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I’m excited to share this conversation with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey, a clinical psychologist and documentation expert who has been closely monitoring the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence in the mental health field. In this episode, we move beyond the surface level of AI as a simple productivity tool and dive deep into the ethical, clinical, and compliance-related nuances that every practitioner needs to understand. Maelisa provides a comprehensive overview of the current landscape, from the rise of ambient listening scribes to the ways insurance companies are leveraging AI in their own processes. We discuss the transition from being a “doer” of documentation to becoming a “supervisor” of AI-generated content, emphasizing that while these tools can be life-changing for clinicians struggling with burnout, they do not absolve us of our professional responsibility for accuracy and clinical judgment.

Main Topics

00:01:21: The increasing pervasiveness of AI across personal and professional domains.
00:05:40: Overview of the current AI landscape in mental health, including documentation and chatbots.
00:15:48: Four primary ways AI platforms assist with clinical note-taking.
00:21:18: Risks associated with session transcripts and the importance of data retention policies.
00:30:10: Ethical requirements for informed consent and navigating state-specific AI laws.
00:38:30: Technical vetting of AI companies: HIPAA compliance, BAAs, and anonymized vs. de-identified data.
00:52:06: The effectiveness of AI in clinical formulation, diagnosing, and treatment goal generation.
00:55:12: How insurance companies are utilizing AI for claims processing and potential denials.

Cool Things Mentioned

Craft: the premier membership community for testing psychologists
Crafted Practice: the only in-person business retreat for testing psychologists
Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists
QA Prep: www.qaprep.com Maelisa McCaffrey’s
YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@MaelisaMcCaffrey
Quill Therapy: www.quilltherapy.com
Heidi Health: www.heidihealth.com
Berries: www.getberries.ai
Blueprint: www.blueprint-health.com
Maelisa’s book: www.amazon.com/Stress-Free-Documentation-Psychologists-Mental-Health/dp/1138038318

Featured Resources

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About Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey

Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey is a licensed psychologist, nail design enthusiast, and author of the book, Stress-Free Documentation for Mental Health Therapists. Through her business QA Prep, she empowers therapists with training and consultation on clinical documentation. Maelisa focuses on the “why” behind the usual recommendations and encourages clinicians to think outside the box, while also keeping their ethics intact. As someone with ADHD who’s had to figure out what works through trial and error, Maelisa aims to make sure her trainings are practical, while also allowing for plenty of laughter and fun.

Get in Touch & Resources:

Website: qaprep.com
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@maelisamccaffrey?si=tGClPQpdMFBVxuWc

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.

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