PVD Psychological Associates

  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. https://pvdpsych.com/5-ways-that-negativity-affects-brain-chemistry-and-what-to-do/

  Psychodynamic Therapy emphasizes the importance of developing insight into one’s experience and uncovering unconscious processes that have played a role in past problems and may be contributing to current distress. Get in touch with us today https://pvdpsych.com/

  Taking care of your mental health is an act of self-love. Everything we do is designed to give you the best therapy experience. Our mission is to provide exceptional therapy that is personalized and results driven. We offer cutting edge, evidence-based treatment by a team of highly trained therapists to address anxiety, eating disorders, college and graduate student mental health, trauma, relationship difficulties, and many other concerns. https://pvdpsych.com/about/

  PsyD and our founder, Nicole Issa , shares her expertise and thoughts highlighted in this week’s column on Parents.com https://pvdpsych.com/nicole-issa-psyd/

  🕊️ Happy Memorial Day from PVD Psychological Associates Today, we honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. At PVD Psychological Associates , we recognize that Memorial Day can bring up a range of emotions — from pride and gratitude to grief and reflection. If you're struggling today, know that you're not alone. We’re here to support your mental and emotional well-being. ❤️ Let us honor the memory of our heroes by taking care of ourselves and each other. 📍 Serving the Providence, RI community with compassion and care. https://pvdpsych.com/

  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/

  Both  OCD  and phobias trap people in a constant battle with their own minds. Living with OCD or a phobia often means making decisions based around the anxiety rather than personal choice. It can feel isolating, as if no one else understands what you’re going through. But ERP therapy is designed to change that... If you would like to discuss your needs with a therapist, complete the enquiry form on our Contact page on our website and we’ll call or email you for a confidential chat. Read more here:  https://pvdpsych.com/contact/

  What is an Eating Disorder? This might feel like a basic question, but there are many ways something like this can manifest and if we look at the definition, it can be a ‘range of mental conditions’ that contribute to serious eating problems.  We learn from Dr. Jolie Weingeroff on the  symptoms and what to look out for.  Read more , here:  If you would like to discuss your needs with a therapist, complete the enquiry form on our Contact page on our website and we’ll call or mail you for a confidential chat. Link 🔗 in below. https://pvdpsych.com/jolie-weingeroff-phd/

Is There a Brick Wall Stopping Your Progress?   Ever sat down to start something important, something you care about…only to find yourself suddenly reorganizing your desk, checking  your phone, or deciding that the dishwasher really needs unloading right this second? You’ve probably told yourself you’ll get back to it. Maybe later. Maybe tomorrow. But somehow, the thing never…gets…done. Learn from Dr. Nicole Issa , here. https://pvdpsych.com/nicole-issa-psyd/  

  Meet Dr. Sarah Johnson I am a licensed clinical psychologist in Rhode Island and offer online therapy to individuals residing within the state, in addition to my in-person practice in Rhode Island. I provide individual and family therapy to children, adolescents, young adults, and adults of all ages. My areas of interest and specialization include anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem issues, relationship issues, academic and behavioral challenges, management of ADHD, and parenting difficulties. I incorporate evidence-based practices such Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI), using a warm, supportive, and nonjudgmental approach. In addition, I conduct  comprehensive clinical   and psychological assessments  to understand a child or individual’s strengths and weaknesses and assist with recommendations for treatments and services needed. My training in psychological and achievement ...

  Did You Know? The “neuro” component of neuropsychological testing refers to the evaluation of neurological domains such as executive function, learning, and memory. 🧠 The “ psychological ” component refers to testing oriented around clinical psychology such as the assessment of behavior, social skills, mood and anxiety. https://pvdpsych.com/

  May is Mental Health Awareness Month A time to raise awareness of and reduce the stigma surrounding behavioral health conditions.  At PVD Psych everything we do is designed to give you the best therapy experience. Our mission is to provide exceptional therapy that is personalized and results driven. We offer cutting edge, evidence-based treatment by a team of highly trained therapists to address anxiety, eating disorders, college and graduate student mental health, trauma, relationship difficulties, and many other concerns. https://pvdpsych.com/

