# PVD Psychological Associates – Exceptional Therapy and Testing in Providence, RI

> PVD Psychological Associates (PVD Psych) is a private psychology practice with offices in Providence and Barrington, Rhode Island, and online therapy available in Massachusetts, New York, and all PSYPACT states. Legally operating as Center for Dynamic and Behavioral Therapy, LLC DBA PVD Psychological Associates, the practice specializes in providing evidence-based therapy (CBT, ACT, DBT, and more) and comprehensive neuropsychological testing for individuals across the lifespan. Particular areas of expertise include depression, anxiety, ADHD, neurodiversity, student mental health, trauma, eating disorders, relationship difficulties, 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming care, infertility and reproductive health, and pregnancy/postpartum support. PVD Psych is a BCBSRI-certified LGBTQ Safe Zone practice and a certified LGBT Business Enterprise (NGLCC). The practice is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield (commercial plans) and United Healthcare, and accepts UnitedHealthcare Student Resources plans. A clinician serves as Intake Director to facilitate the best possible therapist-client matching.

## About

- [About Us](https://pvdpsych.com/about/): The practice's approach to therapy, mission and values, the significance of the mandala logo (symbol of wholeness, change, transformation, and healing), and commitment to 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming care.
- [Careers](https://pvdpsych.com/careers/): Employment opportunities for clinicians at PVD Psych.
- [Fees & Insurance](https://pvdpsych.com/fees-insurance/): Detailed information on in-network insurers, private pay, out-of-network benefits, service codes, sliding scale options, and confidentiality considerations.
- [No Surprises Act](https://pvdpsych.com/no-surprises-act/): Patient rights under the No Surprises Act, including the right to a Good Faith Estimate.
- [Media](https://pvdpsych.com/media/): Press features and media appearances by PVD Psych clinicians in outlets including HuffPost, Self, Women's Health, Men's Health, Bustle, Prevention, Verywell Mind, Romper, Shape, and more.

## Our Team

- [Nicole Issa, PsyD](https://pvdpsych.com/nicole-issa-psyd/) – Founder/Director; specializes in CBT, 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming therapy, social justice advocacy; Treasurer of the Rhode Island Psychological Association (RIPA).
- [Jolie Weingeroff, PhD](https://pvdpsych.com/jolie-weingeroff-phd/)
- [Mary Elizabeth Ruggiero, PsyD](https://pvdpsych.com/mary-elizabeth-ruggiero-phd/)
- [Alyssa Freedman, PsyD](https://pvdpsych.com/alyssa-freedman-phd/)
- [Sarah Johnson, PhD](https://pvdpsych.com/sarah-johnson-phd/)
- [Amanda Connerton, PsyD](https://pvdpsych.com/amanda-connerton-psyd/)
- [Julie Herzlinger, LICSW](https://pvdpsych.com/julie-herzlinger-licsw/)
- [Sandy Martinez Muraoka, PhD](https://pvdpsych.com/sandy-muraoka-phd/)
- [Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, LICSW](https://pvdpsych.com/elizabeth-kirkpatrick-licsw/)
- [Jonathan Dator, PhD](https://pvdpsych.com/jonathan-dator-phd/)
- [Samantha Gauvin, PsyD](https://pvdpsych.com/samantha-gauvin-psyd/)
- [Kristina Schrag, PhD, LMHC](https://pvdpsych.com/dr-kristina-schrag/)
- [Rebekah Page, PsyD](https://pvdpsych.com/rebekah-page-psyd/)
- [Matthew Mooers, PsyD](https://pvdpsych.com/matthew-mooers/)
- [Carolyn Stokes Walker, PsyD, LMHC](https://pvdpsych.com/carolyn-stokes-walker-psyd-lmhc/)
- [Shauna Finley, PhD](https://pvdpsych.com/shauna-finley-phd/)
- [Gregory Katzen, PsyD](https://pvdpsych.com/gregory-katzen/)
- [Lucille Waagen, PhD](https://pvdpsych.com/lucille-waagen/)
- [Kalina Brabeck, PhD](https://pvdpsych.com/kalina-brabeck-phd/)
- [Meghan Haines, LMHC-A](https://pvdpsych.com/meghan-haines-msed)
- [Melissa Breese, LMHC-A](https://pvdpsych.com/melissa-breese/)
- [Jill Wolff, LICSW](https://pvdpsych.com/jill-wolff-licsw/)
- [Logan England, LICSW](https://pvdpsych.com/logan-england)

