Эпизоды
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The words we choose shape far more than conversation—they shape emotions, treatment, documentation, and even access to care.
In this episode, Paul Wagner and Ray Christner explore how language influences the way clients experience their struggles and how clinicians document those experiences. They discuss the growing trend of using highly charged clinical terms like trauma, PTSD, narcissist, abuse, and hostage to describe everyday situations, and why that language can unintentionally increase emotional distress instead of helping people move forward.
They also examine the opposite problem: clinicians softening documentation so much that important functional impairments disappear from reports, potentially affecting insurance coverage, disability determinations, educational services, and medical necessity.
You’ll learn practical strategies for challenging inflated language without invalidating clients, writing balanced documentation that captures both strengths and impairments, and using words that promote clarity, accuracy, and effective treatment.
Whether you’re a therapist, psychologist, counselor, educator, or simply interested in how language shapes mental health, this conversation offers practical insights you can use immediately.
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To hear more and stay up to date with Paul Wagner, MS, LPC and Ray Christner, Psy.D., NCSP, ABPP visit our website at:
http://www.psychedtopractice.com
“Be well, and stay psyched"
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Smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart rings, and other wearable devices are collecting more health data than ever before—but what does that mean for mental health care?
In this episode, Paul Wagner and Dr. Dan Florell explore the growing role of wearable technology in psychology. They discuss how devices can help monitor sleep, heart rate, stress, and activity levels, and how that information may support treatment for anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism, and other conditions. You’ll also hear about emerging research showing how physiological changes may provide early warning signs before symptoms become more severe.
The conversation also tackles the important questions every clinician should be asking. How accurate are these devices? When should therapists trust the data? What are the ethical concerns around privacy, AI, and client safety? And how can wearable technology become a useful clinical tool without replacing sound professional judgment?
Whether you’re a clinician curious about integrating technology into practice or someone interested in the future of mental health, this episode offers a balanced look at both the opportunities and the limitations of wearable technology.
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To hear more and stay up to date with Paul Wagner, MS, LPC and Ray Christner, Psy.D., NCSP, ABPP visit our website at:
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“Be well, and stay psyched"
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Пропущенные эпизоды?
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Boundaries are often presented as the answer to difficult relationships, workplace stress, and emotional well-being. But what happens when a boundary is actually avoidance in disguise? In this episode, Paul Wagner and Ray Christner explore the complicated space between protecting yourself and limiting your growth. They discuss how rigid boundaries can sometimes create new problems, why flexibility matters, and how anxiety can influence the decisions we make about work, relationships, and personal fulfillment. Through clinical examples and practical insights, they examine how to recognize when a boundary is serving you, when it may be holding you back, and how to make thoughtful decisions that align with your values. This conversation offers clinicians and listeners a fresh perspective on balancing self-protection, growth, and meaningful connection.
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To hear more and stay up to date with Paul Wagner, MS, LPC and Ray Christner, Psy.D., NCSP, ABPP visit our website at:
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“Be well, and stay psyched"
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What happens when the symptoms fit… but the diagnosis doesn’t?
In this episode of Psyched to Practice, Paul Wagner and Ray Christner break down the messy reality of differential diagnosis and why so many mental health conditions can look nearly identical on the surface. From ADHD and anxiety to autism, depression, sleep problems, medical conditions, and substance use, they explore how clinicians can avoid jumping to conclusions and start asking better questions.
Ray shares practical ways to rule diagnoses in and out without getting trapped by confirmation bias, while Paul highlights how curiosity, collaboration, and ongoing assessment can completely change treatment outcomes.
They discuss why diagnosis should be treated like a working hypothesis instead of a fixed answer, how overlapping symptoms create false positives, and the danger of diagnostic overshadowing when one diagnosis hides another. The episode also explores why women with ADHD were so often missed for years, how medical conditions can mimic mental health disorders, and why gathering information from parents, spouses, and caregivers can completely change the clinical picture.
This episode is packed with practical insights for therapists, psychologists, counselors, and anyone trying to better understand the complexity behind mental health diagnosis.
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To hear more and stay up to date with Paul Wagner, MS, LPC and Ray Christner, Psy.D., NCSP, ABPP visit our website at:
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“Be well, and stay psyched"
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Why do so many therapists hesitate to use exposure therapy for PTSD, even when the research strongly supports it?
In this episode of the Psyched to Practice podcast, Ray sits down with Dr. Carmen McLean and Dr. Elizabeth Goetter to unpack the myths, fears, and misunderstandings surrounding Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE). Together, they explore why avoidance keeps PTSD symptoms alive, why many clinicians feel anxious delivering trauma-focused care, and what the science actually says about retraumatization, dropout rates, and treatment outcomes.
The conversation also dives into some of the newest developments in PTSD treatment, including intensive treatment models, telehealth delivery, virtual tools, culturally responsive adaptations, and how PE is being used with complex comorbidities like substance use, borderline personality disorder, and suicidality.
Along the way, they reflect on the legacy of Dr. Edna Foa, the pioneer behind PE, and discuss why evidence-based trauma treatment still remains out of reach for far too many people.
This episode is packed with practical insight for clinicians, graduate students, and anyone interested in how trauma treatment continues to evolve.
Their New Book: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-72720-7
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“Be well, and stay psyched"
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As the school year winds down, many students hit a wall. They’re tired, overwhelmed, and often feel like it doesn’t even matter anymore. Missing assignments pile up, motivation drops, and even high-achieving students start to question whether it’s worth the effort.
In this episode, Paul and Ray break down what’s really happening during this final stretch. They explore why students feel “over it,” how burnout shows up differently across age groups, and what clinicians and parents can actually do to help.
You’ll hear practical strategies for tackling missing work without overwhelm, using “good enough” in a productive way, and helping kids regain momentum when they feel stuck. They also address the stress around standardized testing and how to reframe it so it doesn’t define a child’s sense of self.
This conversation is packed with real-world tools you can use immediately in sessions, at home, or in schools to help kids finish the year with less stress and fewer regrets.
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“Be well, and stay psyched"
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What if the problem isn’t that your clients don’t have the right tools—but that the tools don’t feel usable in real life? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jesse Finkelstein to unpack how DBT moves beyond worksheets and into everyday decision-making. We break down what DBT actually is, why it works across diagnoses, and how its core ideas—like holding two truths at once—can shift the way clinicians think about change. You’ll hear how skills like mindfulness, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation show up in ordinary moments, not just crisis. We also explore why clients often avoid using skills, how to make them more engaging, and what it looks like to translate complex concepts into something people will actually use. If you’ve ever had a client say “I know what to do, I just don’t do it,” this conversation gives you a different way to approach that gap.
His book: https://a.co/d/01LfKduu
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“Be well, and stay psyched"
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School refusal isn’t just about kids staying home. It shows up in subtle ways—frequent nurse visits, missed classes, late arrivals, and quiet disengagement that often goes unnoticed until it becomes a major problem.
In this episode, we break down what’s actually driving school refusal behavior and why a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. Drawing from real clinical and school-based experience, we explore the four core functions behind these behaviors and how they often overlap in ways that make intervention more complex than it seems.
You’ll hear how anxiety, avoidance, attention-seeking, and access to more rewarding alternatives all play a role—and how modern factors like virtual learning, technology, and shifting family dynamics are changing the landscape.
We also walk through practical, evidence-based strategies that clinicians, schools, and families can use together. From distress tolerance and exposure work to environmental changes and caregiver collaboration, this episode focuses on what actually helps move kids back toward consistent school engagement.
If you’re working with students who are struggling to attend—or families who feel stuck—this conversation will give you a clearer framework and more confidence in how to respond.
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To hear more and stay up to date with Paul Wagner, MS, LPC and Ray Christner, Psy.D., NCSP, ABPP visit our website at:
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“Be well, and stay psyched"
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Social media isn’t going anywhere, but the way we’re handling it with kids and teens might be making things worse. In this episode, we sit down with Kelly McCullough, LCSW, to unpack what’s actually happening when kids spend hours on their phones. From sleep loss and anxiety to comparison and constant pressure to respond, we explore why this generation is struggling and why it’s not just a “self-control problem.” You’ll hear how clinicians can guide parents without turning the phone into a constant battle, what actually motivates teens to change their behavior, and how to shift from control to collaboration. We also break down practical strategies that work in real homes, including setting limits without escalating conflict, helping kids rethink what they see online, and building healthier habits that stick. If you work with kids, teens, or families, this conversation will change how you approach screen time, connection, and mental health.
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To hear more and stay up to date with Paul Wagner, MS, LPC and Ray Christner, Psy.D., NCSP, ABPP visit our website at:
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“Be well, and stay psyched"
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Many clinicians leave graduate school with strong foundational skills but very little guidance on how to shape their professional path. Over time, therapists begin to notice patterns in their work—certain populations, problems, or clinical questions that keep showing up in the therapy room. The question is what to do with those patterns. In this episode, Paul Wagner and Ray Christner explore how clinicians develop areas of focus in their practice. They discuss the difference between chasing trends and building a thoughtful specialty, how real clinical needs often reveal themselves through repeated client concerns, and why personal fit matters just as much as professional opportunity. The conversation also highlights the importance of curiosity, ongoing reading, mentorship, and honest self-reflection when deciding where to grow professionally. Listeners will hear examples from leaders in the field who built unique niches by combining emerging needs with their own interests and strengths. Whether you are early in your career or rethinking the direction of your practice, this episode offers a practical framework for deciding where to invest your time, training, and energy.
Upcoming Live Webinars:
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“Be well, and stay psyched"
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Most clinicians enter this field wanting to help everyone. But over time, we learn a hard truth: being willing isn’t the same as being the right fit. In this episode of the Psyched to Practice Podcast, Paul Wagner and Ray Christner unpack what “fit” really means in clinical work. They explore how scope of practice, availability, client preferences, professional development, and even our own life circumstances shape whether we’re truly the best provider for someone sitting across from us. They share personal stories of cases that stretched them in healthy ways—and others that should have led to earlier referrals. You’ll hear practical ways to assess fit during intake, how to build a thoughtful “stretch protocol” for growth areas, and how to navigate referrals without shame or abandonment. This conversation challenges the myth that strong clinicians can treat anything. Instead, it offers a more sustainable model: intentional growth, honest boundaries, and clinical decisions grounded in competence—not ego. If you’ve ever wrestled with whether to take a case, keep a case, or refer a case, this episode will give you language, clarity, and a framework you can actually use.
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“Be well, and stay psyched"
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Most mental health professionals have felt it at some point but rarely say it out loud: the fear that they don’t really belong, that they’re one mistake away from being exposed as a fraud. In this episode of the Psyched to Practice Podcast, Paul Wagner and Ray Christner unpack imposter syndrome as it shows up in clinicians across all stages of their careers. They explore why imposter syndrome is more common in thoughtful, conscientious professionals, how it often shows up during transitions and high-stakes moments, and why it’s not a diagnosis or a sign of incompetence. The conversation focuses on reframing imposter syndrome as a signal of growth rather than a flaw, the role of shame and silence in making it worse, and practical ways clinicians can respond when self-doubt creeps in. This episode offers normalization, perspective, and grounded strategies for clinicians who care deeply about their work and sometimes wonder if they’re doing it right.
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“Be well, and stay psyched"
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Hey everyone, quick heads up.
For the first time in our recording history, we ran into some technical issues, and the audio from a really solid conversation between Ray and Paul on imposter syndrome didn’t survive. We’re still holding out hope that an uncorrupted version turns up, and if it does, we’ll get it posted immediately. So keep an eye on the feed.
Because of that, we’re not able to release a full episode on our usual schedule. We’ll be back in two weeks with a complete episode and more of the conversations you expect from us.
Thanks for sticking with us, and we really appreciate your patience.
As always, Be Well, and Stay Psyched.
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“Be well, and stay psyched"
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Adult ADHD is often misunderstood as a motivation problem or a lack of effort. In this episode, psychologist and researcher Dr. Laura Knouse joins Psyched to Practice to explain why that framing misses the mark—and how cognitive behavioral therapy can actually work for adults with ADHD when it’s done right.
We explore how ADHD shows up as a self-regulation challenge, why behavior change often has to come before thought work, and how everyday environments quietly sabotage or support follow-through. Laura breaks down why traditional CBT models often fall short, how medication and skills can work together, and what clinicians need to know about perfectionism, avoidance, and “overly positive” thinking in this population.
This conversation is packed with practical, clinician-ready insights for working with adults and emerging adults with ADHD, including how to structure treatment, build momentum through small wins, and help clients stop blaming themselves for systems that were never designed for their brains.
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“Be well, and stay psyched"
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Social anxiety isn’t just about nerves in social situations, it slowly shrinks lives through avoidance, self-judgment, and fear of being seen. In this episode, Dr. Deb Dobson joins The Psyched to Practice Podcast to talk about what actually keeps social anxiety going, why reassurance and comfort can backfire, and how exposure really works in the real world. We explore subtle safety behaviors clinicians often miss, how avoidance becomes seductive, and why progress depends more on persistence than perfection. This conversation offers practical insights for clinicians who want to help clients live fuller lives without promising unrealistic cures.
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“Be well, and stay psyched"
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Too often continuing education is expensive, rigid, or disconnected from real clinical work, until now. Our Bright Minds Subscription is officially live, and it’s built for how clinicians actually live and practice. This all-access membership gives you unlimited entry to a growing library of high-quality CE courses, live webinars, and expert-led trainings, all in one place. No waiting for scheduled dates. No pressure to finish a course in one sitting. No wasting your CE budget on one or two workshops a year. Every course is designed to be practical, relevant, and easy to fit into your day—whether that’s between sessions, after the kids go to bed, or on the treadmill. You’ll learn from clinicians who live the work you do, across topics that matter in real practice, with assessments and downloadable CE certificates included. Bright Minds is about making continuing education accessible, flexible, and genuinely useful again. If you’re ready for a smarter, more supportive way to meet your CE requirements, this is it. Head over to www.psychedtopractice.com to get started today.
