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EnglishWhat Is PAWNY (Psychological Association of Western New York)?
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PAWNY is the Psychological Association of Western New York, a professional and student-based association that serves the psychological profession and the community across the eight counties of Western New York, including Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Amherst and surrounding areas. It is relevant to you if you are a community member looking for a psychologist, a practicing professional seeking continuing education or networking, or a student or early-career professional entering the field.
Who PAWNY serves
The organization's resources are organized around three audiences, which is a useful way to check whether it fits your situation:
| Audience | What PAWNY offers |
|---|---|
| Community members | A searchable "Find a Psychologist" directory, searchable by name, location or type of service, plus links such as Mental Health Connection WNY and anti-racism resources |
| Professionals | Continuing education (CE) credits for New York State psychologists, educational events, a members-only area, newsletters and classifieds |
| Students and early-career professionals | A dedicated Student and Early Career Committee, a Racial/Ethnic Minority Scholarship, and student-oriented resources |
What the association actually does
PAWNY describes itself as serving both the psychological profession and the community. In practice, its public-facing activity falls into three areas:
- Networking — events and discussion groups that connect members across the region.
- A searchable directory — the "Find a Psychologist" tool, which lets users search by name, location or type of service.
- Educational events — workshops, member discussion groups and an annual spring conference.
The site also states that PAWNY can now offer CE credits to NYS psychologists, with details available through the CE Membership Program section.
Events on the calendar
The published calendar gives a concrete sense of the rhythm of the organization. Upcoming listings include:
- Saturday, November 7, 2026 — PAWNY Fall Workshop
- Thursday, December 3, 2026 — PAWNY Member Discussion Group
- Friday, January 8, 2027 — PAWNY Member Discussion Group
- Friday, February 5, 2027 — PAWNY/ARTF Winter Workshop
- Thursday, March 4, 2027 — PAWNY Member Discussion Group
- Friday, April 16, 2027 — PAWNY Spring Conference
Each listing links to more information or an RSVP, and a full calendar of events is maintained on the site. If you are evaluating PAWNY for CE credit or networking, the workshop and conference entries are the ones to check first; the discussion groups appear to be recurring member sessions.
Membership: what to expect
The site frames membership as "a great investment" with a list of benefits, and provides separate paths to join or renew. A members-only area includes tools to renew, edit your information and add a profile picture. The public materials do not state membership prices or payment details, so confirm current dues and eligibility directly through the Join/Renew pages rather than assuming terms.
Practical next steps
- Looking for a psychologist in Western New York: start with the Find a Psychologist search and filter by location or type of service.
- A NYS psychologist needing CE: review the CE Membership Program details and the workshop/conference listings.
- A student or early-career professional: look at the Student and Early Career Committee and the Racial/Ethnic Minority Scholarship.
- Ready to join: use the Join/Renew link and check the benefits list against what you need.
PAWNY also publishes a statement of support for the LGBTQ community from its Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Task Force, which may matter to readers assessing the organization's stance and community resources.