable relationships, communication difficulties, impulsive behaviors, and difficulty tolerating intense distress. It is a skills based therapy that involves learning many different coping skills to address all of these difficulties which makes it a helpful approach for many clients. https://pvdpsych.com/therapy/

  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on the here and now and understanding the relationships between thoughts, feelings, and behavior. In CBT, you will work with your therapist to understand what is maintaining your symptoms and develop new behaviors. You will learn how to change unhelpful thought patterns. Lastly, you will develop a willingness to approach rather than avoid emotions. https://pvdpsych.com/therapy/

  Online counseling is as effective as in-person therapy, and it’s a lot easier to get started. Sign up today to get paired with a licensed counselor and receive whatever support you need. https://pvdpsych.com/

  Mental health therapy aims to diagnose and help improve emotional and behavioral well-being. It may serve as an alternative to medicine or be used with medications or other mental health treatments. Mental health professionals use a variety of therapy formats depending on the person, group, or type of mental condition. https://pvdpsych.com/team/

  Samantha Gauvin, PsyD I am a licensed clinical psychologist in Rhode Island and offer online and in-person therapy to individuals located in the state. I conduct individual therapy most frequently with college students and other young adults. However, I also sometimes work with children, adolescents, and adults within my areas of focus. My areas of interest and specialization include: working with the LGBTQIA+ community, and exploring other intersecting aspects of identity, culture, and experiences of prejudice and oppression, anxiety, depression, trauma, perfectionism, self-esteem issues, identity development, and relationship issues,. I work to ensure that therapy is tailored to the needs of each client by incorporating evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and trauma-informed approaches into a Humanistic foundation that uses a warm, collaborative, supportive, and nonjudgmental approach. https://pvdpsych.com/samantha-gauvin-psyd/

  Grief counseling can help you identify and express your emotions. If you have lost someone who was an integral part of your life, grief counseling can also help you rebuild your routine and identity. https://pvdpsych.com/

  How is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Used to Treat Addiction? Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a leading intervention for substance use disorders that applies elements of both behavioral and cognitive therapy to help patients break free from addiction. CBT has a vast amount of empirical support and is broadly accepted as an evidence-based methodology for establishing behavioral change. https://pvdpsych.com/substance-use-problems/

  Therapy  with those in academic settings often focuses on managing anxiety, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, general stress management, burn out, publishing pressure, time management, dissertation stress, navigating relationships with advisors, and over-identifying with one’s achievements. https://pvdpsych.com/student-mental-health/

  A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear which is accompanied by strong body feelings (such as your heart beating rapidly, or finding it hard to breathe) and catastrophic thoughts (such as thinking that you will lose control or die). Panic attacks feel terrifying, but they are not dangerous. People who worry about their panic, and who take steps to try to prevent the possibility of having more, are said to suffer from panic disorder. It is thought that between 1 and 3 people out of every 100 will experience panic disorder every year and many more than that will have a panic attack at least once. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an extremely effective treatment for panic disorder: about 80% of people with panic disorder who complete a course of CBT are panic-free at the end of treatment. https://pvdpsych.com/what-we-treat/

  Jonathan Dator, PhD, MSCP, CGP I am a licensed clinical psychologist in Rhode Island and am a bilingual (English and Spanish) and bicultural therapist. I provide individual online therapy to older adolescents and adults. I have focused my clinical work on providing care to disenfranchised, marginalized, and underserved groups. I take an integrative approach to therapy, bringing together my training in interpersonal therapy (IPT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), within an overarching social justice framework. I specialize in multicultural counseling, student mental health, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and working with the LGBTQIA community as well as individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions. https://pvdpsych.com/jonathan-dator-phd/

  Psychotherapy —talk therapy—can take place in one-to-one meetings and/or group settings. Talk therapy helps people with PTSD in many ways. Talking about the traumatic memories with a trained therapist can provide the patient with education about their symptoms so they don’t feel so alone and out of control. Talking can desensitize people to their memories, which gradually allows them to stop avoiding reminders of their trauma. It can also help them build skills for re-evaluating the thoughts and feelings that surround the distressing memories. Most importantly, talk therapy can allow people to feel supported and safe. https://pvdpsych.com/about/

  What is orthorexia? In the simplest of terms, orthorexia is described as an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating. Like all eating disorders, it’s more complicated and nuanced than this bitesized definition. Orthorexia looks and is experienced differently in everyone. https://pvdpsych.com/eating-disorders-and-body-image-concerns/

  Therapists and some psychologists may be able to help a person with depression, often using psychotherapy. Knowing the difference between a therapist and a psychologist for depression can help ensure the best therapeutic outcomes. https://pvdpsych.com/team/

  Anxiety may be controlling your life, but we have tools to help. Our highly trained therapists have years of experience in treating anxiety. https://pvdpsych.com/team/

  The differences between group counseling and individual therapy are clear. In individual counseling, there is one client and counselor. In group counseling there are multiple clients, and sometimes multiple counselors. Group counseling is roughly defined as at least five clients, and as high as 15. Sometimes in those higher reaches two or more counselors are employed to direct the session. Yet couples counseling is also a form of group therapy. https://pvdpsych.com/

  PVD Psychological Associates believes that the fit between therapist and client is the most important element to a successful therapeutic experience. Call us and ask to be paired with a clinician that specializes in working with LGBT+/Queer individuals or couples, or peruse clinician profiles and book an appointment online with the provider of your choice. https://pvdpsych.com/lgbtqia-affirming-services/

  Teenagers these days have a lot on their plates, from academic demands to social and peer pressure. Even if your child isn't acting out, he or she may still benefit from the unbiased advice of a professional. At PVD Psychological Associates, we cater to teens, and we strive to achieve the best possible outcomes for our young patients. Our therapists work hard to establish trusting relationships so that our teen patients feel comfortable sharing their feelings and getting the help they need. If your teen is facing emotional or behavioral challenges, our team is here to help. Call today for more information or to schedule your consultation. https://pvdpsych.com/student-mental-health/

  Discover how starting therapy with a individual can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life. https://pvdpsych.com/about/

  PVD Psychological Associates (PVD Psych) is a private psychology practice with two offices on the East Side of Providence, Rhode Island. Our original office is in the College Hill neighborhood, right on Thayer Street, and the other is centrally located with all the shops and restaurants in Wayland Square. https://pvdpsych.com/