We were lucky to catch up with Lauren Kaplan recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lauren, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

I first knew I wanted to be a forensic psychologist my senior year in high school after my father arranged for me to “job shadow” another forensic psychologist. The term “job shadow” is in quotes because, due to strict confidentiality laws, unlicensed individuals are not allowed to shadow actual forensic evaluations. However, she allowed me to come to her office, provided me with information about her job duties -including very interesting (and deranged) cases on which she was currently working or had worked, and answered any and all questions I posed to her. My decision to pursue forensic psychology in a private practice setting was solidified my senior year in college, when another forensic psychologist with his own practice came to my juvenile sex offender class to discuss his job duties and pay structure. Not only was I impressed with his earning potential, but I was immediately drawn to the freedom inherent in his schedule. He was in charge of the cases he accepted, the number he accepted, and his fee structure. At this point, you could say I was hooked.

I entered my doctoral program August 2012. Although my program was a generalist program, meaning I earned my degree in Clinical Psychology, they offered different areas of emphasis, one of which was forensic psychology. This meant I would take four forensic electives in addition to my normal coursework, and was assigned a forensic mentor who would guide me throughout the program and help me select forensic-based practica sites throughout my six years in graduate school. After graduating August 2018 with my doctorate in Clinical Psychology, I worked toward obtaining, and completing, the necessary postdoctoral training year required for Indiana state licensure. I chose a private practice setting located in Southern Indiana where I could complete assessments for juvenile probation and conduct treatment with forensically-involved populations. I was finally licensed in Indiana as an independent psychologist May 2019!

All of this to say, by the time I achieved my first of three state professional licenses, I was itching to get started on my goal of owning my own forensic practice, as it already felt like a LONG time coming. However, it was very difficult disentangling myself from my postdoctoral work setting because of my established clients and general work responsibilities. I was also dependent on the income, even though I knew I could make much more working for myself as a forensic psychologist. Fortunately, the universe (and the federal government) came to the rescue in the form of COVID-19 stimulus checks and unemployment benefits. The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program added a weekly supplement of $600 to the amount individuals received in state unemployment, and I was extremely lucky to benefit from this supplement.

People who say you can start a true business while working even close to full-time hours elsewhere are downright incorrect, or superhuman. I remember the specific moment of clarity I experienced regarding the ultimate decision of whether I should “go hard or go home.” It was February 2020 and, just like any other day, I was sitting in my therapy chair, in my shared office, at my place of employment since August 2018. Suddenly, I was metaphorically hit by a major lightening bolt in the form of an unignorable inner voice, combined with the urgent demand for immediate action. This sensation could not be ignored. I am not exaggerating when I say I immediately canceled my remaining therapy sessions that day, got up from the chair, and left the office…forever. I did not have a plan, only an idea.

It was not until October 2020 when I was hired by my first private attorney to evaluate a defendant for federal presentencing. Between February 2020 and October 2020 I was busy generating independent forensic work; however, the only independent forensic work opportunities were in Ohio, so I took the Ohio state licensing exam and was licensed as a psychologist in the state of Ohio February 2020. I was not able to obtain licensure in Kentucky until September 2020 due to COVID delays and backlogs in scheduling their state jurisprudence examination; however, I hit the ground running after I was licensed in Ohio. I was awarded a contract in Ohio completing parenting psychological evaluations for CPS the Summer of 2020, and the referrals kept coming after the first aforementioned private Kentucky attorney referral. During this time. I also built my website, created a whole host of forms, and hired an SEO specialist so my website could actually be found on Google when searching my name.

Looking back, I do not have any regrets about the timeline as to when I started my business. Given my profession requires a lot of coursework, examinations, and training on the front-end, I always knew it made the most sense to try to start a business early in my career because, if unsuccessful, I could always obtain employment with an agency. I know there are many psychologists who prefer to focus on their private practices later in their careers, such as after achieving a position in academia but, given the specialty niche area of my business, I truly believe earlier was the better move, as it allowed the legal community to grow with me. The proof is in the pudding because, five years later, I have a consistent stream of referrals as well as three employees. Novice public defenders who did not know how to obtain forensic psychological services for their indigent clients five years ago now regularly seek funding from the courts to improve outcomes for the underprivileged and marginalized members of our community. However, I cannot take full credit for the timing of my process, as I have always felt guided by a power greater than myself along this unique, stressful, yet very rewarding journey. Had a voice not spoken to me in early 2020, I may not be where I am today. I am extremely thankful I listened to my gut rather than all the naysayers.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I, Lauren E. Kaplan, Psy.D., am a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist who practices in Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. I specialize in forensic psychology and offer comprehensive psychological evaluations, expert witness testimony, and psycho-legal consultation. My private practice, Kaplan Forensic Psychological Services, is located in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, which is also where I was born and raised. My private practice serves courts, attorneys, and government agencies, assisting with criminal and civil cases at the state and federal level.

