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Monday 8am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm Thursday 8am - 4:30pm Friday 8am - 2pm

PA Psychological Association

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PA Psychological Association

We invite you to learn more about our organization, to join PPA as a member or to use our public resources to help you and/or your family! Visit papsy.org.

The Pennsylvania Psychological Association is the professional association for psychologists in Pennsylvania, serving the needs of psychologists in independent practice, schools, business organizations, hospitals, private and government agencies, and academia.

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.

08/20/2026

Join us Friday, September 18, 2026, for a clinical webinar, The Science and Practice of Effective Clinical Suicidology, with Dr. David A. Jobes, PhD, ABPP, creator of the CAMS approach to su***de risk treatment. Sponsored by the National Register in collaboration with CESPPA.

Dr. Jobes will cover evidence-based approaches to assessing, managing, and treating suicidal risk, plus key ethical and risk management considerations.

The webinar takes place Friday, September 18, 2026, from 12:00 to 3:15 p.m. ET, costs $95, and offers 3 CE credits. Register by September 17 for the live session, or anytime for the archived recording.

A bonus for PPA members: all registration fees from PPA members and other psychologists in our jurisdiction are returned to PPA, helping us continue providing valuable resources to you and your colleagues.

Register here: https://ce.nationalregister.org/products/the-science-and-practice-of-effective-clinical-suicidology -product_tab_course_details

08/12/2026

Your Voice Belongs in the Room Where Laws Are Made

On May 30, PPA Member Julie Meranze Levitt, PhD, sat down with U.S. Representative Madeleine Dean (PA-04) for a candid conversation about what effective advocacy actually looks like.

Rep. Dean put it simply: "I collect experts." Legislators want a go-to resource when drafting a bill or responding to constituents, and psychologists, as trained communicators and protectors of the people we treat, are well positioned to fill that role.

A few takeaways:

• Do your homework. Research the legislator's background and current bills before reaching out.
• Focus your ask. Narrow your concerns to no more than three issues so lawmakers can act on what matters most.
• Bring real stories. Concrete details about people affected by an issue stick, and often become the examples legislators share publicly.
• You don't need to live in the district. Reach out to legislators outside your own area, or bring a colleague to meet with theirs.

Advocacy is an extension of clinical work. Showing up prepared and specific helps shape the laws that protect our practices and the people we serve.

PPA's Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee is ready to help members prepare. Reach out if you're ready to make your voice heard in Harrisburg or Washington.

08/11/2026

Help us grow our community by following and sharing PPA on Facebook!

Your support helps us reach more psychologists, students, and mental health professionals across Pennsylvania. Follow, like, and share—and invite your colleagues to join us!

Together, we can continue advancing the future of psychology in Pennsylvania.

08/07/2026

In the Summer 2026 issue of The Pennsylvania Psychologist, Cathy Petchel, MA, asks a question every psychologist should sit with: are we thinking boldly enough about where our field is headed?

Her leadership message points to a shift already underway. Leadership is moving away from top-down authority and toward a "we-us" model, collaborative, inclusive, and distributed. At the same time, psychology stands at a real crossroads: protecting evidence-based practice while expanding access to care and integrating fast-moving technology, especially AI.

AI needs psychology. As AI systems try to understand human thinking, emotion, and behavior, our field's expertise becomes essential. Real work lies ahead in understanding AI model learning, bias, and limitations; critically evaluating AI rather than simply using it; ensuring clinical validity and ethical use as AI enters practice; and leading on AI ethics through informed consent, preventing overreliance, and protecting vulnerable populations.

The goal isn't to replace psychological insight with AI. It's to augment it, keeping us relevant in a changing landscape. As Petchel asks: are we grounded enough in our core values to embrace what's new?

Read the full message in the Summer 2026 issue of The Pennsylvania Psychologist.

07/29/2026

HB1000 and SB1243 remain active in the Pennsylvania legislature, and your continued advocacy is critical.

For those who have already contacted your local legislators about prescriptive authority for psychologists, thank you. Your voice is making a difference in moving this conversation forward.

For those who have not yet taken action, now is the time. Expanding access to mental health care in Pennsylvania's underserved communities requires legislative support, and that support depends on hearing from constituents like you.

PPA has made advocacy simple. Visit papsy.org/rxp to access talking points, legislator contact information, and resources to support your outreach. You can also join PPA's RxP Committee to stay informed on legislative developments and coordinate advocacy efforts with colleagues across the state.

07/24/2026

Happy International Self-Care Day! The date (24/7) symbolizes that self-care, including physical, mental, emotional, and financial health, should be practiced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Initiated in 2011, it highlights proactive wellness and preventive healthcare. In the midst of demanding schedules and competing priorities, self-care is often the first thing we sacrifice. Yet research consistently shows that prioritizing our well-being isn't a luxury, it's a necessity. Neglecting it can lead to burnout, decreased productivity, and declining mental and physical health.

PPA's own Doctoral Student members Emily Culligan, M.A. and Katelyn Vala, M.A. have compiled 10 practical, evidence-informed tips to help psychologists and mental health professionals build sustainable self-care habits, from setting clear boundaries and challenging common misconceptions, to identifying personalized routines that fit your life and schedule.

Self-care is not a one-time practice. It is an ongoing commitment to your mental, physical, and emotional well-being, and one that directly impacts the quality of care you provide to others.

We encourage you to share this resource with colleagues, students, and the communities you serve.

Read the full article below.

Address

5925 Stevenson Avenue, Ste H
Harrisburg, PA
17112

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8am - 4:30pm
Friday	8am - 2pm

Telephone

+17172323817

Website

http://www.papsy.org/

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