PVD Psychological Associates

  Individual Therapy We also frequently work with individuals who may be struggling with a temporary relationship problem such as a break up or divorce or with recurrent relationship difficulties like problems communicating clearly with others, fears of intimacy, difficulty being authentic in relationships, and loneliness. The therapists at PVD Psychological Associates draw from  psychodynamic therapy , CBT, and DBT to help individuals understand beliefs and behaviors that are perpetuating these difficulties and learn new ways to relate to others that may be more helpful. Domestic Violence If you are being abused or think you are in danger of being abused, a domestic violence hotline is a way to quickly reach someone who will be able to help. Resources ​ Sojourner House Domestic Violence Hotline:  401-765-3232  National Domestic Violence Hotline:  800-799-7233 LGBTQ Domestic Violence Support Group at   Sojourner House . https://pvdpsych.com/relationship-dif...

  Screen addiction is compulsive, especially with repetitive screen use that interferes with daily life. It’s as easy as “just one more episode,” and four hours disappear. You check your phone for one email, and suddenly you’re deep into a Facebook rabbit hole instead. For kids, it’s even more addictive, just sitting down with a video game can turn into hours given half the chance. It’s important to remember, the refusal to go out and play and ignoring you isn’t laziness, it’s actually a neurological loop.  Read more here : https://pvdpsych.com/screen-addiction/

  Fall tends to fill up fast. Think: school events, sports, work deadlines, family gatherings. While connection and productivity are important, so is your capacity... Remember: every “no” to something that overwhelms you is a “yes” to your well-being. 💛 ✨ Gentle reminder: you don’t have to do it all, and boundaries are an act of self-care ... https://pvdpsych.com/

  If your child is struggling with the back-to-school shift, you’re not alone. These feelings are common.  Learn more about our work with children and adolescents. https://pvdpsych.com/student-mental-health/

  Meet Dr. Sandy Martinez Muraoka I am a RI-based Clinical Psychologist providing teletherapy to adults located in RI and Florida. I provide therapy in English and Spanish to college students and adults of all ages. Although I am a generalist, my areas of interest and specialization include cultural identity concerns, minority stress, depression, anxiety, aging, women’s issues, and general stress management. As a first-generation Cuban-American, political refugee, and first-generation college graduate, I enjoy working with members of marginalized and oppressed groups to explore the intersection of ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic class. As a parent to biracial children I am also sensitive to the challenges faced by mixed race individuals. My Background I earned my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and completed my pre-doctoral internship at the University of Maine in Orono. I have worked in a variety of settings including student counseling...

  With back-to-school season in full swing, we’re sharing tips to help students boost productivity and manage the stress that often comes with procrastination. https://pvdpsych.com/services/

  What’s one thing you handled well this week—no matter how small? Take a few minutes to write it down. Celebrate your effort 💬 PVD Psychological Associates https://pvdpsych.com/

  College 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. https://pvdpsych.com/student-mental-health/

  Feeling stressed by life transitions like a career change, returning to school, or relationship shifts? Break tasks into manageable steps. Practice grounding exercises (breath, mindfulness) Try journaling for clarity and self-compassion. Need support?  We’re here with evidence-based strategies that empower growth... https://pvdpsych.com/

  Understanding Online and Cyberbullying in Teenagers: When the Screen Turns Mean We used to think bullying ended when the school bell rang. You could walk away from the lunchroom, the hallway whispers, the shoves in the locker room. But now, the world is different and for teenagers growing up with smartphones, the bullying doesn’t stop. It follows them home, climbs into bed with them and lives in their pockets. Cyberbullying is not just the digital version of “kids being mean.” It’s psychological warfare disguised as messages, comments, and posts. And it’s doing real damage. What is Cyberbullying, Really? Let’s define it simply: cyberbullying is any form of harassment, embarrassment, or humiliation that happens online or through digital devices. This includes texts, social media, gaming platforms, and group chats. What makes it different and in many ways more dangerous than traditional bullying is the reach and permanence. A single mean comment can be screenshotted and shared thou...

