Biography
Dr. Tracy Ksiazak is a Licensed Psychologist with over 10 years of experience in assessment and counseling. As an expert in the needs of exceptional students, Dr. Ksiazak understands the necessity of accurate identification of giftedness, learning disabilities, ADHD, and other exceptionalities to help students succeed. Her professional goal is to gather and synthesize data to help parents understand each child’s complex educational needs, strengths, and areas for growth. With this multifaceted understanding of each client, Dr. Ksiazak guides families to strategies and services to best nurture that child’s development. She loves assisting families with educational planning, advocating for needed accommodations, and providing ongoing support for positive adjustment through counseling. In addition to her assessment services, Dr. Ksiazak provides individual and group counseling for bright people who are navigating challenges such as anxiety, ADHD, depression, peer relationship concerns, adjustment difficulties, and identity issues. Her collaborative approach to therapy is based in cognitive-behavioral principles and customized to meet each client’s constellation of needs.
After receiving her undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in psychology and education of gifted students, Dr. Ksiazak completed a Masters degree in Counseling at Ball State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Ball State University with a specialization in gifted studies. At Ball State, Dr. Ksiazak provided counseling and outreach services at the Indiana Academy for Mathematics, Science, and Humanities, a residential high school for high-ability students.
After receiving her Ph.D., Dr. Ksiazak was an assistant professor of psychology at Converse College in South Carolina for 4 years. During that time, she taught undergraduate and graduate courses in personality, lifespan development, abnormal psychology, multicultural psychology, emotional needs of gifted students, and gender issues. She was fortunate to connect her popular culture interests with her teaching interests to also offer special topics courses in the psychology of Harry Potter and the psychology of zombie apocalypse survival. While at Converse, Dr. Ksiazak created and implemented a developmental guidance curriculum for elementary school students at the Athena Institute Summer Camp for the Gifted.
Dr. Ksiazak then worked as a test accommodations analyst at ACT for 3 years, during which she became highly familiar with the wide range of disabilities that can impact thinking, learning, concentration, and emotions. She reviewed thousands of other psychologists’ testing reports, school accommodations plans, and medical documents to determine what services were needed for all students to be able to participate fairly in college entrance exams. That experience honed her skills in identifying various disabilities and helping parents find what supports their children need to learn and grow.
Dr. Ksiazak completed her postdoctoral residency at the Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development, where she honed her skills in assessment of gifted and twice-exceptional students. During her postdoctoral residency, Dr. Ksiazak also counseled gifted clients and co-facilitated a social skills group for twice-exceptional students. She maintains a Psychology Associate status at the Center and regularly collaborates with international experts on twice-exceptionality for case consultations and professional presentations. Dr. Ksiazak is a member of the National Association for Gifted Children and a regular presenter at their yearly conventions.
In her time outside the office, Dr. Ksiazak enjoys volunteering with her local animal shelter and rabbit rescue, reading fantasy and mystery novels, and having adventures with her family.