Katherine Lenger, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Pronouns: she/her/hers.
Meet Dr. Katherine Lenger
I am a licensed clinical psychologist in Rhode Island and North Carolina and offer online therapy to clients located in both of those states.. I take an integrative and evidence-based approach to my clinical practice. I draw from a variety of specialized cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic treatments to provide couples and individual therapy to adults. My areas of specialization and interest include obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and other anxiety disorders, trauma- and stressor-related disorders, relationship distress, infidelity, intimacy concerns, transition to parenthood/parenting stress, and other relationship challenges. I also specialize in working with LGBTQIA-identifying individuals.
I approach therapy through an integrative lens, incorporating psychodynamic and other evidence-based practices (EBPs) with an emphasis on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT), and mindfulness-based interventions. I am also trained in more specialized EBPs including Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure for trauma, and Exposure and Response Prevention for OCD.
My Background
I received my Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in Clinical Psychology and completed my pre-doctoral internship at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University in the Adult Track. I remained at Brown where I completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Trauma Recovery
I am passionate about research and believe that it deeply enriches clinical practice. In addition to my clinical work, I maintain active involvement in research. My research examines mindfulness and related skills for improving individual health (e.g., depression, anxiety, and stress) as well as relationship outcomes such as commitment, intimacy, and satisfaction.
My Approach & Philosophy
I aim to cultivate a comfortable therapeutic space where individuals and couples feel safe sharing challenges they are facing and identifying goals for personal and relationship growth. I strive to understand my clients’ experience in the world through their lens. To do this I conduct a detailed assessment, listening deeply to how their presenting concerns impact themselves, their relationships, and their connection with the world around them. As I learn about my clients, I reflect my understanding of their symptoms and the impact of these symptoms to help clients better understand, and put language to, their experience. I work collaboratively with individuals and couples to identify specific goals for treatment and develop a treatment plan that addresses goals and presenting concerns in a manner that is most comfortable and effective for each specific client or couple. Throughout treatment, I work to identify barriers, or “stuck points” to change, identify potential solutions to these barriers, and assess clients’/couples’ perception of their progress toward treatment goals.
I believe therapy is a valuable investment in oneself and one’s relationships. I am so grateful that you are considering working with me and am happy to answer any questions you may have.