My journey to Test Wolf started early one morning almost 20 years ago. I was in a room of 2,000 students, thick with test anxiety at the Tampa Convention Center. I didn’t want to be there. My Mother canceled the extended break I had hoped for between college and the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Florida State University. She was the Director of the Florida Board of Bar Examiners and decided I should work with her team to prepare for and proctor the exam… instead of going to the beach and playing tennis.
To be honest, I still think I needed that break! In the rigorous years that followed I developed my expertise in anxiety in the grind of randomized control trials, research publications and presentations, clinical supervision, graduate coursework, and teaching… hundreds of undergrads and fellow grad students. Under the relentless supervision of Dr. Norman “Brad” Schmidt, I often found myself thinking about the test-takers in that room as well as many other people I knew in my life who were experiencing unmanaged anxiety. Why don’t people know that anxiety (in all the painful ways it manifests) is uniquely curable compared to other mental health problems? Why don’t we go after anxiety more aggressively since it is so painful and devastating if left untreated? What more can I do? What can I do to give people the opportunity to experience the power of behavior therapy for anxiety?
As my dissertation dragged on, My Mother recognized I was struggling to find my way in academia. But this time, to my surprise, she suggested I take a break! At her encouragement, I applied for a White House internship. Because of the White House, I was inspired to join the United States Army. As an active duty Army psychologist, I trained at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and deployed to Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division. The Army was a masterclass in the origins of trauma and courage, healthcare systems, and leadership consulting.
In 2022, I completed the Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS) Program. In the incubator of PLS leaders are challenged and ideas are refined. Test Wolf crystallized in PLS. It’s a continuation of my 20 years of effort to transform moments of adversity into an opportunity to build the mindset and behaviors required for a more confident, courageous future.
