Amber Petchonka
Hello, I am a licensed professional counselor and a board certified art therapist. I have been practicing for just over seven years and I received my masters degree in art therapy from Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA.
I started my journey at KidsPeace Children's Hospital as an art therapist for a couple years, running group and individual therapy sessions.
I help clients with various needs such as anxiety, life transitions, ADHD, relationships, communication and coping skills to help become the best versions of themselves. I started my journey at KidsPeace Children's Hospital as an art therapist for a couple years, running group and individual therapy sessions. After KidsPeace I transitioned to St. Luke's Hospital in Quakertown as a therapist running group therapy sessions. Talk therapy is the most common method of therapy on this platform, but be aware that if you do have any interest in art therapy, we can certainly incorporate that into our work together whether that be during our sessions or for homework. The choice is yours!
First session
In our first session together, we will do an introduction where I will introduce myself to you and let you know what you can expect from me, and what our interactions will look like and then I will answer any questions that you might have. Afterwards I will have you introduce yourself and identify any goals you have for therapy. I want you to be comfortable. Therapy is hard, but it doesnt have to be. I want you to feel like you can connect with me, so having this introduction session is a great way to start figuring out if you are comfortable enough to work with me. You will quickly find out that I am very down to earth, I enjoy humor, and just talking with you, on the same level.
Strengths
I have a very empathic and nonjudgmental approach in therapy. I like to focus on your strengths that you already display and work together to build new strengths to help with any concerns that are bringing you to therapy. I am very down to earth, flexible and accommodating, sometimes using humor in therapy to make it more comfortable, while also offering a structured transparent space to work in. I also like to emphasize the need for accountability, not only from you but from myself as well.
Ideal clients
I love working with a diverse population, my experience working in hospitals led me to be flexible within diverse populations. I follow the rule, "meet your client where they are at," which helps me to go into sessions with an open mind, ready to listen, guide when needed and provide feedback when wanted. I often find myself helping clients realize their full potential by practicing skills in the session and then encouraging them to practice outside of the sessions with sporadic check-ins.
Treatment methods
Person-centered (Rogerian)
I focus on clients' strengths and look at them as a whole. I utilize an empathic understanding and non-judgmental approach to meet my clients where they are at.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use this treatment method to tackle unproductive thoughts that causes anxiety and stress, and work on ways to reverse that so the client can experience a more positive thought process that is based in reality.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Clients I work with learn to stop avoiding, denying, and struggling with their emotions, and instead they accept that their deeper feelings are appropriate responses to certain situations that should not prevent them from moving forward. Clients begin to accept their hardships and commit to making necessary changes in their behavior, regardless of what is going on their lives, and how they feel about it.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Hispanic / Latinx
White
Woman
Top specialties
ADHD
Anxiety
Coping Skills
Other specialties
Anger Management
Autism
Depression
Family Conflict
Life Transitions
Parenting
Peer Relationships
Self Esteem
Women's Issues
Serves
Adults (18 to 64)
Doesn't specialize in
Couples Counseling
Licensed in
PennsylvaniaLicense PC015962