Neuropsychological assessment and individual therapy practices are functioning in an area of mental health characterized by high demands and low clinician resources. The number of people seeking assistance has risen, while the availability of professional psychologists, counselors and neuropsychologists is not uniformly available.
The shortage of manpower in the industry of mental health is a notable constraint. According to Psychology.org, in 2026, close to 40 percent of all Americans live in areas where there is a shortage of psychological manpower.
This shortage is especially important for neuropsychological testing because the work requires specialized training. A therapy appointment may be easier to schedule than a full evaluation, but many clients need both. Long waitlists for testing can delay school support, disability documentation, medical planning or treatment adjustment.
Behavioral health workforce data points to continued pressure. The National Council for Mental Wellbeing noted that more than 122 million Americans live in Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas. At the same time, HRSA projections show future shortages in major counseling and behavioral health roles.
For practices, the challenge is workflow design. A clinician’s time must be used carefully. Intake screening can help determine whether a client needs comprehensive testing, focused assessment or therapy alone. This reduces unnecessary evaluation burden and helps patients receive the right service sooner.
Telehealth has become part of that response. Therapy for an individual can frequently be done online, provided it is clinically suitable to do so, and thus makes treatment available to clients who cannot travel or who have scheduling problems. Some elements of the assessment can be conducted using technology; others cannot.
Practice owners are also facing operational pressure. ClinicMind’s 2026 mental health practice statistics report describes workforce shortages as a direct issue for staffing, scheduling, revenue and growth planning. This means clinical access is also a business-management problem.
Hybrid care requires careful planning and implementation. While virtual therapy might prove highly effective for anxiety, depression or adjustment disorders, crisis risks and complex cases call for proper protocol. Testing practices must also protect validity when using remote tools. Uncontrolled evaluation can yield questionable results.
The most efficient procedures will probably include a stepped-care process in which a patient starts with intake, then proceeds with therapy, followed by testing if symptoms are unclear. Another patient might start with testing as his or her condition depends on a decision in an academic, legal or medical context.
The next stage of practice development will be marked by success among those who control access without sacrificing quality. Staffing shortages will not disappear quickly, so practices must design smarter pathways.
Neurological testing and individual therapy practices are evolving into access-management organizations. Their value will be evaluated based on their ability to reduce wait times while maintaining clinical depth, safety and trust.
