Abby Arico, LMFT

Hi. I’m Abby. Thank you for taking the time to look at our site, and learn more about who we are and what we do at Positive Mind Counseling.

A little background about me. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) with a master’s degree from the University of Rhode Island. I completed my undergraduate education at Rhode Island College, where I received two bachelor’s degrees – one in Psychology and another in Addiction Studies. During my career, I have had the privilege of working in a variety of settings and with diverse populations, each challenging me to grow as a person and a helper in the community.

I work with people who suffer from depression and anxiety, those struggling with grief and loss, adults suffering from substance abuse, and couples facing difficulty communicating and lacking marital satisfaction. I support people who are experiencing uncertainty about their life and managing stress. I focus on helping people begin to take care of themselves in healthier and more satisfying ways.  Through my work, I collaborate with various agencies including DCF, the courts, probation, as well as treatment facilities.

I believe in a client-centered, strengths-based, solution-focused approach to treatment. Whether you are coming to therapy as an individual, a couple or a family we will work together to identify your goals. I strive to create a safe, non-judgmental environment that allows for vulnerability and healing. I believe in order for progress to be made my relationship with clients must be built on open communication, respect, honesty, and of course some humor. My approach the treatment includes the following:

·       Working with you at your pace, helping to uncover and identify strengths you have overlooked or underestimated;

·       Collaborating to work on real life, practical solutions to your concerns;

·       Identifying and replacing inaccurate and unproductive self-talk patterns that have kept you stuck;

·       Treating you with respect, compassion, empathy and honesty, while also challenging you to explore yourself in new ways; and

·       Exploring and refining past experiences as a way to heal and take back feelings of control over your life.

If you are reading this there is likely something you are not satisfied about in your life. Oftentimes, people find themselves dissatisfied in their lives because they have lost touch with their authentic self. We will work to re-connect, or maybe find for the first time, your authentic self. We will work on practicing self-compassion and self-care. Maybe you have been going through life “yes-ing” everyone when really you don’t want to or aren’t making time for yourself – we can work on ways to communicate more assertively and set healthier boundaries with others. We can work on ways to more effectively respond to people and situations in your life so that you feel empowered to advocate for yourself in positive ways. Together we will identify your wants and needs, and find concrete ways to implement positive changes into your life.

At one time or another everyone finds themselves living on autopilot, simply going through the motions of life. Now is the time to make the decision to live a conscious life – the life you truly want, a positive life. It would be my privilege to help you on your journey.