## Services

- [Services Overview](https://pvdpsych.com/services/): Full list of services offered at PVD Psych including evidence-based therapy, neuropsychological testing, DBT, LGBTQIA+ affirming care, and student mental health support.
- [Therapy](https://pvdpsych.com/therapy/): Individual psychotherapy using evidence-based modalities tailored to each client. Modalities include:
  - **Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)**: Focuses on the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behavior; helps clients understand what maintains symptoms and develop new, healthier behavioral patterns.
  - **Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)**: A type of CBT developed for emotion regulation difficulties, unstable relationships, impulsive behaviors, and distress intolerance. Includes individual DBT, group skills training, and individual skills training.
  - **Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)**: Focuses on reducing experiential avoidance and moving toward identified values and goals rather than away from distress.
  - **Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)**: Evidence-based treatment for OCD and specific phobias; involves gradual, structured confrontation of feared situations.
  - **Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)**: Structured, evidence-based treatment for mood disorders and other difficulties, focusing on interpersonal relationships.
  - **Psychodynamic Therapy**: Emphasizes insight, unconscious processes, and the role of past experiences in current difficulties.
  - **Relational Therapy**: A type of psychodynamic therapy focused on understanding past relational patterns as they relate to current experience.
  - **Mindfulness-Based Strategies**: Breathing exercises, meditation, and present-moment awareness integrated into treatment to address depression, anxiety, and self-compassion.
  - **Habit Reversal Training**: Evidence-based approach for body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) such as skin picking, trichotillomania, and nail biting.
- [Psychological & Neuropsychological Testing](https://pvdpsych.com/psychological-testing/): Comprehensive and focused neuropsychological evaluations for individuals ages 7 and older. Testing covers neurological domains (executive function, learning, memory) and psychological domains (behavior, social skills, mood, anxiety). Results include a detailed evaluation report with recommendations for school and/or treatment planning. Some components can be completed online from home. Used for: ADHD, ASD, executive functioning difficulties, and diagnostic clarification.
- [2SLGBTQIA+ Affirming Services](https://pvdpsych.com/lgbtqia-affirming-services/): Affirming, inclusive care for individuals who identify as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Includes gender affirming therapy, coming out support, exploration of sexual orientation, and LGBTQIA+ family planning. PVD Psych is one of few BCBSRI LGBTQ Safe Zone certified providers and a NGLCC Certified LGBT Business Enterprise.
- [Infertility and Reproductive Health](https://pvdpsych.com/infertility-and-reproductive-health/): Therapy for individuals and couples navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, and the emotional challenges of fertility treatments.
- [Mood Disorders](https://pvdpsych.com/mood-disorders/): Treatment for depression and bipolar disorder.
- [Pregnancy and Postpartum Health](https://pvdpsych.com/pregnancy-and-postpartum-issues/): Support for anxiety and depression during pregnancy and postpartum, PPPTSD, partner postnatal depression, and general new parent support.
- [Substance Use/Abuse](https://pvdpsych.com/substance-use-problems/): Treatment for addiction, problematic alcohol use, drug use, and relationship difficulties related to substance use.
- [Relationship Difficulties](https://pvdpsych.com/relationship-difficulties/): Therapy for communication issues, coping with breakups and divorce, loneliness, and sexual issues.