My expertise spans a variety of forensic evaluations, including competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, psychosexual risk assessments, and parental capacity evaluations. I also conduct federal presentencing evaluations, mitigation evaluations, and diagnostic evaluations for a variety of court-ordered purposes. With a multicultural approach, I am regarded for my attention to issues of culture, gender, and socioeconomic status in my reports, consultation services, and testimony. I am also recognized for my thoroughness, confident perspective, and attention to detail. In addition to these forensic services, I also maintain a small therapy caseload, providing individual counseling using evidence-based cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic techniques and approaches. Lastly, I supervise masters-level clinicians offering oversight and guidance on individual and group therapy as well as clinical diagnostic assessments and forensic evaluations.

Since 2020, I am contracted with the Clark County Department of Job and Family Services, for whom I conduct various psychological evaluations such as pre-adoption and parental capacity assessments. I regularly consult on complex forensic matters and provide my expert opinion in both state and federal courts, helping legal professionals and the trier-of-fact understand psychological factors in litigation.

Kaplan Forensic Psychological Services (KFPS), stands out as the premier choice for forensic psychological services in Louisville for several compelling reasons:

1. Our Broad Range of Forensic Expertise:

KFPS offers comprehensive forensic evaluations in both criminal and civil contexts, including:
Competency to stand trial
Criminal responsibility (NGRI)
Psychosexual, violence, and other risk assessments
Federal presentencing evaluations
Parental capacity and adoption evaluations
Testamentary capacity and undue influence evaluations

2. Evidence-Based and Ethical Practice:

My team and I use evidence-based methods and widely accepted psychological practices, ensuring evaluations are both scientifically sound and legally defensible.

3. Regional Accessibility:

KFPS serves clients across Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio, and we routinely travel to:
Jails and detention centers
Attorneys’ offices
Government agencies
This mobility ensures services are accessible and responsive to client needs.

4. Clinical and Therapeutic Services:

In addition to forensic evaluations, KFPS provides:
Clinical diagnostic assessments
Therapy for mood, personality, and trauma-related disorders
Consultation and expert witness testimony
This dual focus on clinical and forensic psychology allows for a holistic understanding of clients’ psychological profiles.

5. Highly Qualified Leadership:

I hold a masters (M.A.) and doctorate (Psy.D). in Clinical Psychology with a forensic emphasis, and am licensed in Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. My background includes:
Supervising doctorate-level clinicians and master’s-level practitioners
Contracted work with child and family services
Experience in both private practice and court clinics

Kaplan Forensic Psychological Services: Expert Evaluations. Ethical Practice. Trusted Results.
________________________________________
Why Choose Us?

At Kaplan Forensic Psychological Services, we specialize in delivering thorough, evidence-based psychological evaluations for legal and clinical contexts. Led by myself, my team is committed to providing services that are scientifically sound, ethically grounded, and legally defensible. I am a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist, known for my:
Extensive experience in forensic clinics and private practices (10+ years)
Supervision of doctorate and master’s-level clinicians
Dedication to ethical, equally inclusive, evidence-based evaluations

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Life has been very difficult these past five years, which of course has drawn me away from growing my business in accordance with what I considered my ideal timeline. Most notably, I suffered a severe back injury early September 2023, which seriously impacted my ability to work due to extreme levels of neuropathic pain. Because of the severity of my injury and the intractability of my pain, I was forced to undergo immediate back surgery early in November 2023. Although the surgery addressed the nerve pain and allowed me to sit again for brief periods of time, my healing process was slow, and I was basically unable to work for approximately 6 months.

I would be lying if I said I think my back will ever be the same as it was pre-surgery, and I unfortunately underwent revision back surgery March of this year. Fortunately, my recovery process was much faster the second time around and I only needed a month off from work. While there are times I get a bit negativistic because my pain increases after long-periods in the car or sitting at a computer for an extended amount of time (both frequent & essential job duties for me), I make sure to count my blessings for the health I still possess, and am so grateful my referral sources did not abandon me during the six months I was pretty much unavailable. I hope this is a testament to the quality of my work product, but client feedback is sometimes lacking in this profession because everyone is so busy! There are good days and there are bad days but ultimately it is one day, one job, one phone call, and one task at a time; and, before you know it, you look back and feel pretty dang proud of what was built in the interim.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I have professionally geared social media accounts, such as X and Linkedin; however, the best money spent was on my SEO website guy. An interactable website is essential in today’s business world, and there are so many integrations that exist on website platforms. After designing my entire website, I “published” it and immediately entered my business name into the Google search bar. I am not exaggerating when I say my company was invisible and did not appear anywhere on the first 20+ pages.

However, through the use of metadata and meta descriptions, “robots,” and indexing formulas now embedded in my webpage, people from different states, and even some from other countries, have been able to locate my business and seek out my services. I do not know how any of this was accomplished, but my website is now very highly ranked on Google and my business is even recognized as one of the top forensic practices in Louisville, and maybe even Kentucky, by ChatGPT.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.drkaplanpsychology.com
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-e-kaplan555
• Twitter: https://x.com/PsyDgal