Meet the tpi team

Jeff Zimmerman, PhD, ABPP

TPI Co-founder

With over 40 years of professional experience, Jeff has been in independent practice virtually his entire career. He began in solo practice, and was a founding and managing partner in a group practice that grew to 7 offices and 20 professional staff. He co-administered a managed care contract with over 200 affiliated professionals, and developed niche practices outside of managed care (divorce specialty and organizational consulting). Jeff consults on practice development and on management and building niche practices. He also provides training in divorce mediation and co-parenting with high conflict divorcing parents.

Jeff is active in many professional organizations. He is past president of the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 29, Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy. He has served on the Board of APA Division 42, Independent Practice. He has also co-authored or edited four books on practice (If You Build It They Will Come, The Handbook of Private Practice, The Ethics of Private Practice, and Financial Management for Your Mental Health Practice). He is also the Editor of Practice Innovations, the journal of APA Division 42. In 2019 Jeff received the Mentoring Award from Division 42.

Jeff can be reached at jeffzimmermanphd@thepracticeinstitute.com

Pauline Wallin, PhD

TPI Co-founder

Pauline is a technology enthusiast and psychologist in private practice in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. She teaches and coaches other mental health professionals to earn a good living while doing what they love. She is also co-founder of The Center for Advanced Professional Education (CAPE) based at the University of Redlands.

Pauline is past-president of APA Division 42, Independent Practice and Division 46, Media Technology & Psychology. She has also chaired or served on numerous committees within APA and the Pennsylvania Psychological Association.

In addition to writing and teaching about the business of practice, Pauline has written a self-help book (Taming Your Inner Brat: A Guide for Transforming Self-defeating Behavior), was a magazine columnist for several years, and has frequently appeared in or been quoted in the media, including CBS news, the Associated Press, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, USA Today, Redbook, Ladies Home Journal, Huffpost, Buzzfeed News and others.

She is a two-time recipient of the "Psychologist in the Media" award from the Pennsylvania Psychological Association.

Since 1997 Pauline has taught workshops  on using the internet for research and for marketing. She has conducted practice development workshops and webinars in the US and Canada, and is a frequent invited speaker for professional conferences.

Pauline can be reached at paulinewallinphd@thepracticeinstitute.com

Pauline Wallin, PhD

TPI Co-founder

Pauline is a technology enthusiast and psychologist in private practice in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. She teaches and coaches other mental health professionals to earn a good living while doing what they love. She is also co-founder of The Center for Advanced Professional Education (CAPE) based at the University of Redlands.

Pauline is past-president of APA Division 42, Independent Practice and Division 46, Media Technology & Psychology. She has also chaired or served on numerous committees within APA and the Pennsylvania Psychological Association.

In addition to writing and teaching about the business of practice, Pauline has written a self-help book (Taming Your Inner Brat: A Guide for Transforming Self-defeating Behavior), was a magazine columnist for several years, and has frequently appeared in or been quoted in the media, including CBS news, the Associated Press, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, USA Today, Redbook, Ladies Home Journal, Huffpost, Buzzfeed News and others.

She is a two-time recipient of the "Psychologist in the Media" award from the Pennsylvania Psychological Association.

Since 1997 Pauline has taught workshops  on using the internet for research and for marketing. She has conducted practice development workshops and webinars in the US and Canada, and is a frequent invited speaker for professional conferences.

Pauline can be reached at paulinewallinphd@thepracticeinstitute.com

Lauren Behrman, PhD

TPI Co-founder

Lauren is a licensed psychologist who has been solely in independent practice in New York City and Westchester.  Lauren brings over 30 years of postdoctoral experience to The Practice Institute as a clinician, independent practitioner and mother of 3. Her perspective on mothers in practice is a valuable contribution to the TPI community. Lauren has reinvented her practice several times, and built a thriving practice that is free of managed care.  In 2001, she was responsible for creating the New York Chapter of Association for Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC). Lauren is also a current board member of the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals (NYACP).  Having trained as a mediator, parent coordinator and collaborative professional, Lauren is well versed in helping build systems of care that utilize the diverse skill sets of mental health clinicians outside of the insurance network while collaborating with other professionals. She has years of experience as a clinical supervisor and is available as a mentor and trainer to clinicians and practice groups. Lauren can be reached at laurenbehrmanphd@thepracticeinstitute.com

Lauren Behrman, PhD

TPI Co-founder

Lauren is a licensed psychologist who has been solely in independent practice in New York City and Westchester.  Lauren brings over 30 years of postdoctoral experience to The Practice Institute as a clinician, independent practitioner and mother of 3. Her perspective on mothers in practice is a valuable contribution to the TPI community. Lauren has reinvented her practice several times, and built a thriving practice that is free of managed care.  In 2001, she was responsible for creating the New York Chapter of Association for Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC). Lauren is also a current board member of the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals (NYACP).  Having trained as a mediator, parent coordinator and collaborative professional, Lauren is well versed in helping build systems of care that utilize the diverse skill sets of mental health clinicians outside of the insurance network while collaborating with other professionals. She has years of experience as a clinical supervisor and is available as a mentor and trainer to clinicians and practice groups. Lauren can be reached at laurenbehrmanphd@thepracticeinstitute.com

