The Testing Psychologist Podcast

Would you rather read the transcript? Click here. In this episode, I dive into the evolving understanding of Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS), formerly known as sluggish cognitive tempo. I explain why we are moving away from the older terminology toward a label that more accurately describes the internal mechanisms of the brain. We explore the neurobiological differences between CDS and traditional ADHD, specifically looking at the posterior attention system and the default mode network. I share how these differences manifest in clinical testing, such as the slow and accurate profile on processing speed tasks, and offer concrete tips for adjusting your assessment battery. We also touch on why traditional stimulant medications might not be the first line of defense for these individuals and what environmental primers might work better to wake up their attention systems. Main Topics Discussed 00:01 Introduction to the transition from sluggish cognitive tempo to Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome. 02:28 Defining CDS as a mental disengagement from the external environment. 04:54 Analyzing the 2022 Becker meta-analysis and the distinction between CDS and ADHD symptoms. 06:30 Neurobiology: Frontal-striatal circuits versus the posterior attention system and default mode network. 07:20 Differentiating CDS from predominantly inattentive and combined ADHD presentations. 08:45 The orienting network versus the executive control network in cognitive profiles. 09:38 Identifying the slow and accurate pattern in cognitive testing data. 11:15 Clinical recommendations: Rating scales, environmental primers, and medication considerations. Cool Things Mentioned The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists Featured Resources TherapyNotes is the leading EHR system for mental health practitioners. I’ve used TherapyNotes for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. Use this link and the promo code “testing” to get two free months and try it for yourself! www.therapynotes.com/testing The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s! I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health! About Dr. Jeremy Sharp I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents. As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids. Ready to grow your testing services? Click below to get on the waitlist! Join the Waitlist

Would you rather read the transcript? Click here. In this episode, I dive into the neurobiology of testing fatigue and why it is much more than just a simple lack of energy. We explore how high-demand cognitive tasks lead to a measurable buildup of glutamate in the prefrontal cortex, essentially creating metabolic debris that forces the brain into a self-preservation mode. I discuss the specific hierarchy of cognitive decline, noting why executive functioning and fluid reasoning are the first to fail while crystallized intelligence often remains deceptive and intact. To help you maintain the validity of your data during long assessment days, I share three concrete strategies: implementing a heavy-to-light task rotation, scheduling mandatory 90 minute movement resets, and utilizing proactive glycemic management through low-glycemic snacks. Main Topics 01:34: The neurobiology of cognitive fatigue and the role of the anterior cingulate cortex in cost-benefit analysis. 02:30: How intensive cognitive work leads to an accumulation of glutamate in the lateral prefrontal cortex. 03:45: Applying cognitive load theory and the “overflowing glass” metaphor to the six-hour assessment session. 04:54: Why executive functioning and fluid reasoning fail first while vocabulary and general knowledge remain resistant to fatigue. 06:15: The diagnostic trap of crystallized intelligence and how an articulate patient can mask underlying cognitive exhaustion. 07:45: Strategy 1—Heavy-to-light rotation and the importance of front-loading high-effort tasks. 09:10: Strategy 2—The 90-minute pivot and movement reset to clear adenosine and reset performance cycles. 10:15: Strategy 3—Glycemic management and using small, low-glycemic snacks to prevent the afternoon “food coma.” Cool Things Mentioned The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists Featured Resources TherapyNotes is the leading EHR system for mental health practitioners. I’ve used TherapyNotes for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. Use this link and the promo code “testing” to get two free months and try it for yourself! www.therapynotes.com/testing The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s! I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health! About Dr. Jeremy Sharp I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents. As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids. Ready to grow your testing services? Click below to get on the waitlist! Join the Waitlist

Would you rather read the transcript? Click here. In this episode, I sit down with Jennifer Taylor, an expert therapeutic educational consultant, to demystify the niche world of out-of-home placements and residential treatment. We explore the critical emotional journey parents face when realizing their child needs a higher level of care and how psychologists can play a foundational role in that transition. Jennifer shares her personal “why” as a parent of children who required intensive support, providing a deeply empathetic lens on the process of navigating wilderness programs, therapeutic boarding schools, and young adult transition services. We discuss the “safety quotient” and “anxiety quotient” for parents, the practicalities of how consultants vet programs through rigorous site visits, and why a high-quality neuropsychological evaluation is the essential roadmap for successful placement and treatment planning. Main Topics 00:01:36 – Introduction to Jennifer and the niche of therapeutic educational consulting. 00:04:02 – Jennifer’s personal story: Navigating the special education and residential world as a parent. 00:07:48 – Defining the role of a therapeutic educational consultant versus traditional consultants. 00:13:31 – Case study: The trajectory from suicidal ideation to University of Chicago admission. 00:20:52 – Determining when a higher level of care is necessary: Identifying school refusal and “pattern interrupts.” 00:25:20 – How psychologists can find and collaborate with reputable educational consultants. 00:36:07 – Managing parent ambivalence and the “safety and anxiety quotients” during transitions. 00:43:31 – The vetting process: Why visiting programs in person is non-negotiable for consultants. 00:52:15 – Best practices for collaboration between assessing clinicians and consultants. 01:02:42 – Final takeaways: Making psychological reports accessible and engaging for families and teens. Cool Things Mentioned The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting Reverb AI-powered report-writing software Independent Educational Consultant Association (IECA): www.iecaonline.com Therapeutic Consulting Association (TCA): www.therapeuticconsulting.org JET Ed Consulting: www.jetedconsulting.com Featured Resources TherapyNotes is the leading EHR system for mental health practitioners. I’ve used TherapyNotes for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. Use this link and the promo code “testing” to get two free months and try it for yourself! www.therapynotes.com/testing The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s! I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health! About Jennifer Taylor Jennifer Eve Taylor, JD, is the Founder of JET ED Consulting, and her practice specializes in supporting families and their children who are affected by mental health, emotional challenges, and learning differences. Jennifer is an expert in residential, therapeutic, and learning differences programs. Get in Touch & Resources: Website: www.jetedconsulting.com Email: jennifer@jetedconsulting.com About Dr. Jeremy Sharp I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents. As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids. Ready to grow your testing services? Click below to join our Waitlist! Join the Waitlist

Would you rather read the transcript? Click here. In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Sharp shares a personal and professional deep dive into the opaque world of InterQual and prior authorization. After experiencing a near-total rejection rate of clinical prior authorization requests within his own practice, Dr. Sharp investigates the history, logic, and evidence—or lack thereof—behind the criteria that dictate medical necessity for neuropsychological services. He breaks down the “checkbox” workflow used by utilization management reviewers, explains the origins of the controversial eight-hour testing benchmark, and highlights critical gaps in the system regarding clinical complexity and social determinants of health. Most importantly, the episode provides listeners with concrete, strategic language and documentation tips to help navigate these administrative hurdles and maximize the likelihood of securing the care their patients need. Main Topics Covered 00:01: The personal story of 100% denial rates and the motivation for investigating InterQual. 02:25: The history and objective of InterQual as a measurable indicator for standardizing care. 04:43: The massive scale of InterQual within the Optum and UnitedHealthcare ecosystem. 07:01: Decoding the “Black Box”: The decision-tree and checkbox software used by reviewers. 09:20: Why common referrals like ADHD and autism struggle to pass first-level screening. 11:43: Exploring the GRADE approach and the evidentiary standards used to build the criteria. 14:09: The eight-hour benchmark: Concept of testing fatigue vs. clinical complexity. 16:33: Critical gaps: Social determinants of health and the failure to account for environment. 18:57: The Appeals Paradox: Why the totality of the record wins when criteria fail. 21:18: “Playing the Game”: Specific keywords and strategies for successful prior authorizations. Cool Things Mentioned The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists Featured Resources TherapyNotes is the leading EHR system for mental health practitioners. I’ve used TherapyNotes for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. Use this link and the promo code “testing” to get two free months and try it for yourself! www.therapynotes.com/testing The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s! I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health!edit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health! About Dr. Jeremy Sharp I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents. As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids. Ready to grow your testing services? Click below to get on the waitlist! Join the Waitlist

Would you rather read the transcript? Click here. In this episode, I sit down with Sara Woods to challenge the traditional, deficit-heavy lens of autism diagnostics and explore what it means to practice in a truly neurodiversity-affirming way. We discuss the shift from seeing autism as a collection of clinical “problems” to recognizing it as a natural variation of the human brain that brings unique strengths, such as integrity, systemizing, and deep focus. Sara shares her research-backed insights on why “repetitive behaviors” can be vital for regulation and how the “double empathy problem” reframes communication difficulties as a two-way street rather than an individual failure. We also dive into concrete tools for clinicians, including her Survey of Autistic Strengths, Skills, and Interests (SASSI), and practical tips for writing reports that validate a client’s struggles while celebrating their humanity and joy. Episode Topics 00:01-01:38 Why direct experience and neurodiversity matter beyond the textbook 01:39-05:00 Defining the neurodiversity paradigm and patient-led care 05:01-07:43 How differential diagnosis can be empowering rather than pathologizing 07:44-10:43 Reframing repetitive play as a foundation for cognitive development 10:44-12:52 Reconsidering eye contact through the lens of cultural difference 12:53-16:15 Integrity versus reputation management in autistic individuals 16:16-19:00 The functional purpose of stimming and sensory regulation 19:01-21:37 Navigating societal expectations and the choice to disclose 21:38-26:15 The double empathy problem and communication in mixed groups 26:16-31:06 Balancing the “superpower” narrative with authentic support 31:07-34:00 Frameworks for accommodations: Strengths, difficulties, and neutral differences 34:01-38:58 Introduction to the Survey of Autistic Strengths, Skills, and Interests (SASSI) 38:59-42:15 Specific interviewing strategies for eliciting joy and strengths 42:16-46:30 Adapting the assessment battery and the role of the ADOS 46:31-52:00 Writing affirming reports and the use of first-person language 52:01-56:30 Leveraging special interests in recommendations and school settings 56:31-01:01:20 Validating distress while maintaining a strengths-based perspective Cool Things Mentioned The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting Reverb AI-powered report-writing software Sara’s upcoming talk: Autism or Something Else? Avoiding Misdiagnosis in Neurodiversity-Affirming Assessment Across the Lifespan – The Chicago School | Office of Continuing Education (Time-Limited Code for 15% OFF: TestingPsych2026) Neurodiversity-Affirming Observation Form Autistic Strengths Diagram Survey of Autistic Strengths Skills and Interests Suggested Autism Batteries across the lifespan Helpful Articles: Toward a More Comprehensive Autism Assessment: Article on the SASSI: Frontiers | Toward a more comprehensive autism assessment: the survey of autistic strengths, skills, and interests Neurodiversity 2.0 Article by Hari Srinivasan: Neurodiversity 2.0 – Harnessing cross-disciplinary disability insights – ScienceDirect The Neurodiversity Paradigm According to Nick Walker: NEURODIVERSITY: SOME BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS • NEUROQUEER Ideas for Identifying Autistic Strengths Using the ADOS-2: https://asha2024-asha.ipostersessions.com/?s=7F-36-58-FD-20-58-05-C5-E0-D3-C1-14-74-B4-C5-BE Girard et al. study on Autistic Play: Visual abilities and exploration behaviors as predictors of intelligence in autistic children from preschool to school age – Dominique Girard, Valérie Courchesne, Catherine Cimon-Paquet, Claudine Jacques, Isabelle Soulières, 2023 Granieri et al. study on Reduced eye contact being preferred among Autistic children: Atypical social communication is associated with positive initial impressions among peers with autism spectrum disorder – Jessica E Granieri, Morgan L McNair, Alan H Gerber, Rebecca F Reifler, Matthew D Lerner, 2020 Crompton et al. Telephone Study: Autistic peer-to-peer information transfer is highly effective – Catherine J Crompton, Danielle Ropar, Claire VM Evans-Williams, Emma G Flynn, Sue Fletcher-Watson, 2020 Hu et al. Reputation Study in which ethical consistency was framed as a problem: https://www.jneurosci.org/content/early/2020/11/02/JNEUROSCI.1237-20.2020?__cf_chl_tk=7KPu3hAVr6Rw_clfWWSLepcckNZdODcVgO_m94bHv6s-1770332980-1.0.1.1-.glkRotgLSe7lLFvTGYt5qjLBjaHIKk8XNOMroF3c_4 Kapp et al. Stimming Study: ‘People should be allowed to do what they like’: Autistic adults’ views and experiences of stimming – Steven K Kapp, Robyn Steward, Laura Crane, Daisy Elliott, Chris Elphick, Elizabeth Pellicano, Ginny Russell, 2019 Woods, Brook, & Angoff Neurodiversity-Affirming Collaborative Assessment Article: Principles of Neurodiversity-Affirming Collaborative Assessment – Sara Eileen O’Neil Woods, Amara Brook, Liz Angoff, 2025 Autism-Related Resources Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism: Strategies for Creating a Neurodiversity-Affirming Classroom: How to Create a Neurodiversity-Affirming Classroom — THINKING PERSON’S GUIDE TO AUTISM Subtle Signs of Autism: Could Your Child Be Autistic? Here Are Seven Subtle Signs. Talking to Your Child About Their Autism Diagnosis: 13 Tips for Talking to Your Child About Their Autism | ParentMap Outschool: Online classes for children that help them find other neurodivergent children and include classes with their special/foused interests: www.outschool.com Autistic Self-Advocacy Network: Autistic Self Advocacy Network Additional Neurodiversity Resources from the University of Washington Autism Center: Neurodiversity – UW Autism Featured Resources TherapyNotes is the leading EHR system for mental health practitioners. I’ve used TherapyNotes for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. Use this link and the promo code “testing” to get two free months and try it for yourself! www.therapynotes.com/testing The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s! I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health! About Dr. Sara Woods Dr. Woods is a clinical psychologist who specializes in assessment across the lifespan at the University of Washington Autism Center and in private practice at Discover Psychology Services. She has been licensed as a psychologist for over 10 years. She offers continuing education training and consultation to other psychologists, providers, and graduate students to help them better understand how to complete evidence-based assessments in a neurodiversity-affirming and strengths-based ways. She is passionate about bringing communities together to better understand autism, ADHD, Bipolar, and other types of neurodivergence. Get in Touch & Resources: Website: www.laceypsychology.com Email: drsara@discoverpsychservices.com Website: https://depts.washington.edu/uwautism/about/clinical-staff/ About Dr. Jeremy Sharp I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents. As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids. Ready to grow your testing services? Click below to join our Waitlist! Join the Waitlist

Would you rather read the transcript? Click here. I have been a bit quiet lately, but for good reason, and I wanted to take a moment to reorient myself and check in with all of you. After taking two solid weeks off for a meaningful family Christmas in South Carolina (the first in almost 15 years!), I returned to a whirlwind January filled with major project launches. From opening the doors to our new membership community, Craft, to preparing for the upcoming Crafted Practice summer intensive and launching Reverb 2.0, it has been a season of intense “sprints.” In this episode, I share the personal reflections that came from that time away, the philosophy of why “later equals never,” and the exciting updates coming to the podcast, including the addition of a production and research assistant to help us bring even more high-quality content to your ears. Reconnecting with family and the importance of the present (01:10) The Later Equals Never philosophy for life and business (02:15) Reflecting on the benefits of a true two-week work hiatus (03:00) Launching the Craft membership community for accountability and action (04:15) Details and registration for the Crafted Practice summer in-person event (06:30) Hiring a new production and research assistant for the podcast (08:45) Updates on the Reverb 2.0 AI report writing platform launch (09:30) A call to action for listeners to engage and connect in 2026 (10:15) Cool Things Mentioned The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists Craft: the only membership community just for testing psychologists Featured Resources TherapyNotes is the leading EHR system for mental health practitioners. I’ve used TherapyNotes for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. Use this link and the promo code “testing” to get two free months and try it for yourself! www.therapynotes.com/testing The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s! I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health! About Dr. Jeremy Sharp I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents. As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids. Ready to grow your testing services? Click below to get on the waitlist! Join the Waitlist

Would you rather read the transcript? Click here. In this episode, I sit down with Nicole McCance of the McCance Method to talk about what’s actually working right now to grow a therapy group practice when the market feels tighter and “easy referrals” aren’t showing up like they used to. We dig into practical lead generation moves that don’t depend on social media, how to use consult calls and follow-up like an actual sales process, and why hiring an admin sooner than you think can pay for itself. Nicole also shares a physician-referral playbook, a “waitlist strategy” you can run this week, and a simple end-of-year review approach to double down on what’s working and cut the rest. Main Topics Discussed Nicole’s origin story: from solo practice to 55 clinicians, then selling the practice (00:39) Why practice growth feels harder right now and how coaching strategies have shifted (02:12) Social media reality check, and what tends to convert faster than “content” (03:00) Lead sources: SEO vs Google Ads vs optimizing your Google Business Profile (06:17) Email marketing, consult calls, and the follow-up process most clinicians skip (07:32) Handling “I want to see the owner” and positioning the team-based model (08:15) Hiring an admin early and making the role revenue-generating through follow-ups (09:50) Physician referral strategy: scripts, getting into the EMR, and progress reports (27:27) End-of-year review: referral data, focus, and the 80/20 clean-up (35:48) December planning: clinician vacation coverage and PTO cashflow surprises (38:20) The “waitlist strategy” for warm referrals from therapists who can’t take new clients (41:17) Cool Things Mentioned The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists Nicole’s website: www.mccancemethod.com The Business Savvy Therapist podcast: www.mccancemethod.com/podcast Nicole on Instagram: www.instagram.com/nicole.mccancemethod Free masterclass (How to Build a 7-Figure Group Practice): www.mccancemethod.com/webinar-free-masterclass-from-solo-to-superteam Google Business Profile: www.google.com/business Google Business Profile Help: support.google.com/business Psychology Today therapist directory: www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists Indeed employer hiring platform: www.indeed.com/hire SimplePractice: www.simplepractice.com TherapyNotes: www.therapynotes.com Jane App (practice management): www.jane.app Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL): ised-isde.canada.ca/site/canada-anti-spam-legislation/en Featured Resources I am honored to partner with two AMAZING companies to help improve your testing practice! PAR is a long time supporter of the Testing Psychologist podcast, and I will continue to bring you featured items from their catalog! Listen to each episode for specific product recommendations and links. Learn more at www.parinc.com. TherapyNotes is the leading EHR system for mental health practitioners. I’ve used TherapyNotes for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. Use this link and the promo code “testing” to get two free months and try it for yourself! www.therapynotes.com/testing The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s! I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health! About Nicole McCance Nicole McCance is a Psychologist (retired) turned Business Coach for therapists scaling to a group practice. She expanded her private practice to 55 therapists and multiple 7 figures in 3 years (with toddler twins at home). Nicole sold her clinic in the 4th year and then retired as a Psychologist in her 5th year. She now teaches therapists how to help more people, make more money and have more freedom following her proven method. Get in Touch & Resources: The McCance Method: https://mccancemethod.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/nicole.mccancemethod/ Podcast: https://mccancemethod.com/podcast/ Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/947689352498639 About Dr. Jeremy Sharp I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents. As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids. Ready to grow your testing services? Click below to schedule a complimentary 30-minute pre-consulting call! Schedule Your Call

Would you rather read the transcript? Click here. As this year winds down, I’ve been reflecting on how much of 2025 was about refinement rather than expansion. The Testing Psychologist stayed true to what it’s always been for me: a place for honest conversations about assessment, business, and the realities of this work. The podcast hit some meaningful milestones (500 episodes!), Crafted Practice was once again one of the highlights of my year and proved that small, close-knit spaces beat big, noisy ones any day, and the community around this work continued to grow in a way that felt grounded and sustainable. A lot of my energy this year also went into Reverb, which stretched me in ways I didn’t fully anticipate. Building something new alongside established businesses forces you to slow down and get very clear about what actually matters. There were plenty of decisions that didn’t make for exciting updates, but did make the product better. What feels solid now is the “why”: helping clinicians spend less time wrestling with reports and more time doing the parts of the job that actually require a human brain. That focus has guided every hard call along the way. Personally, 2025 pushed me to pay closer attention to my own limits. Heart surgery on January 3rd, 2025 forced me to slow down and be very intentional about my capabilities. I worked fewer hours, protected more unstructured time, and noticed how much better everything runs when I’m not operating at a constant low-grade sprint. I’m ending the year clearer, steadier, and more confident about what I want to carry forward (and what I don’t).  Before transitioning to the episode, I want to give shout outs to a few folks who are integral to the Testing Psychologist team. First, Facebook group moderators: Chris Mulchay, Laura Sanders, and Andres Chou. They keep the group on the rails so that we can continue to have a stable, safe place to talk about testing. I also have to thank my assistant, Laura, who does everything from podcast editing to researching spots for the next in-person retreat. I couldn’t do this without her. Speaking of which, I have to thank my sponsors as well. TherapyNotes and PAR continued to support the podcast this year, making all of this possible. While we’re saying goodbye to PAR for 2026, I’m excited to get some fresh sponsorship on the books. And of course, I have to thank all of you. If you’ve listened to the podcast, come to an event, sent a note, or just quietly followed along, thank you. I don’t take that support lightly, and I’m looking forward to what comes next.  Thanks for joining me one last time in 2025 to discuss the top five most downloaded podcast episodes! Cool Things Mentioned The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists Craft interest list sign-up: www.thetestingpsychologist.com/craft 515: AI, Admin, and the Future of Private Practice w/ Uriah Guilford 521: Pathological Demand Avoidance w/ Dr. Donna Henderson 512: Better Feedback for Parents w/ Dr. Liz Angoff 509: “That” NYT Article on ADHD: Challenging Our Beliefs 497: ADI-R and ADOS-2 as the “Gold Standards” Featured Resources I am honored to partner with two AMAZING companies to help improve your testing practice! PAR is a long time supporter of the Testing Psychologist podcast, and I will continue to bring you featured items from their catalog! Listen to each episode for specific product recommendations and links. Learn more at www.parinc.com. TherapyNotes is the leading EHR system for mental health practitioners. I’ve used TherapyNotes for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. Use this link and the promo code “testing” to get two free months and try it for yourself! www.therapynotes.com/testing The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s! I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health! About Dr. Jeremy Sharp I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents. As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids. Ready to grow your testing services? Click below to schedule a complimentary 30-minute pre-consulting call! Schedule Your Call

Would you rather read the transcript? Click here. In this episode, I break down what I believe are the most important business trends shaping assessment practices in 2026. Rather than focusing on vague predictions or generic AI hype, I zero in on the operational, regulatory, and payer-driven forces that are already creating friction for assessment-focused psychologists. My central argument is that 2026 will not be a “breakthrough” year. It will be a friction year, where practices succeed or struggle based on how clearly they can justify, document, and defend their work. I walk through how insurance pressures, prior authorization, AI governance, workforce scarcity, and shifting expectations around comprehensive batteries are converging, and what practical steps assessment clinicians can take now to stay viable, ethical, and sustainable. Main Topics Discussed Why 2026 is a “friction year,” not a breakthrough year (00:01) The unifying trend: auditability, justification, and traceability across systems (02:23) Efficiency adjustments and why integration work matters more than test administration (03:00) Auditing CPT code mix and aligning documentation with payer values (04:45) Prior authorization becomes more structured—and less forgiving (05:30) Building repeatable medical necessity language and pre-auth workflows (07:07) Payers tightening testing policies and eliminating “neutral” practice models (08:30) Choosing explicitly between insurance-first, hybrid, or cash-pay models (09:28) AI’s shift from convenience tool to governance and risk issue (10:30) Clinicians moving from “writer” to “editor” roles with AI-assisted workflows (11:38) State-level healthcare AI laws and the need for internal AI policies (12:30) Validity and defensibility becoming built-in, not optional (13:45) Rethinking over-testing and defining a minimum defensible data set (14:01) Hybrid assessment models and redesigning physical office space (15:00) Workforce scarcity and choosing between boutique vs scalable models (17:30) The controversial take: rethinking the default comprehensive battery (18:53) Why auditability—not tools—is the real work of 2026 (20:00) Cool Things Mentioned The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists CMS Prior Authorization and Interoperability Rule overview: https://www.cms.gov/priorities/key-initiatives/burden-reduction/prior-authorization APA guidance on medical necessity and documentation: https://www.apaservices.org/practice/reimbursement/health-plans/medical-necessity APA resources on AI and ethics in practice: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2023/07/ai-psychology Episode on medical necessity: https://thetestingpsychologist.com/ttp-49-medical-necessity-pre-authorization-testing-services/ Featured Resources I am honored to partner with two AMAZING companies to help improve your testing practice! PAR is a long time supporter of the Testing Psychologist podcast, and I will continue to bring you featured items from their catalog! Listen to each episode for specific product recommendations and links. Learn more at www.parinc.com. TherapyNotes is the leading EHR system for mental health practitioners. I’ve used TherapyNotes for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. Use this link and the promo code “testing” to get two free months and try it for yourself! www.therapynotes.com/testing The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s! I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health! About Dr. Jeremy Sharp I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents. As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids. Ready to grow your testing services? Click below to schedule a complimentary 30-minute pre-consulting call! Schedule Your Call

Would you rather read the transcript? Click here. Today, I sit down with Dr. Andrea Zartman, a neuropsychologist and training director at the Dallas VA, to unpack what actually matters in internship and postdoc applications and interviews. We walk through the entire process, from CV structure and cover letters to letters of recommendation and interview performance, with a frank, insider perspective. Andrea shares concrete, experience-based guidance from nearly two decades of training work, including what makes candidates stand out, what quietly sinks applications, and how to approach interviews with confidence, authenticity, and professionalism. If you’re applying, interviewing, or supervising trainees this season, this episode is packed with practical takeaways. Main Topics Covered: Why training and mentorship matter in neuropsychology (00:01:27) What makes an application stand out immediately (organization, CV clarity) (04:36) How training directors actually read CVs for internship vs. postdoc (06:51) Common CV mistakes and how to structure practicum descriptions effectively (12:06) The real role of cover letters, and when they actually help (20:06) How letters of recommendation are evaluated and what strong letters include (28:50) What differentiates strong interviews from average ones (36:29) How to prepare for interview questions, vignettes, and case presentations (48:32) Navigating personal disclosure, professionalism, and “fit” in interviews (43:05) Where the selection process is heading, including virtual interviews and AI (57:35) Cool Things Mentioned The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting Reverb: AI-powered report-writing software Featured Resources I am honored to partner with two AMAZING companies to help improve your testing practice! PAR is a long time supporter of the Testing Psychologist podcast, and I will continue to bring you featured items from their catalog! Listen to each episode for specific product recommendations and links. Learn more at www.parinc.com. TherapyNotes is the leading EHR system for mental health practitioners. I’ve used TherapyNotes for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. Use this link and the promo code “testing” to get two free months and try it for yourself! www.therapynotes.com/testing The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s! I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health! About Dr. Andrea Zartman Dr. Andrea is a board certified neuropsychologist. She has been heavily involved in multiple aspects of training at the practicum, internship and postdoctoral level, including serving as a postdoctoral training director at Dallas VA. At a national level, she has served on several training based committees and is a past-chair for APA Council of Chairs of Training Councils (CCTC) . Get in Touch & Resources: Email: andrea.zartman@va.gov About Dr. Jeremy Sharp I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents. As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids. Ready to grow your testing services? Click below to schedule a complimentary 30-minute pre-consulting call! Schedule Your Call

Would you rather read the transcript? Click here. In this episode, I take a deep dive into how natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning are beginning to reshape neuropsychological assessment. Beyond the surface-level hype around AI, I explore what’s actually happening under the hood: how speech, language, and narrative data can function as digital biomarkers for conditions like ADHD, Alzheimer’s disease, and psychosis. Drawing primarily from a 2025 review in The Clinical Neuropsychologist, I walk through emerging research, practical implications for clinicians, and the ethical and methodological challenges we’ll need to confront as these tools move closer to real-world clinical use. Main Topics Covered 00:00: Why NLP and machine learning matter for neuropsychology right now 02:15: Defining NLP, digital biomarkers, and what clinicians usually discard 04:40: How linguistic, acoustic, and semantic features are analyzed 06:30: ADHD applications: narrative coherence and executive functioning 08:55: Alzheimer’s and MCI: voice biomarkers vs. traditional measures 11:30: Task design and why speech prompts matter 12:45: Psychosis and schizophrenia: quantifying disorganized speech 15:30: Clinical tools, ambient AI, and the “human-in-the-loop” model 17:45: Bias, privacy, test security, and ethical risks 19:55: The future of neuropsych assessment and hybrid AI models Cool Things Mentioned The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists Brittany Wolff’s source article: https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2025.2547934 Featured Resources I am honored to partner with two AMAZING companies to help improve your testing practice! PAR is a long time supporter of the Testing Psychologist podcast, and I will continue to bring you featured items from their catalog! Listen to each episode for specific product recommendations and links. Learn more at www.parinc.com. TherapyNotes is the leading EHR system for mental health practitioners. I’ve used TherapyNotes for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. Use this link and the promo code “testing” to get two free months and try it for yourself! www.therapynotes.com/testing The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s! I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health! About Dr. Jeremy Sharp I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents. As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids. Ready to grow your testing services? Click below to schedule a complimentary 30-minute pre-consulting call! Schedule Your Call

Would you rather read the transcript? Click here. In this episode, I break down the rapid rise of consumers treating AI systems as medical advisors and what this means for us as psychologists and assessment clinicians. I walk through the drivers of this shift, the risks, the impact on client expectations, and the practical steps practices must take now. I also dig into how AI can support our workflows, why our uniquely human skills are more valuable than ever, and how to position your practice for a future in which AI shapes, but does not replace, clinical assessment. Main Topics What’s actually happening in AI-driven medical and mental health advice (00:01) Why patients are turning to AI: speed, confidence, cost, UX (01:00) The false sense of safety and credibility consumers place on AI (02:25) Accuracy problems: structured vs. real-world data in diagnosis (03:30) Why mental health advice from AI can be inconsistent and risky (05:00) Implications for assessment clinicians: confidence, expectations, and misinformation (06:00) What AI cannot do: nuance, context, nonverbal cues, effort, standardized testing (08:00) Rising clinical risk and downstream consequences for practitioners (09:12) Business implications: redefining value, communication, and pricing (10:00) How AI can streamline intake, records review, background gathering, and admin tasks (12:30) Rethinking pricing to reflect high-value human judgment (13:21) Risk management: informed consent, PHI handling, AI disclosure (14:30) Ethical limits, liability, and the clinician’s responsibility (16:00) Concrete steps: updating intake, integrating AI intentionally, staff training (17:29) Client-facing education on safe AI use (19:49) Re-centering values and reinforcing human expertise (21:00) Preparing your team and staying future-focused (22:15) Cool Things Mentioned The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists Testing Psychologist AI Competencies episode Source article from the NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/well/ai-chatbot-doctors-health-care-advice.html Featured Resources I am honored to partner with two AMAZING companies to help improve your testing practice! PAR is a long time supporter of the Testing Psychologist podcast, and I will continue to bring you featured items from their catalog! Listen to each episode for specific product recommendations and links. Learn more at www.parinc.com. TherapyNotes is the leading EHR system for mental health practitioners. I’ve used TherapyNotes for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. Use this link and the promo code “testing” to get two free months and try it for yourself! www.therapynotes.com/testing The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s! I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health! About Dr. Jeremy Sharp I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents. As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids. Ready to grow your testing services? Click below to schedule a complimentary 30-minute pre-consulting call! Schedule Your Call

Would you rather read the transcript? Click here. In this episode, I break down how AI search is rapidly reshaping the way clients discover psychologists and neuropsychologists online. I explain why traditional SEO is no longer enough, what AI models prioritize when generating answers, and the practical steps you can take to make your website more conversational, trustworthy, and “quotable” by tools like Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity. You’ll walk away with concrete tactics to improve clarity, structure, E-E-A-T signals, and local relevance, plus advanced optimization strategies like schema markup and transcript integration. Main Topics Covered 00:01 What AI search optimization is and why it matters 01:30 The rise of zero-click AI results and their impact on private practices 02:23 Why conversational question-answering is replacing keyword-based SEO 03:55 How AI search engines “read” your site: structure, clarity, E-E-A-T 06:40 Practical AIO steps: conversational language, FAQs, clear service structure 09:17 Strengthening credibility signals using credentials and verifiable links 10:55 Location clarity and why hyperlocal cues matter 11:39 Advanced AIO: schema markup, transcripts, freshness updates 12:58 Mindset shift: from keywords to solving user problems 14:30 What to avoid: keyword stuffing, generic bios, AI-generated filler 15:17 Quick 10-minute AIO website audit checklist 16:40 What’s coming: 70% of web traffic flowing through AI intermediaries 18:57 Before/after examples of an AI-optimized professional bio Cool Things Mentioned Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists Google E-E-A-T quality framework: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/creating-helpful-content Schema.org markup documentation: https://schema.org Local Business Schema guide (Google): https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/structured-data/local-business FAQPage Schema reference: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/structured-data/faqpage Google Search Central blog on AI Overviews and SEO implications: https://developers.google.com/search/blog Perplexity (AI search engine): https://www.perplexity.ai ChatGPT search capabilities: https://chat.openai.com The Testing Psychologist Craft Membership (referenced in episode): https://www.testingpsychologist.com/craft Featured Resources I am honored to partner with two AMAZING companies to help improve your testing practice! PAR is a long time supporter of the Testing Psychologist podcast, and I will continue to bring you featured items from their catalog! Listen to each episode for specific product recommendations and links. Learn more at www.parinc.com. TherapyNotes is the leading EHR system for mental health practitioners. I’ve used TherapyNotes for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. Use this link and the promo code “testing” to get two free months and try it for yourself! www.therapynotes.com/testing The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s! I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health!or CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health! About Dr. Jeremy Sharp I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents. As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids. Ready to grow your testing services? Click below to schedule a complimentary 30-minute pre-consulting call! Schedule Your Call

Would you rather read the transcript? Click here. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Stephanie Ruth Young from Northwestern University about the NIH Toolbox family of assessments: powerful, research-backed instruments that many clinicians still overlook. We explore how these tablet-based and mobile tools can bridge the gap between research and clinical practice, reduce examiner error, and simplify workflow without sacrificing rigor. Stephanie also walks us through the new Baby Toolbox for infants and toddlers and the Mobile Toolbox for remote data collection, sharing how these innovations may shape the future of neuropsychological and developmental testing. Main Topics Covered 00:01 – Introduction: Stephanie’s background and motivation for bridging research and practice. 02:38 – Overview of the NIH Toolbox: Purpose, development, and structure. 05:06 – The Suite of Tools: NIH Toolbox, Baby Toolbox, and Mobile Toolbox. 06:35 – Barriers to Adoption: Why clinicians haven’t heard more about these tools. 09:47 – Misconceptions: Addressing misconceptions about “brief” measures and the value of integrated domain coverage. 13:34 – Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT): How it works and why it matters. 17:52 – Deep Dive into the Baby Toolbox: Tasks, materials, and examiner advantages. 24:46 – Clinical Utility: Validation, norming, and clinical utility across the NIH Toolbox family. 31:46 – Mobile Toolbox Use Cases: Research and clinical potential for the Mobile Toolbox. 33:36 – Validation vs. Norming: What clinicians need to know. 39:15 – Assessment Advantages: Common examiner errors and benefits of computerized assessment. 45:11 – Future of Testing Technology: AI, automation, and cognitive load reduction. 51:09 – The Human Role: The irreplaceable human role in psychological interpretation. 53:03 – Getting Started: How to access, pilot, and collaborate on Toolbox projects. Cool Things Mentioned The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists NIH Toolbox official site: www.nihtoolbox.com Contact for access/support: help@nihtoolbox.com REDCap research data-capture platform: www.project-redcap.org Featured Resources I am honored to partner with two AMAZING companies to help improve your testing practice! PAR is a long time supporter of the Testing Psychologist podcast, and I will continue to bring you featured items from their catalog! Listen to each episode for specific product recommendations and links. Learn more at www.parinc.com. TherapyNotes is the leading EHR system for mental health practitioners. I’ve used TherapyNotes for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. Use this link and the promo code “testing” to get two free months and try it for yourself! www.therapynotes.com/testing The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s! I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health!can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health! About Dr. Stephanie Ruth Young Stephanie Ruth Young is a licensed psychologist and Assistant Professor of Medical Social Sciences at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Clinically trained as a bilingual pediatric neuropsychologist (Spanish-English), Dr. Young earned her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin, completed her clinical internship at Dell Children’s Medical Center, and her clinical fellowship at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Since joining Northwestern in 2021, her research has focused on advancing the accuracy and efficiency of psychological assessments for clinical workflows. To this end, her team has created and validated dozens of assessments of various domains of functioning, designed for the youngest infants to the oldest adults. Dr. Young serves as Multiple Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on several large NIH-funded projects, primarily focused on tracking cognitive trajectories and early detection of cognitive impairment. Get in Touch & Resources: For questions about the NIHTB products email: help@nihtoolbox.org For questions about mobile toolbox email: help@mobiletoolbox.org To speak with Stephanie directly email: stephanieruth.young@northwestern.edu Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieruthyoung/ About Dr. Jeremy Sharp I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents. As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids. Ready to grow your testing services? Click below to schedule a complimentary 30-minute pre-consulting call! Schedule Your Call

Would you rather read the transcript? Click here. In this episode, I tackle one of the most time-consuming challenges in assessment psychology: report writing. I explore why many psychologists spend 5–30+ hours per report creating comprehensive documents that research suggests referral sources aren’t fully reading, and offer a data-driven roadmap for reclaiming that time without sacrificing clinical integrity. Drawing on stakeholder surveys and readability research, I challenge the field’s ingrained belief that quantity equals quality, and make the case that conciseness is actually a mark of clinical expertise. I share practical tactics, from modular templates and voice dictation to AI tools like Reverb (which I co-founded), while addressing the mindset shifts, ethical considerations, and philosophical questions that make this transition so difficult for many practitioners. Main Topics Covered 00:00 Introduction to Report Writing Challenges 02:53 Understanding the Time Investment in Report Writing 05:46 Core Principles for Efficient Report Writing 09:12 Tactics to Cut Writing Time 12:00 Mindset Shift in Report Writing 14:47 Ethics and Liability in Report Writing 18:08 Tools and Technology for Report Writing 21:07 Philosophical Reflections on Time Management 24:13 Conclusion and Call to Action Cool Things Mentioned CRAFT: The Membership Community for Testing Psychologists Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists Featured Resources I am honored to partner with two AMAZING companies to help improve your testing practice! PAR is a long time supporter of the Testing Psychologist podcast, and I will continue to bring you featured items from their catalog! Listen to each episode for specific product recommendations and links. Learn more at www.parinc.com. TherapyNotes is the leading EHR system for mental health practitioners. I’ve used TherapyNotes for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. Use this link and the promo code “testing” to get two free months and try it for yourself! www.therapynotes.com/testing The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s! I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health!fer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health! About Dr. Jeremy Sharp I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents. As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids. Ready to grow your testing services? Click below to schedule a complimentary 30-minute pre-consulting call! Schedule Your Call

Would you rather read the transcript? Click here. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Albert “Skip” Rizzo, one of the world’s leading innovators in using virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance psychological assessment, rehabilitation, and clinical training. We trace the history of VR in mental health from a 1990s Game Boy inspiration to today’s immersive, data-rich tools, and explore how conversational AI and virtual humans are changing the way clinicians evaluate, treat, and connect with clients. Skip shares insights from decades of groundbreaking work with veterans, autistic adolescents, and clinical trainees, while addressing ethical guardrails, practical adoption strategies, and why he remains a cautious optimist about AI’s role in our field. Main Topics Covered Why Skip chose VR: the excitement of endless innovation Early history of VR in mental health: from Game Boy/SimCity to immersive rehab Early mental-health use cases: exposure therapy, spatial reasoning, and neurorehab The 1998 Virtual Classroom—first immersive CPT for attention assessment The new frontier: merging VR with conversational AI VA “Battle Buddy”: AI-driven mobile support for veterans (design, naming, de-stigmatization) AI safety and empathy research—why people sometimes prefer virtual agents Paul Meehl’s quote and VR as the “ultimate Skinner box” for systematic experiences What’s commercially viable today (exposure, pain, mindfulness, cognitive rehab) + the “Amazon of Clinical VR” idea Affordable standalone headsets (e.g., Meta Quest 3) as a tipping point for clinical practice Cool Things Mentioned The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting: www.thetestingpsychologist.com Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists: www.reverbreports.com Meta Quest 3 headset: www.meta.com/quest Virtually Better (exposure-therapy applications): www.virtuallybetter.com CogniClear cognitive assessment system: www.cogniclear.com U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Immersive Healthcare Initiative: www.va.gov/innovationecosystem RAND Corporation study on AI safety and suicide prevention: www.rand.org JAMA article – VR-based Motivational Interview Training (Rizzo et al., VA Puget Sound): www.jamanetwork.com Dan Marino Foundation Job-Interview VR Trainer: www.danmarinofoundation.org. Featured Resources I am honored to partner with two AMAZING companies to help improve your testing practice! PAR is a long time supporter of the Testing Psychologist podcast, and I will continue to bring you featured items from their catalog! Listen to each episode for specific product recommendations and links. Learn more at www.parinc.com. TherapyNotes is the leading EHR system for mental health practitioners. I’ve used TherapyNotes for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. Use this link and the promo code “testing” to get two free months and try it for yourself! www.therapynotes.com/testing The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s! I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health! About Dr. Skip Rizzo Skip Rizzo is a Clinical Psychologist, and directs of the University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT) Medical VR Lab. He is a research professor in both the USC Dept. of Psychiatry and the School of Gerontology. Over the last 30 years, he has conducted research on the design, development and evaluation of VR systems across the domains of psychological, cognitive and motor functioning in healthy and clinical populations. This work has focused on PTSD, TBI, Autism, ADHD, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, psychedelic therapy, and Suicide Prevention, and other clinical conditions. Get in Touch & Resources: Email: rizzo@ict.usc.edu Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/AlbertSkipRizzo/videos About Dr. Jeremy Sharp I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents. As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids. Ready to grow your testing services? Click below to schedule a complimentary 30-minute pre-consulting call! Schedule Your Call

Would you rather read the transcript? Click here. In this episode, I’m breaking down one of the most tempting moves for private practice owners: diversification. We’ve all felt the pull to add new services like coaching, therapy, or wellness programs, especially when the market slows down. But diversification isn’t always the answer, and it can easily backfire if done reactively or without alignment. I’ll walk you through the data, real-world examples, and a concrete framework to decide whether expanding your services will strengthen or dilute your practice. Main Topics Covered 00:00 Why diversification feels so tempting, and the post-COVID mindset behind it 02:12 The hidden costs: brand dilution, operational complexity, and financial lag 04:36 Real-world example: what happened when I added a medication prescriber 07:01 Culture confusion and team impact during expansion 08:24 When diversification does work: shared client journey, high-margin additions, and partnerships 11:37 The three-part evaluation lens: alignment, margin, and capacity 14:05 Common pitfalls: adding therapy or medical services without infrastructure 16:29 Modeling ROI and minimum margin targets for new services 18:31 Balancing profitability with personal energy and joy 20:45 How to pilot new services, track data, and set a “kill date” 22:30 Final takeaway: clarity beats complexity: double down on your niche Cool Things Mentioned The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists Featured Resources I am honored to partner with two AMAZING companies to help improve your testing practice! PAR is a long time supporter of the Testing Psychologist podcast, and I will continue to bring you featured items from their catalog! Listen to each episode for specific product recommendations and links. Learn more at www.parinc.com. TherapyNotes is the leading EHR system for mental health practitioners. I’ve used TherapyNotes for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. Use this link and the promo code “testing” to get two free months and try it for yourself! www.therapynotes.com/testing The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s! I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health! About Dr. Jeremy Sharp I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents. As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids. Ready to grow your testing services? Click below to schedule a complimentary 30-minute pre-consulting call! Schedule Your Call

Would you rather read the transcript? Click here. Today, I walk through four compensation models that work for testing and therapy practices –  percentage split (fee-for-service), salary + production bonus, salary + profit share, and flat hourly – plus when each model makes sense. I break down the math behind forecasting (capacity, reimbursement, payroll taxes, PTO, benefits), show where owners get into trouble (overpaying early, ignoring utilization, fuzzy admin time), and share a step-by-step rollout plan with transparency practices that improve retention and engagement. You’ll leave with clear guardrails to pay people well without sinking the ship. Main Topics Why compensation causes the most stress for owners and how it became confusing (00:00) Percentage split (fee-for-service): ranges, pros/cons, when it fits (02:23) Salary + production bonus: structure, turnover impact, transparency keys (04:24) Salary + profit share: culture/retention upside and owner transparency (06:51) Flat hourly per billed hour: predictability vs. reimbursement risk (09:18) Forecasting the math: eval capacity → revenue → sustainable pay (11:40) Aligning pay with values: quality, timeliness, client satisfaction (16:30) Pitfalls and guardrails: utilization, admin caps, COL raises, communication cadence (18:55) Cool Things Mentioned The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists APA Work in America Report (context on workplace stress): www.apa.org/pubs/reports/work-in-america/2024/2024-work-in-america-report.pdf [American Psychological Association] BLS Occupational Outlook—Psychologists (national wage benchmarks): www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm [Bureau of Labor Statistics] BLS Occupational Employment & Wages—May 2024 (wage tables): www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ocwage.pdf [Bureau of Labor Statistics] Pay transparency and business outcomes (SHRM research summary): www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/inclusion-diversity/shrm-research-pay-transparency-improves-business-outcomes-close-wage-gap [SHRM] Profit sharing & retention (PayScale brief): www.payscale.com/compensation-trends/new-research-finds-profit-sharing-increases-employee-retention-and-engagement [Payscale] WorldatWork Pay Transparency Study (policy approaches): worldatwork.org/research/pay-transparency-study [WorldatWork] Featured Resources I am honored to partner with two AMAZING companies to help improve your testing practice! PAR is a long time supporter of the Testing Psychologist podcast, and I will continue to bring you featured items from their catalog! Listen to each episode for specific product recommendations and links. Learn more at www.parinc.com. TherapyNotes is the leading EHR system for mental health practitioners. I’ve used TherapyNotes for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. Use this link and the promo code “testing” to get two free months and try it for yourself! www.therapynotes.com/testing The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s! I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health! About Dr. Jeremy Sharp I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents. As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids. Ready to grow your testing services? Click below to schedule a complimentary 30-minute pre-consulting call! Schedule Your Call

