Laura  Chalk
Vetted

Laura Chalk

She/Her/Hers

Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, PCNS Specialties Insurance & Fees Locations
Rhode Island Not Accepting Online
Providence Not Accepting In-person

This psychiatric nurse practitioner is currently not accepting new clients. Find available Rhode Island psychiatric nurse practitioners on Zencare.

Updated June 19, 2023

Specialties & Expertise

  • Perinatal mental health
  • Attachment issues
  • Sexual health
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Medication management

Professional statement

Laura Chalk is a Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist in Providence, RI with a specialization in women's mental health. She provides talk therapy and medication management for adults and parents navigating postpartum challenges, sexual health, attachment challenges, anxiety, and depression. Laura is is an expert in working with women and their families during pregnancy and postpartum, bringing over 15 years of experience in midwifery and clinical work at Women & Infants Hospital to private practice. She has a special interest in birth trauma, perinatal loss, and depression and anxiety in the pregnancy and postpartum period.

Laura primarily takes a psychodynamic approach grounded in attachment theory and incorporates other evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) in order to help clients understand underlying self-beliefs while also providing immediate symptom relief. Laura provides psychiatric medication management as needed, prescribing conservatively and where indicated.

Laura received her MSN from the University of Pennsylvania in Nurse-Midwifery and her BA from Tufts University. She obtained a post-master's degree as a Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist from URI. She is dedicated to creating an open and safe environment where no topic is off limits and enjoys ushering clients through vulnerable times with more confidence and resiliency.


Message to clients

Laura is a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist who includes both psychotherapy and psychopharmacology as part of her practice. She has expertise in women’s health drawn from 15 years as a community midwife. Her expertise in the perinatal period was further deepened with a fellowship in infant mental health. Her areas of focus include: depression, anxiety, loss, adjustment, intimacy, sexual health and birth trauma.
Laura enjoys working with a diverse population, from college on as they negotiate life transitions, develop insight into how they have formed relationships and subsequent patterns that they have seen develop over time. Laura believes that therapy can be a powerful space to develop new coping strategies, ways of communicating and healthy life choices. Her approach is psychodynamic, informed by attachment psychotherapy as well as evidence-based approaches such as IPT, CBT, ACT and mindfulness. Psychopharmacology is another tool that Laura draws from in the treatment of mental illness. She has trained and worked at Women and Infants and is skilled in working with the perinatal population as well as others for medication management.


Specialties

Perinatal mental health - Anxiety, depression, and relationship concerns specific to childbearing women and their families; navigating complex emotions and the transition to parenthood during pregnancy and the postpartum period

Attachment issues - Challenges with mood, behavior, and social relationships arising from failure to form normal attachment to primary caregiver in early childhood

Sexual health - Supporting individuals and relationships to work towards achieving satisfying sexual lives and functioning in navigating varying levels of physical ability that can impact sexual functioning; this may include impacts of disability, chronic illness, or mental health as well as the normal variation that occurs in bodily function as people age and bodies change; expertise in treating vaginismus

Anxiety - Generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks

Depression - Sleep and energy disruption, overall mood disturbance, inability to enjoy yourself, and difficulty being motivated, amongst many other symptoms

Medication management - Prescribing and optimizing medication regimens with specialized training in pregnant and breastfeeding women




Clientele

  • Adults (24+)
  • Parents
  • Young adults (18-24)

Insurance

  • Aetna
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Cigna
  • Tufts Health Plan

Out-of-pocket fees

  • Individual sessions: $200 (50min)
  • Initial session: $300 (60min)
  • Medication management and therapy sessions: $250 (50min)
  • Medication management sessions: $200 (30min)

Location(s)

Providence practice
208 Governor Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02906
Not accepting new clients in-person
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon 9:00am-6:00pm
  • Tue 9:00am-6:00pm
  • Wed 9:00am-6:00pm
  • Thu 9:00am-6:00pm
  • Fri Closed
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

Online Sessions (Rhode Island)
Not accepting new clients online
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon 9:00am-6:00pm
  • Tue 9:00am-6:00pm
  • Wed 9:00am-6:00pm
  • Thu 9:00am-6:00pm
  • Fri Closed
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

Work and Education

Private Practice, 2009 - Present
Women & Infants Department of Women's Behavioral Health, 2014 - 2017
RIC School of Nursing, Adjunct Faculty, 2010 - 2013

University of Rhode Island, Post Masters Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist Program, 2008
University of Pennsylvania, MSN, Certificate in Nurse-Midwifery, 1994
Tufts University, Bachelor of Arts in French


Licensure

Rhode Island: APRN00352


Languages

English