Rod Goodyear, PhD

Rod is Emeritus Professor of Counseling Psychology, University of Southern California and Emeritus Professor of Education, University of Redlands. He was the 2015 President of the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy. A major theme of his scholarship has been supervision and training of counselors and psychologists: His book with Janine Bernard (Fundamentals of Clinical Supervision) is in its sixth edition and arguably the most used supervision book in world, and he was a member of the American Psychological Associations’ task group that developed the Association’s clinical supervision guidelines. He has received the American Psychological Association's 2015 award for Distinguished Lifetime Contributions to Education and Training, and the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy’s 2018 Distinguished Award for the International Advancement of Psychotherapy. Rod can be reached at rodgoodyearphd@thepracticeinstitute.com

Rod Goodyear, PhD

Rod is Emeritus Professor of Counseling Psychology, University of Southern California and Emeritus Professor of Education, University of Redlands. He was the 2015 President of the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy. A major theme of his scholarship has been supervision and training of counselors and psychologists: His book with Janine Bernard (Fundamentals of Clinical Supervision) is in its sixth edition and arguably the most used supervision book in world, and he was a member of the American Psychological Associations’ task group that developed the Association’s clinical supervision guidelines. He has received the American Psychological Association's 2015 award for Distinguished Lifetime Contributions to Education and Training, and the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy’s 2018 Distinguished Award for the International Advancement of Psychotherapy. Rod can be reached at rodgoodyearphd@thepracticeinstitute.com

J. Oni Dakhari, PsyD

Oni is a licensed psychologist in New Jersey and Delaware.  She specializes in pediatric and clinical psychology, serving the needs of children and adolescents, including those with developmental delays, chronic illness and complex medical conditions.  Oni is co-author of an article in the Head Start Bulletin on post-traumatic stress in young children and has served on the panel of expert reviewers for Nemours KidsHealth.org. 

Her professional experience has included consultation-liaison psychology, adjunct professor, supervision, Chair for the New Jersey Psychological Association Early Career Psychologist Committee and Vice President for the South Jersey Psychological Association. In 2014, she received a Distinguished Psychologist Award from the New Jersey Psychological Association for her advocacy work with colleagues at the US Capitol.  Oni has greatly enjoyed transitioning her solo practice into a multidisciplinary group practice, working outside of managed care, providing mental health and well-being services across the life span. 

J. Oni Dakhari, PsyD

Oni is a licensed psychologist in New Jersey and Delaware.  She specializes in pediatric and clinical psychology, serving the needs of children and adolescents, including those with developmental delays, chronic illness and complex medical conditions.  Oni is co-author of an article in the Head Start Bulletin on post-traumatic stress in young children and has served on the panel of expert reviewers for Nemours KidsHealth.org. 

Her professional experience has included consultation-liaison psychology, adjunct professor, supervision, Chair for the New Jersey Psychological Association Early Career Psychologist Committee and Vice President for the South Jersey Psychological Association. In 2014, she received a Distinguished Psychologist Award from the New Jersey Psychological Association for her advocacy work with colleagues at the US Capitol.  Oni has greatly enjoyed transitioning her solo practice into a multidisciplinary group practice, working outside of managed care, providing mental health and well-being services across the life span. 

Amy Ellis, PhD

Amy has established a unique career, combining private practice, community-based mental health services, and academic teaching/supervision. Her clinical work focuses on treating trauma, eating disorders, and personality disorders, with particular interest in trauma-informed affirmative care for the LGBTQ+ community.

She is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Trauma Resolution & Integration Program (TRIP) at Nova Southeastern University. TRIP is staffed by doctoral students, providing services to people with complex trauma, single-incident traumas, and to those individuals who are historically marginalized and underserved. In her training and consultation role, Amy provides clinical supervision, and personal & professional mentorship for doctoral-level students, predoctoral interns, postdoctoral fellows, and early career psychologists.

Amy Ellis, PhD

Amy has established a unique career, combining private practice, community-based mental health services, and academic teaching/supervision. Her clinical work focuses on treating trauma, eating disorders, and personality disorders, with particular interest in trauma-informed affirmative care for the LGBTQ+ community.

She is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Trauma Resolution & Integration Program (TRIP) at Nova Southeastern University. TRIP is staffed by doctoral students, providing services to people with complex trauma, single-incident traumas, and to those individuals who are historically marginalized and underserved. In her training and consultation role, Amy provides clinical supervision, and personal & professional mentorship for doctoral-level students, predoctoral interns, postdoctoral fellows, and early career psychologists.