Episodes

  • Practice in Action: Check the Why, Not Just the What
    Nov 14 2025

    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.

    For more than 45 years, PAR has been publishing trusted assessment instruments that help their customers in the crucial work they perform every day. Their U.S.-based, company is a talented group of professionals who are guided by their desire to create tools that help their customers improve the lives of those they serve.

    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

    Please follow the link below to access all of our hosting sites.

    https://www.buzzsprout.com/2007098/share

    “Be well, and stay psyched"

    #mentalhealth #podcast #psychology #psychedtopractice #counseling #socialwork #MentalHealthAwareness #ClinicalPractice #mentalhealth #podcast

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    14 mins
  • Practice in Action: Finding Your Clinical Sweet Spot
    Oct 31 2025

    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.

    For more than 45 years, PAR has been publishing trusted assessment instruments that help their customers in the crucial work they perform every day. Their U.S.-based, company is a talented group of professionals who are guided by their desire to create tools that help their customers improve the lives of those they serve.

    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

    Please follow the link below to access all of our hosting sites.

    https://www.buzzsprout.com/2007098/share

    “Be well, and stay psyched"

    #mentalhealth #podcast #psychology #psychedtopractice #counseling #socialwork #MentalHealthAwareness #ClinicalPractice #mentalhealth #podcast

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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • *Practice in Action: Beliefs, Blindspots, and Biases Remix
    Oct 17 2025

    ‼️Continuing Education Series‼️

    This week on the Psyched to Practice podcast, Ray and Paul dive into a REMIXED three-part Practice in Action series: Beliefs, Blindspots, and Biases. Across these episodes, they explore the fascinating world of cognitive biases—how they shape our thoughts, influence behavior, and show up in the therapy room. From uncovering hidden blind spots to recognizing the role of bias in both our clients and ourselves, Ray and Paul examine how awareness of these mental shortcuts can lead to better thinking and more effective clinical practice. Tune in for this insightful series designed to challenge your perceptions and strengthen your therapeutic awareness.

    Earn CEUs for this episode at: Coming Soon

    For more than 45 years, PAR has been publishing trusted assessment instruments that help their customers in the crucial work they perform every day. Their U.S.-based, company is a talented group of professionals who are guided by their desire to create tools that help their customers improve the lives of those they serve.

    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

    Please follow the link below to access all of our hosting sites.

    https://www.buzzsprout.com/2007098/share

    “Be well, and stay psyched"

    #mentalhealth #podcast #psychology #psychedtopractice #counseling #socialwork #MentalHealthAwareness #ClinicalPractice #mentalhealth #podcast

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    1 hr and 44 mins
  • Practice in Action: Rethinking CEUs From Required Credits to Career Growth
    Oct 3 2025

    Stop dreading your next CEU scramble—this episode of Psyched to Practice flips the script on continuing education for mental health professionals. Hosts Ray Christner and Paul Wagner dig deep into what it really means to grow as a clinician, sharing personal strategies to move from last-minute credit-chasing to a purposeful, energizing professional development plan. From the ethical imperative behind ongoing learning, to the link between specialized knowledge and reduced burnout, to practical ways to make CEUs genuinely work for you (while staying on budget), this episode is packed with candid insights and actionable tips. Tune in and learn how to design a career-long learning journey that fuels your passion, enhances your client care, and makes required credits feel rewarding—not just required.

    Website: www.psychedtopractice.com


    For more than 45 years, PAR has been publishing trusted assessment instruments that help their customers in the crucial work they perform every day. Their U.S.-based, company is a talented group of professionals who are guided by their desire to create tools that help their customers improve the lives of those they serve.

    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

    Please follow the link below to access all of our hosting sites.

    https://www.buzzsprout.com/2007098/share

    “Be well, and stay psyched"

    #mentalhealth #podcast #psychology #psychedtopractice #counseling #socialwork #MentalHealthAwareness #ClinicalPractice #mentalhealth #podcast

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    48 mins
  • Bonus Episode: Unraveling the Tylenol and Autism Connection
    Sep 26 2025

    In this bonus episode of the Psyched to Practice Podcast, Paul Wagner and Ray Christner break down the recent White House and HHS announcements linking acetaminophen use in pregnancy to autism. They share their reactions of disappointment, frustration, and cautious hope while exploring how public messaging can harm families and fuel stigma. Together they unpack the critical difference between correlation and causation, the dangers of oversimplified science, and the importance of trusted sources in shaping how we understand autism. With clinical insights, historical context, and stories from real-world practice, this episode challenges listeners to think critically about research, rhetoric, and what truly supports autistic individuals and their families.


    Artile Referenced: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2817406

    For more than 45 years, PAR has been publishing trusted assessment instruments that help their customers in the crucial work they perform every day. Their U.S.-based, company is a talented group of professionals who are guided by their desire to create tools that help their customers improve the lives of those they serve.

    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

    Please follow the link below to access all of our hosting sites.

    https://www.buzzsprout.com/2007098/share

    “Be well, and stay psyched"

    #mentalhealth #podcast #psychology #psychedtopractice #counseling #socialwork #MentalHealthAwareness #ClinicalPractice #mentalhealth #podcast

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    26 mins
  • Masters in Practice: You Are Not Your Trauma w/ Robyn Walser and Darrah Westrup
    Sep 19 2025

    This episode features Drs. Robyn Walser and Darrah Westrup discussing the application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for trauma, highlighting approaches from their book, You Are Not Your Trauma: An ACT Guide to Healing from Within. Through an exploration of ACT’s core processes—including psychological flexibility, self-as-context, and committed action—the conversation provides advanced practitioners with evidence-based strategies for supporting trauma survivors beyond symptom reduction. Walser and Westrup address differentiating trauma from general distress, navigating the sequencing of safety, exposure, and reconnection, and deploying practical defusion techniques. The presenters emphasize actionable, compassion-driven skills for fostering client autonomy, meaning-making, and long-term healing. The content equips clinicians with concrete tools to deepen client engagement, tailor interventions for complex trauma, and reinforce lifelong practices of resilience within and beyond the therapy setting.


    Darrah and Robyn's new book: https://a.co/d/21XUIox

    For more than 45 years, PAR has been publishing trusted assessment instruments that help their customers in the crucial work they perform every day. Their U.S.-based, company is a talented group of professionals who are guided by their desire to create tools that help their customers improve the lives of those they serve.

    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

    Please follow the link below to access all of our hosting sites.

    https://www.buzzsprout.com/2007098/share

    “Be well, and stay psyched"

    #mentalhealth #podcast #psychology #psychedtopractice #counseling #socialwork #MentalHealthAwareness #ClinicalPractice #mentalhealth #podcast

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    49 mins
  • Bonus Episode: The Cost of Certainty and the Power of Listening
    Sep 12 2025

    In this bonus episode of the Psyched to Practice Podcast, Ray and Paul sit down to talk about perception in the wake of tragedy and political tension. They explore how quickly opinions turn into divisions, why curiosity is essential for compassion, and how we can disagree without dehumanizing. Through stories, psychology insights, and self-reflection, they highlight the power of listening to understand rather than to defend. This conversation challenges us all to pause, reflect, and choose respect in how we respond to one another.

    For more than 45 years, PAR has been publishing trusted assessment instruments that help their customers in the crucial work they perform every day. Their U.S.-based, company is a talented group of professionals who are guided by their desire to create tools that help their customers improve the lives of those they serve.

    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

    Please follow the link below to access all of our hosting sites.

    https://www.buzzsprout.com/2007098/share

    “Be well, and stay psyched"

    #mentalhealth #podcast #psychology #psychedtopractice #counseling #socialwork #MentalHealthAwareness #ClinicalPractice #mentalhealth #podcast

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    18 mins
  • *Masters in Practice: Living Well with Psychosis w/ Aaron Brinen
    Sep 5 2025

    ‼️Continuing Education Series‼️

    Psychosis is often treated as a mystery, something clinicians avoid or feel unprepared to address. In this Masters in Practice episode, Dr. Aaron Brinen shares how his book Living Well with Psychosis makes this complex topic approachable for individuals, families, and therapists alike. Drawing from Recovery Oriented Cognitive Therapy, Dr. Brinen explains how shifting the focus from symptoms to motivation, connection, and aspirations creates powerful pathways to recovery. Whether you’re a clinician looking for practical tools, a family member supporting a loved one, or simply curious about mental health treatment, this conversation challenges myths, sparks new ways of thinking, and highlights the power of hope in the face of psychosis.

    Earn CEUs for this episode at: https://www.psychedtopractice.com/course/living-well-with-psychosis

    Aaron’s New Book: https://a.co/d/2fHGJqY

    Aaron’s recommendation: https://www.youtube.com/@SchizandGiggles

    For more than 45 years, PAR has been publishing trusted assessment instruments that help their customers in the crucial work they perform every day. Their U.S.-based, company is a talented group of professionals who are guided by their desire to create tools that help their customers improve the lives of those they serve.

    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

    Please follow the link below to access all of our hosting sites.

    https://www.buzzsprout.com/2007098/share

    “Be well, and stay psyched"

    #mentalhealth #podcast #psychology #psychedtopractice #counseling #socialwork #MentalHealthAwareness #ClinicalPractice #mentalhealth #podcast

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    1 hr and 8 mins