  Approximately 1 in 36 children in the United States have been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and an estimated 2.21% of adults in the U.S. have ASD, equating to about 5.4 million individuals. We offer comprehensive neuropsychological testing as well as more narrowly focused testing, depending on your interests and needs. Comprehensive testing takes place in person, but there are components of testing that can be completed online and from the comfort of your home. https://pvdpsych.com/psychological-testing/

  College can be extremely overwhelming. Students most frequently come to therapy to work through the adjustment to college, homesickness, navigating roommate conflict, identity development, impression management, imposter syndrome, time management, stress management, perfectionism, eating disorders, substance use, and relationship difficulties. Learn more:  https://pvdpsych.com/student-mental-health/

  Meet Dr. Alyssa Freedman I am a licensed clinical psychologist in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and offer online therapy to individuals residing in both of those states, in addition to my in-person practice in Rhode Island. My areas of interest and specialization include depression, anxiety, stress management, self-esteem, college and graduate student mental health, and values identification/clarification. I have specialized training in a variety of evidence-based treatments such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). My work is also greatly influenced by the strengths-based focus of positive psychology. I believe it is essential to understand how elements of my clients’ identities intersect and influence their current situation and presenting concerns. From there, I educate my clients on their symptoms and what may be contributing to them. We then identify goals for treatment before moving on to ...

  Exercise? It isn’t just good for the body—it’s great for mental health, too. 💪 Finding a form of exercise you enjoy can make it easier to stick to daily. Daily movement releases endorphins, which are natural mood lifters. It doesn’t have to be intense; a brisk walk, yoga, or stretching exercises can improve your mood , reduce anxiety, and help with sleep. https://pvdpsych.com/mood-disorders/

  An easy way to incorporate mental health into our day to day is to simply practice. From deep breathing to movement, these little things go a long way. https://pvdpsych.com/

  Child counseling is a type of therapy that focuses on young people: children and adolescents with one or more mental health issues. Licensed professional counselors provide age-appropriate aid to youth who have experienced trauma, and/or who are experiencing a dysfunctional or stressful home environment. https://pvdpsych.com/team/

  PVD Psychological Associates is a recognized BCBSRI LGBTQ Safe Zone. The therapists at PVD Psychological Associates have expertise working with LGBTQIA+ identified individuals and their families. We offer LGBTQIA+ Affirming and Gender Affirming Therapy . ​ We may work with these individuals on issues non-specific to their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, such as an eating disorder or relationship problems, or therapy might focus on very specific issues such as exploring one’s gender identity or coming out. Whether the topic of therapy is specific to being LGBTQIA+identified or not, many of our clients have told us they find it to be important and helpful that their therapist is knowledgeable about the LGBTQIA+ community and is affirming in their approach. https://pvdpsych.com/lgbtqia-affirming-services/

  Meet Dr. Mary Elizabeth Ruggiero I am a licensed clinical psychologist and the Assistant Director at PVD Psychological Associates . I am licensed in Rhode Island and provide online and in-person individual therapy to older adolescents and adults of all ages in Rhode Island. I am also a bicultural and bilingual therapist (native fluency in Spanish). I often work with college students, graduate students and medical residents. I have psychodynamic training and practice within a psychodynamic-interpersonal framework but I heavily implement strategies from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness, compassion based techniques, and narrative approaches. My areas of specialization include: identity development, anxiety, depression, eating disorder recovery maintenance, trauma, and working with LGBTQIA-identified individuals. I also focus on working with persons of color and individuals who are currently experiencing compassion fatigue and work b...

  Children and adolescents, or teens, build social skills and emotional intelligence as they grow. These things often lead to healthy, happy lives. But some kids have emotions or behave in ways that disrupt their well-being. Learning about  children's mental health  issues can increase your knowledge of how to help. https://pvdpsych.com/student-mental-health/

  Individual counseling   focuses on increased self-understanding to work through an issue that negatively affects your ability to work, love or enjoy life. https://pvdpsych.com/