The Testing Psychologist

In the second episode of my Scaling Smart mini-series, I dig into the tactical question every practice owner faces once they decide to grow: should you hire, or should you optimize the team and systems you already have? Drawing on my own experience—from my very first psychometrist hire 15+ years ago to the painful lessons of building a 45-person team—I break down the conditions that make hiring smart, the efficiencies that can buy you time without adding staff, and the middle path of cross-training and flexible roles. If you've ever felt stuck between "we need more people" and "we should be running leaner," this episode will help you clarify your next move.

• When hiring truly makes sense (capacity, stepping back, profitability)

• Why busy staff don't always equal profitable staff

• Lessons learned from hiring too quickly and without financial modeling

• Practical examples of optimization: AI tools, automation, time blocking, and systems fixes

• The "middle path": using contractors and cross-training staff

• How to run a simple capacity audit before making your next hire

• Why right-sizing is personal and must align with your goals and lifestyle

Cool Things Mentioned

• The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting

• Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists

I'm back with my friend and repeat guest Uriah Guilford of Productive Therapist to dive deep into the world of AI and its growing role in private practice. We covered a lot in this episode—from voice AI agents and CRM integrations to ethical concerns and training staff to use AI responsibly. Uriah shared what he's excited about in tech, how he's integrating AI across his businesses, and even some futuristic scenarios that could change the way we work as mental health professionals. Whether you're curious, cautious, or already AI-obsessed, there's something in this conversation for everyone.

Here's a list of what we covered:

• Recap of Uriah's recent conference travel and list of private practice events

• Differences between small and large-scale mental health events

• AI's top use cases: therapy, life organization, learning, and idea generation

• Uriah's current use of AI for:

• Email and marketing copywriting

• Business strategy and financial analysis

• Image generation for branding

• Exploration of voice AI agents for live phone answering and admin support

• Limitations of existing EHRs and barriers to AI integration

• AI chatbots for lead capture and client communication

• Internal training strategies to help staff adopt AI tools

• Concerns about using AI for clinical note writing and supervision of trainees

• Accessibility vs. ethical risks of AI therapy bots

• Insights from a Dartmouth clinical trial on AI therapy bots

• Future predictions for AI in mental health practice

• Vibe coding and custom AI programming for non-coders

• Using AI for personal projects like branding, birthday cards, and school assignments

Cool Things Mentioned

• The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting

• Productive Therapist's Therapy Events List A curated list of 30+ private practice-focused events for therapists 🔗 2025 Events For Therapists

• Group Practice Scaling Summit Co-hosted by Brent Stutzman (TheraSaaS) & Nate (Navigator Bookkeeping) 🔗Group Practice Scaling Summit | Chicago's Summit for Practice ...

• Doubt Yourself, Do It Anyway Retreat by Patrick Casale Therapist retreat blending work and adventure in Ireland 🔗All Things Private Practice

• Book: Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future, by Reid Hoffman Uriah references this book's "Doomer, Bloomer, Zoomer" AI framework 🔗 Buy on Amazon

• HighLevel CRM (White-labeled versions for mental health) CRM with AI voice agent and chatbot capabilities 🔗 https://www.gohighlevel.com

• Bland.AI – Voice AI demo platform 🔗 https://www.bland.ai

• Synthflow – Another demo platform for testing voice AI 🔗 https://www.synthflow.ai

• Quill Therapy Notes – AI note-taking with a strong ethical stance (no session recordings) 🔗 https://quilltherapynotes.com

• Mentalyc – AI that evaluates therapy sessions and client-therapist alliance 🔗 https://www.mentalyc.com

• Dartmouth Study on Therapy Bots Clinical trial showing promising results for AI-supported therapy 🔗https://home.dartmouth.edu/news/2025/03/first-therapy-chatbot-trial-yields-mental-health-benefits

• Canva Custom T-Shirt Printing Design and print single t-shirts for conferences, events, or gifts 🔗 https://www.canva.com/tshirts

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!

In this episode, I break down one of the most common and anxiety-inducing questions I hear: "How much does it actually cost to start a private testing practice?" I walk through the key categories of startup costs—legal setup, clinical readiness, and marketing/admin—and share detailed estimates based on real-world examples. I also highlight hidden or overlooked expenses that can sneak up on you. And if you don't have $10K–$20K saved up? No problem. I share multiple funding strategies, including 0% APR credit cards, SBA loans, grants, peer lending, and bootstrapping. My goal is to give you clarity and confidence so you can move forward with a smart, grounded plan for launching your practice.

