Family therapy and counseling in Rhode Island

Taking the first step toward therapy can feel overwhelming, especially when life already feels heavy. Many clients come in feeling emotionally exhausted, anxious, stuck in unhealthy patterns, struggling in relationships, or trying to manage everything on their own. Therapy can provide a space to slow down, process what’s going on, and feel genuinely supported without judgment.

As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Rhode Island, my work focuses on helping children, teens, adults, and families navigate challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem struggles, parenting stress, relationship issues, substance use concerns, and major life transitions. Over the past 10+ years, I’ve worked across mental health, child welfare, foster care, schools, community-based programs, and the juvenile court system, supporting individuals and families through some of life’s most difficult moments.

I believe therapy should be a collaborative, compassionate space where you feel heard, understood, and empowered to create meaningful change. Whether you're struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, life transitions, stress, trauma, or feelings of being stuck, I am here to help. I have been providing mental health care to clients of all ages and identities for 30 years.

I’m Alison (Ali) Pugh, a Clinical Social Worker, USAF veteran, and mom of two. I help adults who are juggling work, family, caregiving, or major life changes that feel heavier than they look on the surface. If you’re feeling stretched thin, overwhelmed, or unsure of your next step, you’re in the right place. My style is calm, collaborative, and steady. There’s no pressure to have the perfect words.

Healing Across the Lifespan: A Partnership in Mental Wellness

Choosing a mental health provider is a deeply personal decision. You aren’t just looking for a prescriber; you are looking for a witness to your story, an expert in the biological complexities of the brain, and a partner in your recovery.

My name is Jessica Stanley, and I am a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC). My journey to this practice has been defined by a unique duality: the macro view of a healthcare executive and the micro focus of a dedicated clinician. Before opening the doors to this practice, I served as the Clinical Director for a large-scale healthcare organization. In that role, I was responsible for the oversight of complex systems, the mentorship of large clinical teams, and the implementation of evidence-based protocols across diverse populations.

While my time in leadership allowed me to impact mental health at a systemic level, my true passion has always remained in the quiet, transformative moments of the exam room. I have returned to full-time clinical practice to bring that high-level expertise back to where it matters most: the individual human experience.

Mental health does not exist in a vacuum, nor does it look the same at age seven as it does at seventy. I specialize in treating patients across the entire lifespan. Whether I am working with a child struggling to navigate their first years of school, an adolescent facing the pressures of identity formation, or an adult managing the heavy mantle of career and family, my approach remains the same: comprehensive, compassionate, and evidence based.

Areas of Specialization

I am trained to treat a broad spectrum of psychiatric conditions including:

ADHD & Neurodivergence

Anxiety Disorders

Depression

PTSD & Trauma Recovery

I am a Certified Hypnotherapist as well as a Certified Financial Social Worker, and use many different methods to help you access your inner strengths, so that you can become more emotionally whole and financially stable. Through online meetings using phone or video, I work with clients to identify behaviors that are impacting emotional health, and through a variety of techniques, help them do change work, making important shifts in their thinking, feeling, and behavior.

Salem Black, who holds a Master’s degree in both Biomedical Anthropology and Social Work, has an extensive background in working with children and families. His academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, followed by a Master’s degree in Biomedical Anthropology from Binghamton University. This interdisciplinary approach provided him with a unique perspective on the intersection of behavioral patterns and public health.

Hi, I’m Jessica, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing virtual therapy in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Florida. My personal experiences have deeply shaped the way I approach therapy and the kind of space I strive to create for clients. I know firsthand that healing and growth are rarely linear, and that support looks different for everyone. Because of that, I don’t believe therapy should feel rigid or “one size fits all.”

My approach is warm, compassionate, and grounded in genuine human connection. I want therapy to feel like a space where you can exhale a little, show up authentically, and talk openly about both the heavy things and the everyday moments that still matter. Yes, I absolutely want to hear about your stressful week, your latest life spiral, and how your pets are doing too. Alongside the deeper work, I believe there is real value in feeling comfortable enough to be fully yourself in session.

I strive to create an environment where you feel heard, supported, and never judged. Together, we’ll explore the patterns, stressors, and experiences that may be keeping you stuck while building practical tools, emotional insight, and confidence that feel sustainable outside of therapy. My hope is that you leave sessions feeling more grounded, more connected to yourself, and more capable of navigating life with clarity, self-trust, and compassion.

Sussi has been practicing mental health counseling for over 20 years. She grew up in the Bronx, New York. She is fluent in Spanish and English. She has two Masters degrees, one Masters in counseling and the other in Education, with an emphasis on Special Education.

I have extensive experience in community mental health and private practice settings working with teens and adults. I received my Masters of Science in Psychology from Johnson & Wales University. I am licensed to practice in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts.