Former Professor, Educational Psychology, Counseling & Special Education, Penn State University

Carlos Zalaquett is an internationally recognized expert in therapeutic outcomes assessment and mental health counseling, with deep expertise spanning psychology, biofeedback, and neurofeedback. Across decades in clinical practice, teaching, supervision, and leadership—including serving as President of the Pennsylvania Mental Health Counselors Association, Past President of the Sociedad Interamericana de Psicología, and President-Elect of the American Psychological Association’s Division 52: Society for Global Psychology—Carlos has focused on one thing: improving training and interventions by measuring what works and why.

In this episode, Carlos makes the case for video as a core component of counselor education—not as a “nice to have,” but as the backbone of supervision, skills development, and outcomes-based research. He shares how recording sessions transforms training from vague, memory-based reflection into precise review: students and supervisors can revisit specific moments, identify strengths and growth areas, and track progress from the first session through termination. Carlos also explains how secure, consent-driven video capture supports ethical practice and removes barriers compared to earlier “shoulder camera” approaches—making review immediate, practical, and far less disruptive to the therapeutic relationship.

The conversation goes deeper into how video plus client self-report data can strengthen decision-making and fairness in supervision—evaluating performance with evidence rather than assumptions—and how clinics can evolve into applied research training clinics that demonstrate clinical impact to stakeholders. Carlos also looks ahead to what’s next: AI-enabled transcription and analysis, nonverbal synchrony research, and faster insight generation that could accelerate both supervision and outcomes research. He closes with the leadership principle that guides his career—“lift as you climb”—and why building others up is the real legacy of effective education and clinical work.

Simulation Manager at South Texas College

Recorded live at IMSH 2026, this episode of On Record features Ruben Torres, Simulation Manager at South Texas College, sharing how a deep background in AV and networking naturally evolved into leading simulation operations across nursing and paramedic training. Ruben walks through why video recording is essential to simulation—not as “gotcha” surveillance, but as a tool for reflective learning and stronger debriefs, where students can review decisions, identify improvements, and build confidence before stepping into real clinical environments.

Ruben also gets practical about what it takes to run a world-class simulation program: designing for realism (including keeping faculty physically removed so students feel truly “in it”), selecting and integrating the right technology components, and supporting faculty who may not be as comfortable with tech through structured training—especially at the start of each semester. He discusses how adopting the IVS VALT system improved access and consistency, enabling simulation recordings to be available across multiple campuses on the school network, and he outlines how South Texas College ladders simulation experiences through the nursing curriculum—from foundational skills to robust capstone scenarios. The conversation closes with Ruben’s passion for the mission behind it all: leveraging simulation and video to help develop future clinicians and reduce the risk of medical errors.

Episode Guest: Stephanie Morris
Child Advocacy Studies Program Coordinator, Northwest Arkansas Community College

Stephanie Morris brings over a decade of frontline legal experience to her role as the Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) Program Coordinator at Northwest Arkansas Community College. A former deputy prosecuting attorney specializing in crimes against children, she now leads a nationally recognized program that equips future and current professionals—from law enforcement to social workers—with the tools to identify and respond to child maltreatment. Stephanie leverages immersive simulation environments and advanced video technology to train students in trauma-informed practices, courtroom preparation, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Her passion is rooted in transforming how we prepare frontline workers—starting in the classroom, not the field.

Please consider learning more about CAST and the Zero Abuse Project: https://zeroabuseproject.org/