Dr. Karen Gieseke and Associates
Back row left to right
Karen Gieseke, Ph.D., Psychologist;
Cindy Lewis, LICSW;
Michael Pendergast, LICSW;
Erica VonVillas, LICSW;
Front row left to right
Jennifer Healey, LMHC;
Azalia Chobot, Office Manager;
David Dawson, LICSW;
Margaret Camacho, Ph.D.;
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Karen Gieseke, Ph.D.
Dr. Gieseke has been a licensed psychologist since 1993. She
received her Bachelor of Science degree from Carroll
College in Waukesha, Wisconsin in 1984. She majored in psychology
and organizational communication. She obtained
her Master of Arts Degree from Ohio State University
in 1987, specializing in School Psychology. She received her
Ph.D. in 1992 from Ohio State University, specializing in clinical
and school psychology. She performed two years of internship in
1987-88 and 1992-93 in a school setting and a clinical setting
respectively. Dr. Gieseke performed research in areas of
psychological testing, and psychological processes in children
with reading disabilities.
Dr. Gieseke has worked in a university setting, school setting, mental health
center setting, and private practice setting. She worked as the
chief psychologist at a large mental health center in Massachusetts
from 1994-1998. She has worked in Ohio, Massachusetts, and Rhode
Island as a licensed psychologist. Dr. Gieseke started her private
practice in 1997 in Rhode Island. She has assembled this group
of practitioners to be able to provide a variety of needed
services in our area.
Dr. Gieseke has provided a variety of psychological services
to her patients, including psychological testing, educational
testing, counseling to individuals, families, adolescents and children.
She also provides disability determination evaluations for the
State of Rhode Island. She has provided consultation services
to schools, as well as independent evaluations. She currently
is concentrating on child and family counseling, and women's
issues.
Dr. Gieseke has presented a number of papers at professional
conferences, including the National Association of School
Psychologists and the International Reading Association. She was
a finalist for the Dissertation of the Year Award at the
International Reading Association in 1992.
Dr. Gieseke has also been a guest on the PBS television show
"Health Care Directions" for 4 shows during a back to school series.
Dr. Gieseke is a member of the Rhode Island Psychological
Association and the American Psychological Association, and the
National Association of School Psychologists.
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Michael Pendergast, MSW, LICSW
Mr. Pendergast is a licensed clinical social worker, and a
certified school social worker. He works full time for a
local school district and part-time at Dr. Karen Gieseke and
Associates. Mr. Pendergast received his Bachelor of Arts
Degree (Magna Cum Laude) from Saint Michael's College in Winooski, Vermont
in 1988. He attended San Francisco State University from
1994-1997 and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Master of Social
Work degree.
Mr. Pendergast has worked in a variety of settings. He has worked
as a school social worker, mobile treatment team leader,
program director, assistant program director,and outpatient
therapist at several Rhode Island and Massachusetts
mental health centers. His clinical expertise includes
extensive work with adults and children with disabilities,
and several years of experience in individual, group,
and family treatment modalities. Mr. Pendergast's experience
and interests include but are not limited to child behavioral
issues, men's issues, mood disorders, anxiety, recovery issues, children
with special education needs, ADHD, and general parenting issues.
Mr. Pendergast is available for appointments on Mondays and Saturdays.
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Jennifer Healey, MS, LMHC
Ms. Healey is a licensed mental health counselor. She earned
her Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1991 and her Master
of Science Degree in Counseling from Villanova University
in Pennsylvania in 1995. For the past 10 years Ms. Healy has performed
counseling and psychotherapy services in a variety of settings. She has
worked with college students in a campus environment, she has worked for
a mental health center in home-based emergency services, she has
worked in residential and school settings, and hospital settings. She
has provided group, family, couple, and individual counseling. Ms. Healey has
completed a second Master of Science Degree at the University
of Rhode Island in Marriage and Family Therapy. She has also completed her
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) in May 2005 at
Rhode Island College.
Ms. Healey has Wednesday evening and Saturday hours available.
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David Dawson, MSW, LICSW
Mr. David Dawson is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
He currently works full time as a clinical social worker at Salve Regina University Counseling Center
and part time at Dr. Karen Gieseke and Associates. Mr. Dawson received his Bachelor of Arts degree from
the University of Massachusetts at Lowell in 1999. He majored in Psychology at the University of Massachusetts
at Lowell. He received his Master of Social Work degree from Smith College School for Social Work in Northampton,
Massachusetts in 2002.