## What We Treat

- **Anxiety Disorders**: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, OCD, Health Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Social Anxiety, Skin Picking / Trichotillomania / Nail Biting
- **Student Mental Health**: ADHD, College Adjustment, Imposter Syndrome, Perfectionism, Procrastination, Time Management, Stress Management, Career Goals, Burnout
- **Eating Disorders & Body Image**: Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder, Orthorexia, Body Image Concerns
- **Infertility & Reproductive Health**: Infertility, Pregnancy Loss, Support During Fertility Treatments
- **2SLGBTQIA+ Issues**: Coming Out, Exploration of Sexual Orientation, Gender Affirming Therapy, LGBTQIA+ Family Planning
- **Mood Disorders**: Depression, Bipolar Disorder
- **Pregnancy & Postpartum**: Anxiety/Depression During Pregnancy and Postpartum, Postpartum PTSD, Partner Postnatal Depression, New Parent Support
- **Substance Abuse**: Addiction, Drug Use, Problematic Alcohol Use, Relationship Difficulties Related to Substance Use
- **Relationship Difficulties**: Communication, Coping with Breakups/Divorce, Loneliness, Sexual Issues
- **Trauma**: PTSD, complex trauma
- **Neurodiversity**: ADHD, ASD, executive functioning

## Fees & Insurance

- **In-Network**: Blue Cross Blue Shield (commercial plans), United Healthcare; many therapists also accept UnitedHealthcare Student Resources plans.
- **Out-of-Network**: Invoices/superbills provided for clients to submit for reimbursement. Clients should check service codes: 90791 (Intake), 90834/90837 (Individual Therapy), 90847 (Family/Couples Therapy).
- **Private Pay**: Available; sliding scale options may be discussed for clients with financial barriers.
- Clients may choose private pay to protect confidentiality and prevent mental health records from being shared with insurers.
- Per the No Surprises Act, clients have the right to a Good Faith Estimate of costs.

## Office Hours

- Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

## Blog

- [Blog](https://pvdpsych.com/blog/): Articles from PVD Psych clinicians on anxiety, depression, relationships, LGBTQIA+ mental health, burnout, eating disorders, neurodiversity, student mental health, and more.