Cool Things Mentioned

• The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting

• Beginner Practice Checklist: A step-by-step guide to launching your practice: https://www.thetestingpsychologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Beginner-Practice-Checklist.pdf

Digital Scoring Platforms

• Q-interactive (Pearson): https://www.helloq.com

• PARiConnect (PAR): https://www.parinc.com/PARiConnect

Low-Cost Website Platforms

• Squarespace: https://www.squarespace.com

• Wix: https://www.wix.com

• Wordpress: https://wordpress.com

DIY Logo & Branding Tools

• Logo.com: https://logo.com

• Canva: https://www.canva.com

Grants for Entrepreneurs

• Amber Grant (for women): https://ambergrantsforwomen.com

• NASE Growth Grants: https://www.nase.org/become-a-member/grants-and-scholarships

Small Business Loans & Credit Lines

• SBA Microloans: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/microloans

• BlueVine (business lines of credit): https://www.bluevine.com

• Fundbox (credit lines): https://fundbox.com

Peer-to-Peer Lending Platforms

• Kiva: https://www.kiva.org

• LendingClub: https://www.lendingclub.com

Secure Email & Fax Providers (for HIPAA compliance)

• GSuite + Google Workspace with HIPAA BAA: https://workspace.google.com

• Paubox: https://www.paubox.com

• SRFax: https://www.srfax.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!

In this episode of The Testing Psychologist, I had the pleasure of hosting a powerhouse group from PAR: Jenny Greene, Nikel Rogers-Wood, Cecil Randy Reynolds, and Randy Kamphaus. We dove deep into the development and features of PAR's new Digital Record Form—a tool designed to streamline performance-based assessment administration, starting with the RIAS-2. We discussed how this innovation differs from previous digital options like Q-interactive, the team's intentional focus on flexibility and simplicity, and how the digital record form reduces cognitive load while preserving the clinician-client relationship. We also explored the future of digital assessment, the potential role of AI, and how these tools can make our work more efficient without compromising clinical integrity. I'm really excited about this advancement and can't wait to implement it in my own practice!

Cool Things Mentioned

• The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting

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!

Dr. Cecil ReynoldsCecil R. Reynolds, PhD, ABPN, ABN, is professor emeritus of educational psychology and a distinguished research scholar at Texas A&M University.Dr. Reynolds is author or editor of more than 45 books and has published more than 300 scholarly works. He has also authored or co-authored more than a dozen tests including the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales, Second Edition (RIAS-2); the Reynolds Adaptable Intelligence Test (RAIT); the Reynolds Interference Task (RIT); and the Test of General Reasoning Ability (TOGRA). Dr. Reynolds has been the recipient of numerous awards. Among these are the American Psychological Association's (APA) Division of School Psychology Jack I. Bardon Award for a Lifetime of Distinguished Service, as well as the APA's Nadine Murphy Lambert Award. Dr. Randy Kamphaus Randy Kamphaus, PhD, is the Senior Advisor for External Affairs at the Ballmer Institute at the University of Oregon. Dr. Kamphaus is the author or coauthor of more than 85 scientific journal articles, 50 book chapters, and 10 books. He has also authored or coauthored several psychological and educational tests including the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales, Second Edition (RIAS-2), the Reynolds Interference Task (RIT), and the Mathematics Fluency and Calculation Tests ( MFaCTs ). Dr. Kamphaus has received numerous awards throughout his career, including the Senior Scientist Award, Division of School Psychology, from the American Psychological Association (APA) and both the Lifetime Alumni Achievement Award and Russell H. Yeany Research Award from the University of Georgia.

Nikel Rogers-Wood, PhD, LPPAR, Inc. Project Director Dr. Nikel Rogers-Wood has a PhD in counseling psychology and is a licensed psychologist with clinical interests that include women's emotional health. She also has extensive experience in psychological assessment. Dr. Rogers-Wood has worked as a university faculty member, in private practice as a practitioner and clinical director, in skilled nursing facilities, and in college counseling where she was the coordinator of a postdoctoral training program. Dr. Rogers-Wood is a project director in the Research and Development department at PAR.

Jenny Greene, PhDPAR, Inc. Digital Assessments Product Owner Jennifer Greene is the Digital Assessments Product Owner at Psychological Assessment Resources (PAR), a leading publisher of educational and psychological assessment tools. She holds a Ph.D. in Measurement and Evaluation from the University of South Florida and has over 10 years' experience in test development. In her current role, Jennifer drives the strategic development of digital assessment products that delight psychologists and provide significant insights into the clients with whom they work.

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.

Dr. Liz Angoff returns to dive deeply into the art and structure of feedback sessions with parents. Dr. Liz emphasizes the insight that "feedback begins at intake," sharing practical strategies for preparing families throughout the evaluation process to avoid surprises during feedback meetings. We discuss common pitfalls, such as withholding diagnostic impressions until the final session, and highlight the value of continuous communication to ensure parents leave empowered and confident. Dr. Liz offers concrete advice, from using visual aids and simplifying language to effectively navigating challenging conversations when parents disagree or resist diagnostic findings. Overall, we explore how practitioners can make feedback sessions more collaborative, therapeutic, and supportive for both children and families.

