Schizophrenia Therapists in Providence, RI

Specialties include schizophrenia therapy, schizoaffective disorder support, psychotic spectrum disorders, symptom management, emotional regulation, and trauma-informed care for adults. I work with adults 18+ living with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, including those navigating hallucinations, delusions, mood symptoms, and challenges in daily functioning. Many clients come to therapy feeling isolated, misunderstood, or uncertain about how to manage their symptoms while maintaining relationships, work, and independence. My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and trauma-informed, supporting clients in developing coping strategies, enhancing insight, and improving quality of life. Therapy is a safe space to process experiences, build stability, and strengthen self-confidence while coordinating care with psychiatrists or other providers as needed.

Living with schizophrenia can present challenges with thoughts, perceptions, emotions, relationships, and daily functioning, but a diagnosis does not define the person. At Faithful Connections Christian Counseling, we provide compassionate, respectful, and nonjudgmental counseling support for individuals navigating schizophrenia and related challenges. Our approach focuses on helping clients build self-awareness, develop healthy coping strategies, manage stress, strengthen emotional regulation, improve communication, establish supportive routines, and work toward meaningful personal goals. We recognize that recovery looks different for every individual. Counseling can complement psychiatric care and other treatment services by providing a supportive space to process experiences, strengthen skills, and maintain connection with supportive people and providers. When appropriate and with the client's permission, we can collaborate with members of the broader treatment team to support continuity of care. For clients who desire it, Christian faith can be thoughtfully incorporated into counseling through prayer, Scripture, spiritual reflection, and exploration of hope, purpose, identity, and personal strengths. You are more than a diagnosis. With compassionate support, appropriate treatment, and practical tools, individuals living with schizophrenia can pursue greater stability, meaningful relationships, and a fulfilling life.

Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders can have profound effects on peoples' lives. However, therapy can be a very helpful addition to medication and other treatments. I have experience treating psychotic disorders using Psychodynamically-Oriented Supportive Therapy (POST) and other approaches. I have also published professional works on both hallucinations and delusions. Please note that I only do individual therapy (i.e., not couple's or family therapy).

Losing touch with reality is more complicated than just trying to realign oneself with the external environment. To understand this experience, one must work to appreciate the subjective realities that illuminate these challenges.

Having a background in substance use disorders and working at the VA means I have a great deal of experience working with individuals psychotic disorders. If you have schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder I will work with you to challenge and manage delusional thoughts and hallucinations to improve your ability to function in daily life. We will work together to find ways to manage hallucinations and delusions without letting these experiences dominate your life.

Providence is home to Brown University, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), and Providence College — together generating significant student mental health demand and a creative, intellectually engaged population that views therapy favorably and tends toward longer-term, exploratory work. The city has a large Cape Verdean and Latino community, with a significant Guatemalan and Dominican population that creates demand for culturally affirming, Spanish-speaking therapists who understand the particular dynamics of immigrant family life in New England. Rhode Island Hospital and the Brown University Health system provide institutional mental health resources, while Brown's Warren Alpert Medical School maintains important psychiatric training programs. Providence's arts and hospitality economy creates consistent demand for therapists experienced with creative identity, economic precarity, and the mental health challenges of artists and performers.

Gender ID

	78%	Male
	22%	Female

Session Type

	75%	In Person and Online
	25%	Online Only

Top Treatment Approaches

75%	Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
50%	Existential / Humanistic Therapy
38%	Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
38%	Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian)
38%	Psychodynamic Therapy
38%	Relational Psychotherapy
25%	Behavioral Therapy

Ages Served

100%	Adult
63%	Senior
63%	Young Adult
25%	Teen

Client Focus

50%	Men
50%	Military / Veterans
38%	Christian
38%	LGBTQ+
38%	Persons with Disabilities

Schizophrenia therapists in Providence, RI

Erik Stenglein

Faithful Connections Christian Counseling LLC

Dr. Brian Sharpless

Dr. Adam Shafer (Chicago, IL)

Jacqueline Elster