PA Psychological Association

10/15/2026

🌟 PPA Member Spotlight 🌟

Meet John Gavazzi, PsyD, ABPP! As a Past President of PPA, Dr. Gavazzi has been deeply involved in the association, from serving on numerous committees to co-presenting on ethics, leadership, and prescriptive authority. Here's what he shared about the value of PPA:

"What makes PPA special is the members. I cannot list everyone who has helped me, and the list keeps growing. Without them, I would not have the sense of why advocacy matters, or any real grasp of how wide and deep the ethical questions in our practices run. When I face a difficult case or a complex decision, I have people to call."

Thank you for your extraordinary leadership and your continued commitment to making PPA's community stronger, Dr. Gavazzi!

Become a PPA member today here: https://www.papsy.org/membership-information

10/14/2026

Join us on Friday, October 16 for PPA's Virtual Fall Conference! Earn up to 8 CE credits while fulfilling your mandated courses for license renewal (Ethics, Act 31, and Su***de). Register online now at: https://www.papsy.org/events/2026-virtual-fall-conference

10/12/2026

The PPA Ethics Educators' Conference takes place October 23 at Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, PA. Four sessions, six CE credits, and a full day dedicated to the ethical dimensions of psychological training, supervision, self-care, and practice.

The Topics include safety as self-care, remedial supervision, diversity and ethics in practice, and developing self-care competency in graduate training. PPA Members can attend all four sessions for $100.

Registration closes October 20. Secure your spot: https://www.papsy.org/events/ethics-educators-conference-2026

10/05/2026

8 CE credits. Three expert-led workshops. One focused day of professional development.

The 2026 PPA Virtual Fall Conference brings together Pennsylvania psychologists on October 16 for workshops covering AI technologies in ethical practice, child abuse recognition and reporting, and advances in su***de prevention intervention.

PPA Members can attend all three workshops for just $149. A la Carte registration is available.

Register now: https://www.papsy.org/events/2026-virtual-fall-conference

10/01/2026

Another milestone for the field of prescribing psychology!
The American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) has voted to recognize Psychopharmacological Psychology as an official board specialty, following APA’s earlier recognition of Clinical Psychopharmacology as a formal specialty.
Formal specialty recognition reflects the continued development of clinical psychopharmacology as a distinct area of advanced psychological training and practice.
As prescribing psychology continues to grow across the country, milestones like this highlight the specialized education and professional standards supporting the field.

09/11/2026

Join us on Friday, October 16 for PPA's Virtual Fall Conference! Earn up to 8 CE credits while fulfilling your mandated courses for license renewal (Ethics, Act 31, and Su***de). Register online now at:

PPA's 2026 Virtual Fall Conference, Friday, October 16, 2026. Earn up to 8 CE credits. All-Access Pass or a la carte registration available.

09/03/2026

We sincerely thank Representative Heather Boyd for introducing the co-sponsorship memo to establish psychological associate licensure for doctoral-level students and trainees. This important initiative will help expand access to mental health services across Pennsylvania. We are grateful for Representative Boyd’s leadership, partnership, and continued support.

This collaboration marks an important step forward, and we look forward to working together to advance this meaningful effort.

Please consider asking your state representative to become a co-sponsor by clicking the link below:
https://www.votervoice.net/APAPA/Campaigns/139561/Respond

09/02/2026

Join PPA and The Trust for Sequence XVI - Risk, Relationship, and Responsibility: Ethics and Risk Management in the Web of Modern Practice, an essential workshop exploring ethics and risk management in today’s increasingly complex practice environment. Participants will gain practical strategies for navigating informed consent, boundaries, AI, interjurisdictional practice, documentation, and licensing concerns while earning 6 Ethics CE credits.
Register now at: https://www.papsy.org/events/sequence-xvi-risk-relationship-and-responsibility-ethics-and-risk-management-in-the-web-of-modern-practice

08/27/2026

Join us on Tuesday, September 22 at 11:00 AM for "You Are Not Alone: Building Community & Connections for Working Caregivers". Register online now at https://www.papsy.org/events/you-are-not-alone-building-community-and-connections-for-working-caregivers

This program is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Psychological Association (PPA). PPA is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. PPA maintains responsibility for the program and its content.

08/24/2026

As kids head back into homework and social pressures, many parents will see something confusing: a child who seems "stuck," frozen over assignments that seem simple from the outside.

In the Summer 2026 issue of The Pennsylvania Psychologist, Jeffrey Bernstein, PhD, calls this what it really is: overthinking. Not laziness or defiance, but a recursive loop of mental analysis that shows up the same way in a third grader avoiding a writing assignment as it does in a teen agonizing over a group text.

Dr. Bernstein shares a simple tool for breaking the cycle: PACE, which stands for Pause, Acknowledge, Contain, and Engage. Instead of waiting to feel certain before acting, PACE helps someone move into action while the uncertainty is still there.

As the school year ramps up, it is important to keep this framework in mind. You can learn more by reading the full article in the Summer 2026 issue of The Pennsylvania Psychologist.