Jim Sawatsky, Licensed Psychologist
(814) 807-0861

James (Jim) Sawatsky started his career studying religion at Warner Pacific College in Oregon earning his B.A. Returning to Pennsylvania he started working in a residential program with adolescents providing individual and group therapy while providing them with a safe environment as they prepared to transition back to their respective community.

Jim later earned his master’s degree in psychology from Edinboro University and accepted a position working with children and adolescents as part of the Student Assistance Program. He continued working with children and adolescents, as well as families, while under supervision to complete his internship and obtain his psychology license. During this time, Jim ran groups related to ADHD and Conflict Resolution training. Additionally, he provided training for school personnel regarding mental health issues or went to schools to help evaluate or offer assistance.

Jim transitioned to practicing within the prison system, working with female inmates doing assessments and offering individual and group therapy. While there he helped address crises related to this population and practiced as a team member preparing individuals to increase their mental health to prepare individuals for their return to society. Jim’s success in this role led him to a management position while also being part of the Hostage Negotiation Team and Crisis Management Team.

During this very active period, Jim started a private practice with a focus of evaluating children and adolescents writing recommendations for appropriate and helpful services. He continued this work until he retired from the prison setting.

Once retired from the prison setting, Jim went to work at Polk Center managing a small psychology department. Here he expanded his knowledge base as his team worked with adult individuals with a variety of mental health and development disabled concerns including autism, PICA, sexual offending behavior, and more.  This work continued until the Polk Center closed in 2023.

Jim has received training in a variety of therapy styles such as CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, Stress Inoculation, family therapy and more. He works with his colleagues to help provide the best fit to ensure success for every person that seeks help. His approach in session is to listen and review background information, to ask questions to clarify making sure he has understood the needs of the client and to work collaboratively to help reach a solution that benefits their lifestyle. As his approach is to focus on primary goals to help improve the life of the person or family, sessions are kept to as few as possible to meet the goal.

Jim regularly attends his church, a small group study and helping with activities on occasion to help keep himself grounded and help those in his community. He is an avid fan of volleyball playing regularly in a pick-up league and attending high school games to watch local teams compete. Very much a family man, he enjoys traveling with his wife, and visiting both his children and his grandchildren.