### Featured Blog Posts

- [Why Online Gaming is Dangerous for Younger Children](https://pvdpsych.com/why-online-gaming-is-dangerous-for-younger-children/): How deceptively "child-friendly" online games can pose real psychological risks to younger children.
- [Why Managers Must Watch Their Teams and Themselves to Prevent Burnout in 2026](https://pvdpsych.com/why-managers-must-watch-their-teams-and-themselves-to-prevent-burnout/): Why burnout has become a leadership issue and what managers can do about it in 2026.
- [Dry January…What Changes When You Stop Using It](https://pvdpsych.com/dry-januarywhat-changes-when-you-stop-using-it/): The psychological patterns that surface when people take a break from alcohol.
- [New Year's Resolutions and Mental Health](https://pvdpsych.com/new-years-resolutions-and-mental-health/): How the pressure to "do better" in the new year can fuel anxiety and self-doubt.
- [Why Winter Can Affect Your Mood and How to Get Through It](https://pvdpsych.com/why-winter-can-affect-your-mood-and-how-to-get-through-it/): The psychological and physiological reasons winter impacts emotional wellbeing and strategies to cope.
- [Why Taking Time Off During the Holiday Period Can Help Prevent Burnout](https://pvdpsych.com/why-taking-time-off-during-the-holiday-period-can-help-prevent-burnout/): Why rest over the holidays is a mental health necessity, especially for professionals under constant pressure.
- [How to Stay Calm During the Holiday Season](https://pvdpsych.com/how-to-stay-calm-during-the-holiday-season/): Practical strategies for managing stress, family triggers, and relationship conflict over the holidays.
- [Why Poor Sleep Will Affect Your Mental Health](https://pvdpsych.com/poor-sleep-will-affect-your-mental-health/): The real psychological consequences of chronic poor sleep beyond just feeling tired.
- [Why is There a Growing Divide in How Different Generations Experience Stress and Burnout?](https://pvdpsych.com/generations-experience-stress-and-burnout/): How burnout and stress manifest differently across generations and what that means for individuals and workplaces.
- [Is Your Mental Health Suffering? Try These 5 Simple Techniques](https://pvdpsych.com/is-your-mental-health-suffering/): Accessible techniques for people experiencing anxiety, low mood, or overwhelm.
- [How Can We Help Reduce the Pressure on Our Teenagers?](https://pvdpsych.com/reduce-the-pressure-on-our-teenagers/): Guidance for parents on supporting teens navigating academic, social, and digital pressures.
- [My Boss Is Bullying Me, What Should I Do?](https://pvdpsych.com/my-boss-is-bullying-me-what-should-i-do/): How to identify and respond to workplace bullying from a manager.
- [How to Sharpen Your Mind](https://pvdpsych.com/how-to-sharpen-your-mind/): Practical steps for improving cognitive clarity, focus, and decision-making.
- [What Are the Most Common Mental Health Disorders?](https://pvdpsych.com/most-common-mental-health-disorders/): An overview of the most prevalent mental health conditions affecting individuals and communities.
- [The Psychology Behind Emotional Eating – And How It Affects Us](https://pvdpsych.com/psychology-behind-emotional-eating/): Why food becomes a coping mechanism and the psychological patterns that drive emotional eating.
- [What Screen Addiction Is Really Doing to Mental Health](https://pvdpsych.com/screen-addiction/): A deeper look at how screen use — not just screen time — is reshaping mental health in 2025.
- [Understanding Online and Cyberbullying in Teenagers](https://pvdpsych.com/online-and-cyberbullying-in-teenagers/): How digital bullying follows teens home and the psychological toll it takes.
- [Can Men Get Depressed After Having a Baby?](https://pvdpsych.com/can-men-get-depressed-after-having-a-baby/): The underacknowledged reality of paternal postpartum depression and why it matters.
- [Why AI Can't Diagnose Your Trauma](https://pvdpsych.com/why-ai-cant-diagnose-your-trauma/): A direct explanation of why AI tools are not a substitute for human therapy and the dangers of emotional reliance on them.
- [When Your Family Doesn't Get You, LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy Will](https://pvdpsych.com/lgbtqia-affirming-therapy/): Why finding affirming therapy is essential for LGBTQIA+ individuals facing family rejection or judgment.
- [Can You Break Free from OCD and Phobias Ruling Your Life?](https://pvdpsych.com/break-free-from-ocd-and-phobias/): How evidence-based treatment like ERP helps clients reclaim their lives from OCD and phobias.
- [What is an Eating Disorder?](https://pvdpsych.com/what-is-an-eating-disorder/): A sensitive and comprehensive overview of eating disorders, their causes, and how they present differently in individuals.
- [What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Anxiety?](https://pvdpsych.com/what-are-the-most-common-symptoms-of-anxiety/): How anxiety creeps into daily life and the signs that it has gone from occasional to pervasive.
- [Is Imposter Syndrome Ruining Your Potential as a Student?](https://pvdpsych.com/imposter-syndrome/): Understanding the psychological pattern of imposter syndrome and how it undermines high-achieving students.
- [5 Ways That Negativity Affects Brain Chemistry, and What to Do](https://pvdpsych.com/5-ways-that-negativity-affects-brain-chemistry-and-what-to-do/): The neuroscience behind how negative thinking patterns affect brain chemistry and mood.
- [5 Signs of 'Walking Depression'](https://pvdpsych.com/5-signs-of-walking-depression/): How high-functioning, disguised depression (also called "walking depression") presents and goes unrecognized.
- [8 CBT and DBT Skills To Use This Fall And Winter](https://pvdpsych.com/8-cbt-and-dbt-skills-to-use-this-fall-and-winter/): Practical CBT and DBT techniques for managing seasonal mood shifts and depression.

## Contact

- [Contact / Schedule an Appointment](https://pvdpsych.com/contact/): Book a new patient appointment or reach out with questions.
  - Phone: (401) 330-5882
  - Fax: (401) 226-0137
  - Email: contact@pvdpsych.com
  - **Office Locations**:
    - 382 Thayer Street, Providence, RI 02906
    - 111 Wayland Avenue, Suite 1, Providence, RI 02906
    - 260 Waseca Ave, Barrington, RI 02806
  - **Online Therapy**: Available in New York, Massachusetts, and all [PSYPACT states](https://psypact.org/mpage/psypactmap)
  - Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Saturday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM