The Testing Psychologist Podcast Titelbild

The Testing Psychologist Podcast

The Testing Psychologist Podcast

Von: Dr. Jeremy Sharp: Licensed Psychologist & Private Practice Consultant
Jetzt kostenlos hören, ohne Abo

Über diesen Titel

 Helping psychologists, neuropsychologists, and mental health professionals start, grow, and scale psychological testing services in private practice.Dr. Jeremy Sharp Hygiene & gesundes Leben Seelische & Geistige Gesundheit Sozialwissenschaften Wissenschaft Ökonomie
Folgen
  • 551. The Gatekeepers: Unpacking InterQual and the Battle for Medical Necessity

    551. The Gatekeepers: Unpacking InterQual and the Battle for Medical Necessity
    Feb 19 2026
    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 consultingReverb: 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
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    49 Min.
  • 550. Neurodiversity-Affirming Autism Assessment Across the Lifespan- Strengths & Differential Diagnosis w: Dr. Sara Woods

    550. Neurodiversity-Affirming Autism Assessment Across the Lifespan- Strengths & Differential Diagnosis w: Dr. Sara Woods
    Feb 16 2026
    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 textbook01:39-05:00 Defining the neurodiversity paradigm and patient-led care05:01-07:43 How differential diagnosis can be empowering rather than pathologizing07:44-10:43 Reframing repetitive play as a foundation for cognitive development10:44-12:52 Reconsidering eye contact through the lens of cultural difference12:53-16:15 Integrity versus reputation management in autistic individuals16:16-19:00 The functional purpose of stimming and sensory regulation19:01-21:37 Navigating societal expectations and the choice to disclose21:38-26:15 The double empathy problem and communication in mixed groups26:16-31:06 Balancing the “superpower” narrative with authentic support31:07-34:00 Frameworks for accommodations: Strengths, difficulties, and neutral differences34:01-38:58 Introduction to the Survey of Autistic Strengths, Skills, and Interests (SASSI)38:59-42:15 Specific interviewing strategies for eliciting joy and strengths42:16-46:30 Adapting the assessment battery and the role of the ADOS46:31-52:00 Writing affirming reports and the use of first-person language52:01-56:30 Leveraging special interests in recommendations and school settings56:31-01:01:20 Validating distress while maintaining a strengths-based perspective Cool Things Mentioned The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consultingReverb AI-powered report-writing softwareSara’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 FormAutistic Strengths DiagramSurvey of Autistic Strengths Skills and InterestsSuggested Autism Batteries across the lifespanHelpful 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 interestsNeurodiversity 2.0 Article by Hari Srinivasan: Neurodiversity 2.0 – Harnessing cross-disciplinary disability insights – ScienceDirectThe Neurodiversity Paradigm According to Nick Walker: NEURODIVERSITY: SOME BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS • NEUROQUEERIdeas 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-BEGirard 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, 2023Granieri 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, 2020Crompton 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, 2020Hu 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_4Kapp 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, 2019Woods, 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...
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    49 Min.
  • 549. TTP Updates: Craft Membership, Crafted Practice, and Reverb 2.0

    549. TTP Updates: Craft Membership, Crafted Practice, and Reverb 2.0
    Feb 12 2026

    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
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    49 Min.
Noch keine Rezensionen vorhanden