Our Staff

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Rosemary F. Mugan, PsyD

Executive Director

Rosemary is an alumnus of Providence College, having graduated with a B.A. in Psychology. She received both her Masters and Doctorate in Psychology from the University of Hartford.  Her professional interests are in college mental health, clinical training, and higher education administration. Some of her training has been in counseling centers at Trinity College, a pre-doctoral internship at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a post-doctoral fellowship position at Roger Williams University’s Counseling Center. Rosemary started the PCC’s training program in 2011 and became the Director of the PCC in 2016. She is part of the credentialed Pet-Assisted Therapy Team, Pause With Paws (see Finnegan Mugan’s profile below!). Rosemary has been interested in working with students in their own personal processes of growth and change as students examine their sense of self throughout the collegiate experience and the impact of culture on that experience. She is also interested in working with students around issues of grief, relationship issues, eating disorders, trauma, anxiety, and depression. She enjoys spending time on the beach, reading suspense novels, enjoying time with her family (friends included!), and going for walks with her dog.

Gareth White, LICSW

Associate Director of Clinical Services

Gareth White, LICSW (she/her) is a licensed clinical social worker in RI.  She graduated with an MSW from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, City University of New York in 2007.  Gareth received her undergraduate degree from Barnard College, Columbia University where she majored in Sociology with a minor in Economics.  Gareth worked for over 11 years at the University of Texas Counseling and Mental Health Center before arriving at the Personal Counseling Center.  While there Gareth helped build and manage their mental health triage program and team, so she has a strong passion for assessment work.  Gareth is committed to college mental health and uses an eclectic, relational approach in therapy.  She practices from a body and fat positive, anti-racist, feminist and LGBTQIA+ affirming perspective.  Gareth holds a special place in her heart for anxiety management, identity exploration, relationship processing, family of origin concerns and grief and loss work.   Outside of work her passions include her family and friends, singing, swimming, baking and her tiny dog Walter.

Susan Ellingwood, MSW, LICSW

Clinical Counselor, Substance Use Counselor and Assistant Director of Substance Use Services

Susan serves as a Clinical Counselor and as a Substance Use Counselor, and is a Rhode Island licensed clinical social worker. She earned a Masters in Clinical Social Work from Boston University and a B.A in Psychology with a Minor in Women’s Studies from Rhode Island College. She received additional training in Comprehensive Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment, Substance Use Treatment, Motivational Interviewing, Sexual Assault Advocate/Counselor Training, Group Therapy, Holistic Health and Wellness, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy.  She enjoys using an integrated and eclectic approach in individual and group therapy.

Fr. Joseph J. Guido, OP, EdD

Senior Staff Psychologist

Fr. Guido is a licensed psychologist in Rhode Island and holds a joint appointment as Senior Staff Psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychology. He is a graduate of Brown University where he majored in history, the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception where he studied philosophy and theology, and Harvard University where he received his doctorate in human development and psychology. He completed his clinical internship at Harvard and a post-doctoral fellowship at the Danielsen Institute at Boston University. He is interested in helping young adults deal with the myriad challenges that come their way, and helping them compose a sense of themselves as worthy of love and capable of effecting a life of meaning and purpose. He is particularly interested in issues of attachment and loss, mourning and resilience, trauma, and the role that faith can play in coping with adversity.

Susanne E. Danish, PhD

Staff Psychologist/Assistant Director of Training

Susanne (she/her) is a licensed clinical psychologist in RI.  She received a BA in psychology from Rutgers University, a MSEd in Therapeutic Interventions and a Professional Diploma in School Psychology from Fordham University, and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Adelphi University.   Susanne came to the Personal Counseling Center after completing a doctoral internship at Fordham University’s Counseling Center and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at URI’s Counseling Center.  Susanne’s professional interests include identity exploration, mindfulness, healing trauma, developing self-care and compassion, attachment and love, building healthy relationships, and creativity.

Chris Bilder, Psy.D.

