Mary Elizabeth Ruggiero, PsyD

Meet Dr. Mary Elizabeth Ruggiero

I am a licensed clinical psychologist and the Intake 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 burnout.

My Background

I earned my Psy.D. from William James College (formerly the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology), and my master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. I completed my pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the Personal Counseling Center at Providence College. I also previously held a position for several years as a clinical therapist in a community mental health center, where my primary focus was working with adolescents and families.

My Approach & Philosophy

In my work, I take great care to develop a trusting, warm and collaborative relationship with my clients. My style is warm and supportive. I aim to understand all of my clients from a holistic perspective, taking into account early life experiences and relationships.

I tailor treatment to the unique needs of each client at that specific point in their life. My primary goal is to help my clients develop insight into their past behaviors as well as current difficulties, and make steps to modify behavior. My hope is for my clients to develop self- confidence and express their authentic selves.

As a therapist, I remain very humble in my stance and for me, it is an honor to witness my client’s unfolding narrative and healing process. I hope to hear from you soon.