Would you rather read the transcript? Click here. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Carrie Singer, founder of www.sellyourpractice.com and the Facebook group Mergers and Acquisitions for Mental Health Professionals, to explore one of the least-discussed but most critical topics for group practice owners: selling your practice. We walk through the full process—from how to know when you’re ready, to identifying who might buy your practice, to understanding valuations, brokers, taxes, and what life looks like post-sale. Carrie brings exceptional clarity to a confusing and often secretive topic, offering practical, compassionate, and financially informed guidance for anyone who might one day consider selling their mental health business. Main Topics Covered Why practice sales are an overlooked topic in mental health Different ways to sell: to employees, peers, or private equity What makes a practice “sellable” and how testing practices fit in Market trends and why 2021–2023 were peak acquisition years How to determine the right time to sell (and why burnout isn’t it) How valuations, multiples, and EBITDA actually work Who’s on your “sale team”: brokers, attorneys, CPAs, and financial planners How rolled equity and earn-outs work—and why cash up front matters The real costs of selling and what you actually take home Managing the emotional and cultural impact of a sale Best practices for communicating with staff and buyers Carrie’s personal lessons learned and advice for future sellers Cool Things Mentioned The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting: www.thetestingpsychologist.com/consulting Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists: www.reverbreports.com Mergers and Acquisitions for Mental Health Professionals Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/mergersandacquisitionsformentalhealth Sell Your Practice (Carrie’s consulting site): www.sellyourpractice.com Project Equity (employee ownership models): www.project-equity.org BizBuySell (list or browse small businesses for sale): www.bizbuysell.com Merger & Acquisition firm mentioned (Mertz Taggart): www.mertztaggart.com U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA loans): sba.gov University of Pennsylvania Private Equity Online Course: online.wharton.upenn.edu Featured Resources I am honored to partner with two AMAZING companies to help improve your testing practice! PAR is a long time supporter of the Testing Psychologist podcast, and I will continue to bring you featured items from their catalog! Listen to each episode for specific product recommendations and links. Learn more at www.parinc.com. TherapyNotes is the leading EHR system for mental health practitioners. I’ve used TherapyNotes for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. Use this link and the promo code “testing” to get two free months and try it for yourself! www.therapynotes.com/testing The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s! I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health! About Dr. Carrie Singer Dr. Carrie Singer is a Clinical Psychologist and owner of Orchard Mental Health Group, which has 165 clinicians in 10 locations throughout Maryland. Carrie has a particular interest in the intersection of business, technology, and mental health. She regularly mentors and speaks about parity and regulatory challenges in the industry, AI threats and opportunities, financial literacy for practice owners, and exit planning strategies. Get in Touch & Resources: Email: Carrie@SellYourPractice.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-carrie-singer-a4461617/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sellingyourmentalhealthpractice About Dr. Jeremy Sharp I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents. As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids. Ready to grow your testing services? Click below to schedule a complimentary 30-minute pre-consulting call! Schedule Your Call

Would you rather read the transcript? Click here. In this solo episode, I dive into what I’ve started calling the “referral recession” – the noticeable dip in testing referrals many practices have seen since 2024. I unpack national data from the APA and NASP, explain why these shifts are happening, and share both short- and long-term strategies for navigating slower seasons. From economic trends and insurance challenges to AI-driven search changes, I walk through what’s really going on beneath the surface – and how to respond without panic. Main Topics 00:00–02:20 Overview of the referral slowdown and APA data showing a 14% average decline in inquiries 02:21–04:48 National data on testing-specific declines (18–20%) and Google search trends 04:49–07:10 Five contributing factors: economic compression, school stabilization, market saturation, referral fatigue, and AI-driven search changes 07:11–09:38 What not to do: panic discounting, bad ads, or over-diversifying services 09:39–14:28 Short-term tactics: re-engage referral sources, simplify intake, optimize Google profile, use downtime strategically 14:29–19:00 Long-term strategies: relationship marketing, content creation, list-building, leveraging past clients, and SEO foundations 19:01–21:24 Building a sustainable marketing engine through consistent visibility and credibility 21:25–23:23 Mindset shift: using slower seasons to strengthen systems, automate workflows, and prepare for future growth 23:24–End Referrals are cyclical—consistency, connection, and clarity will outlast the slowdown Cool Things Mentioned The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists APA Practice Organization (2024 Survey): www.apa.org/practice Federal Reserve Report on Household Spending (2024): www.federalreserve.gov/publications National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) 2024 Data: www.nasponline.org HubSpot Conversion Research (2024): www.hubspot.com Therapy for Your Money Podcast w/ Julie Herres: www.greenoakaccounting.com/podcast Google Business Profile Optimization Guide: www.support.google.com/business ConvertKit Email Marketing Platform: www.convertkit.com MailChimp Email Marketing Platform: www.mailchimp.com Kajabi All-in-One Platform: www.kajabi.com Featured Resources I am honored to partner with two AMAZING companies to help improve your testing practice! PAR is a long time supporter of the Testing Psychologist podcast, and I will continue to bring you featured items from their catalog! Listen to each episode for specific product recommendations and links. Learn more at www.parinc.com. TherapyNotes is the leading EHR system for mental health practitioners. I’ve used TherapyNotes for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. Use this link and the promo code “testing” to get two free months and try it for yourself! www.therapynotes.com/testing The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s! I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health! About Dr. Jeremy Sharp I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents. As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids. Ready to grow your testing services? Click below to schedule a complimentary 30-minute pre-consulting call! Schedule Your Call