Aviva Psychology Services is built on the idea that we are both harmed and healed in relationships. We believe that relationships are core to our wellbeing as humans, and this includes your relationship with your psychologist. 

It might sound strange to think of yourself as having a relationship with your psychologist. While they are an expert you’ve hired to help you, they’re also a human being who will co-create the therapy experience with you over the course of months to years. Given the investment of time, energy, trust, and money that therapy involves, being thoughtful about who you want to work with just makes sense! 

The team of psychologists at Aviva Psychology Services represents a diverse array of psychological training, therapeutic styles, specialty skills, and personalities. To help you learn more about which psychologist at Aviva is the right fit for you, we offer this Clinician Spotlight series. 

Clinician Spotlight: Sonia Altavilla, Psy.D.

Dr. Altavilla has been a staff psychologist at Aviva Psychology services since January 2023 and has been providing therapy as a licensed psychologist since August 2023.

Her areas of focus include depression, anxiety, adjustment, identity development, grief and loss, and trauma. Dr. Altavilla also has expertise in women’s health, including navigating pregnancy, traumatic birth or loss, postpartum anxiety/depression, and infertility.

Her psychology training includes earning her M.S. in applied psychology from Sacred Heart University and her Psy.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Hartford. Following completion of her academic training, Dr. Altavilla completed her predoctoral internship at the University of Rochester Medical Center and her postdoctoral training at the VA Bedford Healthcare System, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial VA Medical Center. 

To learn more about working with Dr. Altavilla, you can read her Aviva team page, read her Psychology Today profile, and read the interview written below. 

What Led You to a Career in Psychology? 

As cliche as it may sound, it started with wanting to understand myself and my own life better. I am the child of divorced parents, and even as a child, that made me interested in understanding how and why some people do or do not work well together. From an early age, I wanted to understand communication and conflict. I wanted to understand what leads to connection and disconnection. Throughout my life, I’ve also found that I enjoy knowing people deeply on a one-to-one basis. I like to understand what got them to this point in their life, help them make sense of their journey, and ultimately help them grow from there.

How Would You Describe Your Therapeutic Style? 

My view is that while modalities matter and expertise is important, how we engage together as two people is the most important aspect of the work. I always want to create a collaborative space with my clients. My priority is building a relationship so that we can share feedback and reactions openly and honestly, including if their truth is labeled as negative, like feeling that their life or therapy isn’t going well. Ultimately, my goal is to create a space where clients feel empowered to self-advocate with me, which will in turn allow them to self-advocate in their daily lives. I especially hope they learn to to use this skill in spaces where they feel unempowered, such as healthcare settings. 

What Does a Typical Session Look Like With You? 

It’s difficult to describe a typical session because it looks different for each client. In general, I approach sessions as a guide, not a leader, but based on the goals we’ve determined together. Sessions are shaped by what the client brings into the room. You bring the area of focus, and we explore it together.

What Types of Clients Do You Work With? 

I enjoy working with all kinds of clients, though I especially love working with young adults. The era of life for 20-somethings to explore post-college life or just early adulthood when life typically starts to demand more of us can be a challenging and exciting time. It’s really rewarding to work with clients who are struggling with a sense of identity and who might be asking questions like “who am I?” and “What am I going to be in life?” and be with them in that process. I also have a specialty focus in women’s health, and feel passionately about working with women who are navigating issues like pregnancy, traumatic birth or loss, postpartum anxiety/depression, and infertility.

What Do You Enjoy About Therapy? 

I enjoy the moments when a client and I are able to make a connection between their experiences, and then the client has a moment of realization that feels important to them. That moment of discovery and learning is powerful. Or when I get to work with a client who is working through something difficult for a long-term goal they really want, like with exposure therapy. The process is so challenging, and I like being able to coach them through that process, help them get to the other side, and celebrate the transformation with them. I also really enjoy getting to nerd out with clients over a shared interest (cats, running, and reading or watching sci-fi/fantasy have gotten me through some hard times too!).

What’s Something You Wish More People Knew About Therapy? 

You don’t have to know exactly what you want to work on to start therapy. If you notice a feeling of dissatisfaction or struggle, even if you don’t have the words for it, you can start therapy. Often part of therapy is taking time to figure out what you are seeking in therapy. I also wish more people knew that it’s ok to shop around for the right therapist. Not every person will be your person, and that includes therapists. It’s important to work with people who you believe can support you in the ways you want and need.

Do You Assign Homework or Between-Session Tools to Use? 

Sometimes! It varies by client and their needs and preferences. I often remind clients we only spend an hour together a week, and that they live a lot of life outside of that. Sometimes homework can help move therapy to daily life. It might look like traditional homework, like a worksheet or a particular task to try, but mostly it looks like practicing skills and using insights from therapy between sessions. My goal is that if you’re doing homework, it’s for you and improving your life, not for a session or “trying to get an A in therapy” (though I empathize and understand that urge intimately!).

What Do You Hope Clients Gain From Working With You? 

Even if it’s not a major life change, I hope they gain a better understanding of themselves and who they are or want to be. I hope that clients develop a deeper awareness of why they do things, why they think the way they do, why they feel the way they do, and feel equipped with tools to navigate their lives easier and to make progress in the ways they hope for themselves. 

Do You Offer In-Person or Online Therapy? 

I offer both! I do a lot of virtual therapy, and understand the convenience of it, but I really enjoy in-person therapy at Aviva’s Boston location. I find some people form connections more readily in-person, and I’m always happy to support that. I also think it can be helpful for therapy to occur in a space that’s outside of your typical daily life. It can feel freeing mentally and emotionally to be in a more neutral space, rather than in your home or office.

How Do You Like To Spend Your Free Time? 

I love all things spooky! I’m a year-round spooky person, though October is my favorite month. I consider scary movies to be my comfort genre (no need to psychoanalyze that, I already have!). I love living near Salem and taking advantage of the events and shops there, and my black cat Padfoot is the best emotional-support familiar one could ask for! Outside of spooky things, I’m part of a big Italian family, and I value spending as much time with them as I can, as well as traveling to see, eat, and marvel my way through different parts of the world.