Personal Counseling Center Staff

Providence College Personal Counseling Center green tree with leaves that are hands and states Building the We in Wellness.

Our Staff


Rosemary F MuganRosemary 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.

photo of Gareth White

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.

Chris Bilder, Psy.D., CMPC

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.

Susan Ellingwood
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.

Joseph Guido
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.

Photo of Dr. Ellen Curran

Ellen Curran, Psy.D

Assistant Director of Training/Staff Psychologist

Dr. Ellen Curran (she/her) 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, Independent Living Programs, K-5 schools for those with/ 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. She enjoys writing mental health-related articles for young adult/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. She is eclectic in her theoretical approach with an emphasis on CBT. Outside of work, Dr. Curran enjoys photography and time with her family, friends and pup.

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.

image of triage counselor, Carolyn Bouley, at her desk.

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.

Picture of Peter Gray in green shirt

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. 

Picture of Divya Thakkar in black shirt

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.

Bryce Scottron, Clinical Sport Psychology Services Counselor

Bryce Scottron, Ph.D.

Clinical Sport Psychology Services Counselor

Dr. Bryce Scottron, a former Providence College Doctoral extern, is returning to Friartown following a brief stop as a staff therapist at Syracuse University (SU), in Syracuse NY, and completing his doctoral internship at the University Nevada Reno (UNR) counseling center in Reno, NV. While at SU and UNR, Dr. Scottron worked with both student-athletes and the general student population. He received his doctorate from the University of Massachusetts Boston, and master’s degree from William James College. Dr. Scottron’s theoretical orientation integrates interpersonal, psychodynamic, dialectical-behavioral, student-centered, mindfulness and motivational interviewing approaches within a multicultural framework. When working with student-athletes, he strives to provide support to allow the students to explore their concerns, their strengths and their self-understanding. His goal in the process is to assist students in moving towards greater insight, personal growth and overall well-being. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing and watching all sports, especially football, working out, and binge watching a new streaming series or movie.

picture of Kristie sitting at desk

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.

Emmanuel Goico-Montes de Oca, CMPC

Advanced Doctoral Trainee

Emmanuel Goico-Montes de Oca is a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology & Applied Human Development program at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. Emmanuel’s research interests are mainly in cultural sport psychology, the transition process in migrant athletes and how it impacts their performance and well-being, the application of neurofeedback in improving performance and the rehabilitation process of performers, and interdisciplinary processes in sports. Currently, Emmanuel is working with professor Edson Filho in the Performance Recovery & Optimization (PRO) Lab. Before starting at BU Wheelock, Emmanuel spent time working as a mental performance coach for professional baseball teams, Olympic athletes, and working for the Dominican Ministry of Health and the Dominican Federation of Sports Medicine.

picture of Rachel in charcoal blazer

Rachel Shinnick, EdM, CMPC

Certified Mental Performance Consultant

Rachel (she/her) returns to Providence College as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant. She previously trained at the PCC as a Doctoral Psychology Extern. She holds a masters in Counseling and Sport Psychology from Boston University and is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Rachel is in a Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program at the University of Massachusetts Boston where she has conducted and continues to do research pertaining to student athlete mental health, psycho-social recovery from sport injury, and athlete advocacy. She values the collaborative nature of working with athletes, teams, and coaches to build long-lasting mental skills rooted in a growth mindset approach to performance, and is an active advocate for student athlete mental health and well-being.

Rachel Graves wearing a gray blazer and white shirt

Rachel Graves, AS

Administrative Coordinator 

Rachel has an Associate in Science in Law Enforcement and Legal Studies, an EMT certificate, and is currently pursuing a BA in Liberal Studies at Providence College. Rachel is a Public Safety Officer at Bryant University, trained in campus safety, dispatch, mental health, and Title IX. Prior to PC and Bryant, Rachel was employed as a Paralegal. Her interests include riding her motorcycle, biking, spending time with her cat Otter, friends, and family.

picture of Finnegan the Bernese Mountain dog

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


Personal Counseling Center

Lower Bedford Hall
Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:30am to 4:30pm during the academic year
401.865.2343
401.865.1343​​​​

If you are in crisis and would like to speak with a counselor, please reach out to the PCC to determine if a same day appointment during business hours would be recommended or helpful.

Please do not use email to contact Personal Counseling Center staff for urgent/crisis purposes

Emergency

If you are experiencing an emergency on campus, please contact Public Safety at 401.865.2222. For off campus emergencies, contact 911.
401.865.2222

After Hours Mental Health Support 

Call 401.865.2343 and press option 2 to speak with an on-call crisis counselor when the office is closed.
401.865.2343

Additional 24/7 off-campus Resources