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“Be well, and stay psyched"
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In this episode, Paul and Ray sit down with psychologist Marie Hooper to break open one of the most misunderstood autism profiles: PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance), or the pervasive drive for autonomy. Marie explains why these kids look oppositional on the surface but are actually responding to a nervous-system threat, why typical behavior plans often backfire, and how masking—especially among girls—keeps PDA hidden for years. She walks through the six core features clinicians should recognize, what burnout looks like in kids who stop attending school entirely, and how to shift from compliance-based approaches to safety-based, trauma-assumed care. Whether you’re a therapist, educator, or parent, this conversation reframes what “can’t, not won’t” truly means.
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“Be well, and stay psyched"
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In this episode, Paul and Ray take on gratitude in a way that cuts deeper than the usual holiday routine. Instead of listing three things you’re thankful for or posting something online that sounds good, they explore what it looks like to experience gratitude from the inside out. They break down the difference between goals and intentions, why slowing down matters, and how savoring small moments can turn gratitude into a steady part of daily life—not just something you try to do when things are going well. They also share personal stories from clinical work and their own lives that reveal how gratitude shows up during stress, growth, grief, and connection. This conversation is real, grounding, and something clinicians can use in practice right away.
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Learn more about the RIAS-2 NU here:
https://www.parinc.com/product/groups/rias-rist-assessments?utm_campaign=38111624-Psyched%20to%20Practice%202026&utm_source=P2P%20Podcast&utm_medium=Related%20Podcasts
To hear more and stay up to date with Paul Wagner, MS, LPC and Ray Christner, Psy.D., NCSP, ABPP visit our website at:
http://www.psychedtopractice.com
“Be well, and stay psyched"
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This episode explores how naming and checking intention — the deeper “why” behind a goal — helps clients (especially those with ADHD and executive-function challenges) keep going when motivation fades. Paul explains how intention works with common tools (SMART goals, time blocking, task chunking) and gives concrete examples clinicians can use in-session to build lasting buy-in, turn shame into course-correcting fuel, and decide the right frequency to revisit a client’s why. Listeners will leave with simple, session-ready questions and examples (like reframing a vague “eat healthier” goal into a measurable nutrition target tied to the intention of having energy to play with kids) that make follow-through more likely.
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This episode is brought to you by PAR.
Explore the AI Report Writer here:
https://www.parinc.com/product/ai-report-writer?utm_campaign=38111624-Psyched%20to%20Practice%202026&utm_source=P2P%20Podcast&utm_medium=Related%20Podcasts
Learn more about the RIAS-2 NU here:
https://www.parinc.com/product/groups/rias-rist-assessments?utm_campaign=38111624-Psyched%20to%20Practice%202026&utm_source=P2P%20Podcast&utm_medium=Related%20Podcasts
To hear more and stay up to date with Paul Wagner, MS, LPC and Ray Christner, Psy.D., NCSP, ABPP visit our website at:
http://www.psychedtopractice.com
“Be well, and stay psyched"
-
Every therapist can talk for days about difficult cases. But what about the cases that work? In this episode, Paul and Ray break down how success leaves clues — from therapist strengths to client readiness to the role of meaning and expert identity in change. You’ll learn how to reflect on what actually makes you effective, reshape your marketing to match your true impact, and confidently choose the right clinical fits instead of taking every referral that comes your way. Whether you’re building a caseload or rebuilding one, this conversation helps you practice with energy, alignment, and purpose.
Brightminds Ad
PAR Ad
This episode is brought to you by PAR.
Explore the AI Report Writer here:
https://www.parinc.com/product/ai-report-writer?utm_campaign=38111624-Psyched%20to%20Practice%202026&utm_source=P2P%20Podcast&utm_medium=Related%20Podcasts
Learn more about the RIAS-2 NU here:
https://www.parinc.com/product/groups/rias-rist-assessments?utm_campaign=38111624-Psyched%20to%20Practice%202026&utm_source=P2P%20Podcast&utm_medium=Related%20Podcasts
To hear more and stay up to date with Paul Wagner, MS, LPC and Ray Christner, Psy.D., NCSP, ABPP visit our website at:
http://www.psychedtopractice.com
“Be well, and stay psyched"
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