Associate Director of Clinical Sport Psychology Services

Dr. Chris Bilder, a licensed clinical sport psychologist, is the Associate Director of Clinical Sport Psychology Services. Dr. Bilder was most recently a Sport Psychologist for Northwestern University in Evanston, IL where he worked with coaches, teams, and individual student-athletes across every team at the University. Dr. Bilder also served as the liaison for PURPLE (Peers Urging Responsible Practice through Leadership and Education) student-athlete leadership group, and he was a founding member of the Northwestern Athletics Sports Medicine DEI group. Dr. Bilder completed his doctoral internship and postdoctoral residency at Lehigh University, where he worked with men’s and women’s swimming and diving, women’s field hockey, and men’s and women’s rowing. He received his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from James Madison University and his Masters of Sport & Performance Psychology from the University of Denver. He practices using an integrative model, utilizing cognitive behavioral, mindfulness-acceptance-commitment, emotion focused, psychodynamic, humanistic, and systems approaches. Outside of work he enjoys spending time with his family, going to the beach, watching sports, playing adult league hockey, golfing, and pottery.

Meeckral Searight, LICSW

Clinical Counselor 

Micki is a Providence College alumnus with a bachelor’s degree in sociology.  She earned her Master’s degree in social work from Rhode Island College and has over 15 years of experience in mental health/human service settings. Micki spent much of her time post-licensure with the Providence Center, working clinically with children, families and adults in various programs, including outpatient and in-home settings within the agency, and also has vast crisis intervention experience within an emergency room/hospital setting.  She is experienced working with individuals and families from diverse backgrounds and utilizes a solution focused, cognitive behavioral treatment approach in her work with clients.

Carolyn Bouley, LMHC

Triage Counselor

Carolyn Bouley is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Rhode Island. She earned her BA in psychology from UMass Dartmouth, a Master’s Degree in counseling from Provdence College, and a Certificate in Graduate Studies in Advanced Counseling from Rhode Island College. Carolyn has a background in acute psychiatric care with experience in CBT, ACT, and DBT. Carolyn strives to help students feel comfortable accessing counseling services and supporting them throughout the process.

Peter Gray, LICSW

Clinical Counselor/Substance Use Counselor

Peter is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with experience in depression, anxiety, trauma, identity exploration, and substance use disorders. Peter received a BFA from Ithaca College and an MSW in clinical practice from Boston University. Prior to joining the Personal Counseling Center, Peter was the Director of Operations at Meadowridge Academy, overseeing care for adolescents with a history of complex developmental trauma. Drawing from a diverse background that includes acting in New York City and even starting a bean-to-bar chocolate company while playing music in a children’s rock and roll band, Peter brings a rich tapestry of life experiences to his counseling practice. 

Divya Thakkar, LMHC

Clinical Counselor and Identity Focused/Multicultural Counselor

Divya Thakkar (she/her) is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Rhode Island and serves as a Clinical Counselor and as an Identity Focused/Multicultural Counselor. She is from Mumbai; India and she earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Mumbai. She moved to Ohio in 2017 to pursue her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health counseling. She worked as a community Mental Health Therapist in Ohio and worked at a state university in Missouri before moving to Providence. Divya believes in having a person-centered and a holistic approach while working with people struggling with varied concerns including anxiety, trauma, relationship issues, substance use, identity related issues, and adjustment related issues. Being from a diverse background and an international student herself, Divya is keen on helping people from varied backgrounds/cultures. Divya is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Motivational interviewing (MI). Divya has an attachment and a trauma lens with everyone she works with. Divya loves dancing, being out in nature, traveling, learning about history/cultures, and practicing yoga. Divya is also multilingual.

Kristie Ervanian, LMHC

Part-time Clinical Counselor

Kristie has worked as a part-time clinician in the Personal Counseling Center since 2015.  She received a BA in Psychology from Rhode Island College, a Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling from Lindenwood University, and a CAGS in Professional Counseling from Rhode Island College.  She has been a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Rhode Island since 2010.  In addition to her work with students at Providence College, Kristie also works at private practice in Warwick, Rhode Island.  She has experience working with individuals, couples, and families and she utilizes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and Solution Focused Therapy in her approach to working with clients. In her leisure time, Kristie enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, reading, and exercising.