  This is your gentle weekend reminder: ✨ You’re allowed to rest ✨ You’re allowed to not have all the answers ✨ You’re allowed to be a work in progress PVD Psychological Associates https://pvdpsych.com/

  People who struggle with fear of failure don’t always recognize it for what it is. It disguises itself as procrastination, self-sabotage, perfectionism, or just never starting at all. Outside of work, it’s that unfinished novel, the half-painted room, the gym membership you signed up for but never used. It’s promising yourself that you’ll start a new routine Monday but finding another reason to put it off. It’s feeling like you’re letting yourself down, over and over, until you stop trusting yourself to follow through at all.  Read more, here: https://pvdpsych.com/is-there-a-brick-wall-stopping-your-progress/

  If you’ve been telling yourself and everyone else, you’re just ambitious, taking pride in being the one who always delivers, the one who stays late and the one who never drops the ball, you might want to read on a bit further. Somewhere along the way, work stopped being about success and started becoming an escape. Is an endless to-do list keeping your mind occupied and your feelings buried, while you’ve convinced yourself you’re in control? Secretly, you’re probably running on fumes which is why you’ve been snapping at the people who care about you and losing yourself in the process. Read the full blog here. https://pvdpsych.com/are-you-worried-youre-in-burnout/

  According to the cognitive behavioral theory of an eating disorder’s development, it is brought about by an internalization of a thin ideal, perfectionistic standards, and the idea of having more control over one’s body size and shape than may actually be the case. Much of this is shaped by the media and peers, but parents greatly influence their kids as well. Parents are a primary source of teaching their kids about their personal worth, what eating behaviors they pick up, and general ideas about their beliefs about food. Children also learn a lot about food and eating from observing their parents eat and observing how they talk about food and themselves and how they look at each other in the mirror. If you have an eating disorder , or even one in remission, you may not realize it, but chances are there are hundreds of thoughts and behaviors you might engage in during any given day that your child would pick up on. https://pvdpsych.com/10-tips-for-parents-with-eating-disorder-hi...

  Meet Julie Herzlinger , LICSW I provide individual therapy to college students, adults, aging adults, and individuals of any life stage experiencing caregiver stress. My areas of specialization and focus include working with those struggling to navigate life transitions, feeling “stuck,” experiencing relationship and intimacy problems, self-esteem issues, adjustment to illness/caregiver stress, as well as grief and loss. I also have extensive experience working with individuals with trauma histories and PTSD, anxiety disorders, and mood disorders. I am primarily a psychodynamic therapist. I draw from my training in various types of therapy, including relational and strengths-based approaches, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), to most effectively meet the needs of the individual. My Background I earned my bachelors degree in Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania. Following several years working in NYC, I then obtained my maste...

  When You Like Your Job, Everything Works Better...😌 When people say, “I love my job,” they’re not bragging. They’re usually healthier, happier, and more emotionally resilient than people who dread Monday mornings. This is what happens when your work feels meaningful or enjoyable: You handle stress better – Jobs come with pressure, we know this. But people who feel satisfied at work tend to cope better. They don’t spiral after a bad meeting they bounce back faster after a setback. Now that’s not luck, it’s because they’re invested in the work and it gives them a sense of purpose, which cushions the blow of stress. Your relationships improve – If you come home exhausted, frustrated, or checked out from a job you hate, it doesn’t stay at the office. It leaks into your conversations, your mood, and the way you show up for people. On the flip side, when you’re in a role that fulfills you, you tend to bring that positive energy home with you. Your patience increases, you listen more a...

  PVD Psychological Associates (PVD Psych) is a private psychology practice with offices in Rhode Island and online services available in Massachusetts, New York, and all PSYPACT states. From the first point of contact, we will focus on providing you with the best therapy experience.  Learn More https://pvdpsych.com/

  Asking ChatGPT for help? If someone is struggling – and we mean really struggling – AI might give them the illusion that they’re getting support, but it won’t notice red flags. It won’t pick up on things like suicidal ideation and it won’t recognize signs of abuse. It won’t know when someone is dissociating mid-conversation, but a good psychologist will. Because they’ve been trained to. And if you’re using AI when you actually need real help, you could be delaying – or worse, replacing the support that could save your life. https://pvdpsych.com/team/

  You matter. Not because of what you do—but because of who you are. PVD Psychological Associates (PVD Psych) is a private psychology practice with offices in Rhode Island and online services available in Massachusetts, New York, and all PSYPACT states. https://pvdpsych.com/

  Can Men Get Depressed After Having a Baby? In short…yes. Men can experience postpartum depression (PPD), and it’s more common than you might think. When we talk about postpartum depression, most people immediately think of mothers. And for good reason—roughly 1 in 7 women experience PPD after childbirth. But what doesn’t get enough attention is the fact that according to statistics, 1 in 10 new fathers also experience symptoms of postpartum depression during the first year after their child is born. That’s not a small number. That’s a lot of new dads quietly struggling and wondering if what they’re feeling is “normal.” So, if you’re a new father, or you’re close to one, and something just doesn’t feel right after the baby arrives it’s not just you. And you’re not weak for feeling that way. What Does Paternal Postpartum Depression Look Like? Postpartum depression in men doesn’t always show up the same way it does in women. Instead of sadness or crying, it might look like: Anger or...