Mr. Dawson has experience in various mental health settings, including out patient mental health clinics,
psychiatric hospitals, state operated residential facilities and college counseling centers at Emory University
and the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. His clinical expertise includes extensive work with adolescents and young
adults. His areas of interest include treating individuals with issues concerning anxiety, relationship difficulties,
depression, trauma and loss. Mr. Dawson also has a strong interest in working with children with special education needs.
Mr. Dawson is available on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings, and has expanded hours during the summer.
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Erica VonVillas, LICSW
Ms. Von Villas is a licensed social worker, with nearly a decade of experience working
for a local school for children with learning, emotional
and behavioral difficulties.
Ms. Von Villas obtained her Bachelor
of Arts Degree (Summa Cum Laude) in Psychology/anthropology from Rhode Island
College in 1993. She then obtained her Master of Social Work
Degree (Cum Laude) from Rhode Island College in 1999.
Ms. Von Villas has worked as a school social worker in Massachusetts,
she has worked as a substance abuse therapist intern at the Providence
Veteran's Hospital, and she has worked as a psychology technician at
that same location. She has had experience working with children,
adolescents, adults, and families. She also has extensive knowledge
regarding educational settings. She has a wealth of background
knowledge in interventions and treatment of childhood behavior
problems.
Ms. Von Villas is currently available on some afternoons and
evenings, as well as Saturday hours.
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Cindy Lewis, LICSW
Cindy Lewis has been a licensed clinical social worker in the State of Rhode Island
since 1989. She has operated her full time private practice in Wakefield Rhode Island
for 20 years and has recently joined the staff at Dr. Karen Gieseke and Associates. Ms. Lewis
received her Bachelor of Science at the University of Rhode Island in 1982 where she majored
in human development, counseling, and family relations. She obtained her Master of Social Work
degree from Rhode Island College in 1987.
For the past 27 years, Ms. Lewis has performed counseling and psychotherapy services
in a variety of settings. She has worked in community mental health centers, family service
agencies, health maintenance organizations, and private psychotherapy offices. Her clinical
expertise includes experience working with adults, couples, families, and children. Cindy's
areas of interest include treating women with issues of anxiety, depression, relationship
difficulties, low self esteem, stress management, among other issues. She also enjoys working
with children and their families.
Ms. Lewis is available Tuesday through Thursday.
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Margaret Camacho, Ph.D.
Margaret Camacho, PhD has a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Caribbean Center for
Advanced Studies of Puerto Rico. She has been practicing psychology for over 20 years in
a variety of settings and is licensed as a psychologist in Rhode Island.
Dr. Camacho is interested in treating adults, children, families and couples . She also performs
psychological evaluations and therapy in English and Spanish. She also has extensive experience
in the area of developmental delays.
Dr. Camacho has additional experience working with domestic violence, psychiatric populations
and being a witness for the court. She has worked with the department of education, employee
assistance programs and taught at the Interamerican University in Puerto Rico.
Dr. Camacho has worked as a consultant for New York University for the Head Start Program
in the Caribbean and US Virgin Islands. More recently she worked for several years at the
DDD division of the State of RI providing services for adults in residential facilities through
a private organization.
As a psychologist, in her practice she uses a rational-cognitive approach, but she also includes
a broader interpretation of human nature and a holistic point of view. Dr. Camacho believes that
the human character is shaped from the experiences with the external world, our connection with
people and the exploration of the spiritual dimension. For her, to grow means to be integrated
and well balanced because a lack of equilibrium in our life leads to unhappiness and illness.
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Azalia Chobot, office manager
Ms. Chobot
is responsible for the daily operations of the
office. She is in charge of all medical billing, record and claims
processing. She handles phone calls, payroll, and some scheduling.
Azalia is available from 9:30am-4:30pm Mondays-Thursday. She tries to
answer all calls, but at times she will be on the line and will not be
able to answer the call. In that case, the call is routed to
the voice mail system. Voice mail is checked several times a day, but
if that happens during the hours of 9:30-4:30, you may wish to call back
a bit later if you do not wish to leave voice mail.
Ms. Chobot upholds all confidentiality agreements, and all
medical records are stored in locked locations. All electronic
submissions of medical records are made in accordance with HIPAA
rules and regulations.
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