Ellen Curran, Psy.D

Staff Psychologist

Dr. Ellen Curran is an alumnus of Providence College where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. After graduating PC, Dr. Curran earned her master’s and doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology at the University of Hartford. She has been practicing for 15+ years in a variety of settings including adolescent/young adult shelters and residential programs, college counseling centers, K-5 schools for those with and without significant mental health diagnoses and pediatric hospital settings. At Brown University/Butler Hospital’s Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, she grew stronger in her Motivational Interviewing skills.  Dr. Curran also provides therapy to children and their families in private practice. She enjoys writing mental health-related articles for adolescent magazines. Through this venture, she was given the opportunity by NASA to interview one of the astronaut team members of the first all-female spacewalk. Dr. Curran believes in a strengths-based and collaborative approach in which she joins with people in an empathic manner to help motivate and guide them towards the positive change they seek. Dr. Curran’s main areas of focus include trauma-informed care, anxiety, depression, anger management, identity and career development.

Piotr Piasecki, M.A., CMPC

Certified Mental Performance Coach

Piotr is a Doctoral Psychology Extern from Boston University. He is in the Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program with a specialization in Sport and Human Performance. Piotr is looking forward to working with Providence College students. He is an advocate for student mental health and pursues to destigmatize help-seeking behaviors among the college population, particularly with student-athletes. Piotr has been trained as a mindfulness instructor through the center for Koru Mindfulness, which provides evidence-based meditation and mindfulness for college-aged populations. His approach is client-centered and heavily influenced by positive psychology to create space for flourishing and ultimately thriving. Piotr is also bilingual, fluent in Polish.

Piotr has a Master of Human Kinetics degree, specializing in sport and exercise psychology at the University of Windsor, Canada. Piotr also has a Master of Arts degree, specializing in rehabilitation counseling at Adler University in Chicago. Piotr is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. Piotr has conducted and continues to do research pertaining to team cohesion, mindfulness, and peer leadership.

Athena Erickson, M.A.

Advanced Practicum Doctoral Psychology Intern

Athena (she/her) is a 4th year clinical psychology doctoral student at Clark University, joining the PCC team for the 2024-2025 academic year. She earned her BA in neuroscience from Amherst College, and more recently, her MA in psychology as part of her ongoing graduate studies. Athena approaches therapy through an identity-affirming, strengths-based lens and has growing experience in helping clients navigate exploration of self, interpersonal concerns, family systems, trauma, and grief. Athena is devoted to supporting people from a diversity of backgrounds, including those from historically oppressed populations and those who hold marginalized or liminal identities (i.e. mixed race). Athena has received formal training in psychodynamic therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and integrative behavioral couples therapy (IBCT), and blends her knowledge of these modalities with each client that she meets. Outside of the therapy room, Athena enjoys antiquing, exploring the rural area in which she lives, and going on long walks (mostly to spot and say hi to the neighborhood dogs).

Rachel Shinnick, EdM, CMPC

Advanced Practicum Doctoral Psychology Intern

Rachel Shinnick (she/her) is a doctoral student intern from the University of Massachusetts Boston where she studies Counseling Psychology and Sport. She holds a masters degree in Counseling and Sport Psychology from Boston University and is also a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC). Rachel’s research and clinical interests revolve around holistic well-being in college student populations, and specifically within collegiate athletics. She is passionate about psycho-social recovery from sport injury and centering the unique stressors and needs of student-athletes. Rachel takes a systems approach to counseling that is person-centered and humanistic while drawing on a variety of clinical modalities including: relational, psychodynamic, CBT, DBT, and ACT. Outside of academia and clinical practice, Rachel enjoys staying active through boxing, powerlifting, and competing in recreational soccer leagues around Boston.

Administrative Coordinator 

Finnegan Mugan

Pause With Paws Credentialed Pet Assisted Therapy Team Member

Finnegan (aka Finn or Finny) is a Bernese Mountain dog who is credentialed with his owner, Rosemary Mugan, as a Pet-Assisted Therapy Team through the Windwalker Pet Assisted Therapy Program and is now volunteering at the PCC! He loves to go on long walks, meet new people, cuddle with his blanket, and lay across his human family members at night (he never got the memo that he isn’t a 15lb lap dog!). He loves a good snowstorm and will prance around in snow drifts as long as he can. He always wants to be around others and will plant himself on your feet if you let him. Please be advised that Finnegan is not hypoallergenic and is double coated – all the more to pet, but not ideal for those with dog allergies. Please be on the lookout for drop-in pet therapy hours in the Personal Counseling Center!

Contact Information

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