Cool Things Mentioned

• The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting

• Book: "Feedback That Sticks" by Karen Postal and Kira Armstrong Link to purchase

• NeuroWild comics for visual explanations of autism and executive functioning NeuroWild on Instagram | NeuroWild on Teachers Pay Teachers

• Matt Lowry's autism-related memes Matt Lowry's website

• Dani Donovan's ADHD comics ADHDDD

• "Our Brains" collaborative workbook by Dr. Liz (Kickstarter Campaign) Explaining Brains - Our Brains

• Handout generator (AI-generated resources for explaining diagnoses) Explaining Brains Handout Generator

• Free intake and feedback session visual aids and templates provided by Dr. Liz Explaining Brains Practitioner Resources

• Dr. Stephanie Nelson episodes on the Testing Psychologist podcast

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!

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Dr. Robyn Miller to explore why every mental health practitioner needs a professional will. After experiencing the loss of her closest colleague and being thrust into managing her practice, Dr. Miller shares stories of clients who discovered their therapist's death only after weeks of unanswered calls, and others who never learned what happened to years of their records. Through personal experience—including my own recent confrontation with mortality before heart surgery—we discuss practical steps for creating an effective professional will that ensures your clients receive compassionate care during an unexpected transition.

Cool Things Mentioned

• The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting

• TheraClosure: Dr. Miller's service helping clinicians create comprehensive professional wills

• Exclusive 15% discount with code "SHARP" for podcast listeners

• Free "Ultimate Professional Will Checklist" available on the TheraClosure website

• Complimentary 20-minute consultations for those ready to take this step

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!

In this episode, I dive into the often-confusing world of Pearson's Q products—specifically Q-interactive and Q-global. What started as a simple comparison turned into a deeper exploration of the origins of the "Q" branding and the roles these platforms play in private practice. I walk through the key differences in functionality, pricing, and integration (or lack thereof), and share how we use both systems in my own practice. Whether you're just starting out or trying to streamline your assessment workflow, this episode will help clarify which digital tools are right for you—and why you might actually need both.

Cool Things Mentioned

• The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting

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!

In this episode, I dig into the widely discussed New York Times Magazine article, "Have We Been Thinking About ADHD All Wrong?"—and more specifically, I zoom in on one particularly compelling component: the fluctuating nature of ADHD symptoms over time.

This idea—that ADHD is not a fixed trait but something that ebbs and flows with age and environment—is grounded in research from the MTA study and recent work by Dr. Margaret Sibley. I explore how her findings challenge our assumptions about stability, diagnosis, and treatment, and I share practical takeaways for clinicians, especially those of us doing ADHD evaluations.

If you've ever struggled to reconcile inconsistent ADHD data across settings or over time, this episode is for you. We talk about environmental demand, age-related changes, what "remission" actually means, and why our clinical models need to be more flexible. I also provide concrete recommendations for clinical psychologists to rethink assessment, feedback, and follow-up care based on this evolving understanding of ADHD.

Cool Things Mentioned

• The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting

• New York Times Magazine Article: "Have We Been Thinking About ADHD All Wrong?"

• Sibley, M. H., et al. (2022). Longitudinal course of ADHD symptoms: Evidence from the MTA study.

• PubMed Abstract

• Previous Testing Psychologist podcast episode with Dr. Margaret Sibley on adult ADHD

• Solanto, M. V. (2011). Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adult ADHD: Targeting Executive Dysfunction. Book on Amazon

• STAND Program for Teens with ADHD (Developed by Margaret Sibley). Overview from University of Washington

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!

In this episode, I sat down with my friend and returning guest, Dr. Tara Vossenkemper, for an honest and wide-ranging conversation about her family's leap into full-time RV life and how it's impacted her leadership, practice culture, and mental clarity. We dug deep into the experience of running a group practice remotely, the evolving dynamics of delegating projects vs. tasks, and the personal transformation that can come from letting go—physically and professionally. Tara shared powerful reflections on the visionary-integrator relationship, the emotional labor of leadership, and how EOS continues to shape her team and systems. We also explored what it means to slow down as a driven entrepreneur and how intentional structure (and trust in your people) can help rein in relentless forward momentum.

Cool Things Mentioned

• The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting

• Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman https://amzn.to/3TPWZKD

• Deep Work by Cal Newport https://amzn.to/3xjlByn

• So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport https://amzn.to/3TK6HhP

• The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle https://amzn.to/3VW9D1j

• Tara's Podcast: The Culture Focused Podcast https://www.taravossenkemper.com/podcast

• Tara's Consulting & Membership Info https://www.taravossenkemper.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!