Polly

Greetings Fellow Onliners!

I am Polly from PA.

I have an associates degree in business administration, a bachelors in psychology, and a masters degree in counseling psychology. I have worked in the mental health field in various private and agency settings since 1984, when I was hired to work in a crime victims advocacy agency after working there as a volunteer. I got my masters degree in 1990 and worked from 1990 - 1999 as a private practice psychotherapist in Reading, PA. During that time, I treated clients individually, in couples, families and groups. I have also worked extensively as a consultant, providing educational programs in length from two hours to three days, all over the country, and have developed several slide shows and multi-media presentations related to my public speaking work. I have been on several television shows, national public radio, and and the featured therapist in a local agency film on mental health.

My theoretical orientation tended to be very Rogerian in my views and personal interactions with others for many years. Then, when I went through graduate school, I felt that a more cognitive orientation would be beneficial to my work and my life, so I studied briefly with Albert Ellis and blended more of the cognitive-behavioral theories into my repertoire. The result was a more eclectic outlook which I feel has benefited me personally as well as helped me provide my clients with services which more individually suit their therapeutic needs.

I love working as a therapist~ it's a great outlet for my creativity, it keeps me current as to what's going on in the world, and I feel I am truly contributing something valuable to the world. Sometimes people ask me how I could do it~ doesn't it get depressing, exhausting, fell hopeless? My attitude is that the world is always going to have some depressing or dysfunctional aspects to it, so I can either pretend it's not happening or I can do some good to combat it. It feels good to take action.

Meanwhile, since 1994 I have had two beautiful children, two and one-half years apart. While juggling babies, a large property and home, and a marriage to a wonderful partner, I continued to run my office which was located 40 minutes from my rural home. I was doing it all, making the bacon, frying it up in a pan, and never ever letting my hubby forget he's a man. In 1999 I decided to stop trying to be superhuman, and to stop and smell the roses, not to mention the babies, the flowers, and my husband. After much soul-searching I gave my clients three months notice, closed my office in March 1999, and have been enjoying having more mommy time ever since. This bliss may end when my youngest goes to first grade in the fall of 2002, as I may again open my private practice.

Right now, I am enjoying eBay, where I sell a few things weekly to make a little extra money. It's fun and convenient ~ I've met lots of great people and I can do it in my spare time, in my home. I sell all sorts of beautiful women's garments and other interesting things. Like in my work as a therapist, everything I sell is something I genuinely like and believe in. Check me out if you're into it~ my seller name is "pkfrompa" and I have newitems weekly.

My PSN experience has been incredible~ a great group of women who are supportive, open, honest, and stimulating. We are from all walks of life and live all over the eastern part of the country, but we do well at sharing feelings and supporting each other, and we have all helped each other professionally by providing case reviews and updating clinical information. I've been in a lot of supervision situations, and I've never gotten out of any of them the wonderful guidance and support I have found with PSN.

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