Dr. Joan Polansky was born and grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She received a B.S. in Anthropology from Northern Arizona University. Returning back to Pennsylvania she attended Temple University where she earned a Master's degree in Anthropology. She then attended Arizona State University where she earned a Master of Counseling degree and a PhD in Counseling Psychology. It was during her time at Arizona State University where Dr. Polansky was invited and joined Phi Kappa Phi a National Honor's Society. She completed an APA accredited Internship at the University of Iowa and a Residency at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon.

Her first clinical experience was in the Student Clinic in the Counseling Psychology Department at Arizona State University where she saw a variety of clients. Next she went to Camelback Hospital, a private psychiatric hospital where she worked with the psychodrama team on two inpatient units. She continued to receive experience on campus both in the Departmental clinic and at Counseling and Consultation throughout her time as a student. She also worked at Jewish Family and Children's Service where she specialized in treating victims of sexual abuse. This was followed by a year-long internship at The University of Iowa Counseling Center. Dr. Polansky did a rotation at The University of Iowa Hospital's Mood Disorder's Clinic, an outpatient clinic. Upon graduating, she completed a Residency at the Lewis and Clark College Counseling Center. After becoming licensed in Oregon, she began seeing clients at the Northeast Catholic Counseling Center until returning to Arizona. Once back in Arizona, Dr. Polansky began working part-time at Counseling and Consultation at Arizona State University where she worked until opening her private practice in 2003.

Dr. Polansky also has extensive teaching experience, including teaching graduate and undergraduate courses at Arizona State University, The University of Iowa, Lewis and Clark College and Northern Arizona University's Statewide Programs Division. She was on the Training Committee for the Arizona Psychology Training Consortium. In addition, she has supervised numerous students as part of her duties at the various facilities where she has worked.

Dr. Polansky belongs to the American Psychological Association and the Arizona Psychological Association. During her years as a student, Dr. Polansky won an Honorable Mention in the Division 29 student writing contest. She is licensed in Arizona.

Dr. Polansky is married and has two daughters. She enjoys gardening, cooking, painting, traveling and spending time with family and friends when she is not working.