About Dr. Potoczniak
Education and credentials
Hello! I'm glad you've found my site.
I am licensed as a Psychologist in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as well as the States of New York and New Jersey. Through PSYPACT, I am also able to practice teletherapy in approximately 30 other states (with about 10 others on the way). I'm also a board certified psychologist through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). After receiving my Bachelor's degree in English from Georgetown University with a minor in Music, I earned my PhD in Counseling Psychology at the University of Florida and then completed a pre-doctoral internship at the University of Pennsylvania. I remained at the University of Pennsylvania to complete a postdoctoral fellowship through the center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), which focused on promoting the welfare of individual students as well as the greater University community. After several years in private practice, I earned board certification to demonstrate my commitment and dedication to supporting others' well being through psychological services.
Board certification indicates that after earning my PhD, I completed further written examination, which was reviewed along with my psychotherapy by a body of national psychological examiners, before whom I completed additional oral examination. At the completion of this process, the Board granted me certification to demonstrate competence in providing high-quality services in Counseling Psychology.
I'm also proud to be a certified EMDR practitioner through the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA). This indicates additional psychotherapy training in EMDR (from the Parnell Institute), as well as 20 further hours of consultation with certified EMDR consultants.
Clinical focus
My work currently focuses on treatment of anxiety and/or stress, whether related to work, relationships, or more general stress/anxiety affecting areas of a person's life. Using EMDR, I also focus on treatment of traumatic incidents.
In terms of diversity and inclusion, my initial research focused on issues relevant to the LGBTQ+ community, inclusive of ways in which such community membership affected Indigenous individuals, Black and African American individuals, Asian individuals, and people of varying cultures and backgrounds. Over time, I have continued to maintain a practice (both therapeutic and assessment-based) that is strongly sensitive to issues of race, ethnicity, differing abilities, sexual orientation, and gender. Being familiar with concepts of "minority stigma" often experienced by the above communities, I take pride in work that is empathic, "connected," and sensitive to individual concerns.
My therapeutic work is integrative, meaning that each person's treatment is individually tailored from a variety of possible therapeutic approaches. Having been trained in psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral treatment, treatment considers and often blends these styles of therapy according to each person's unique therapeutic needs. Additionally, I strive to maintain working knowledge of current psychological research so each individual benefits from up-to-date clinical information and research findings in the field.
While my earlier career focused on psychological research in development of identity, with my work being most prominantly published in the Handbook of Counseling and Psychotherapy with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Clients and peer-reviewed journals, my current focus is rather on full-time psychotherapy and psychological/forensic evaluation. This evaluation most often occurs in consultation with court systems and other community resources that can help a person solve their difficulties.