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577. The Five Most Common Report-Writing Mistakes from My Practice (and How to Fix Them!)

Published 2 months, 1 week ago
Description

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In this episode, I share a review of evaluation reports from my own practice to identify the five most common writing mistakes that we’re making. Report writing is an ongoing, evolving process, and even experienced practitioners frequently fall into patterns that hinder readability and utility for clients, parents, and educators. By breaking down issues such as over-utilizing clinical jargon, structuring reports around specific test names rather than functional domains, and overwhelming readers with an untriaged avalanche of recommendations, I provide concrete strategies to transform your reports into clear, actionable documents. I also discuss the impact of pathologizing language and defensive hedging, offering practical shifts to help you establish clinical authority while remaining affirming and accessible.

  • 00:03: Introduction to report writing as an ongoing work in progress
  • 01:40: Mistake 1: The jargon avalanche and the “so what?” test
  • 04:55: Mistake 2: Reporting test names versus functional skills and abilities
  • 08:55: Mistake 3: The recommendation avalanche and how to triage effectively
  • 13:45: Mistake 4: Shifting away from deficit-first and pathologizing language
  • 17:28: Mistake 5: Overcoming defensive hedging and passive voice
  • 22:14: Overview of the Craft membership community and upcoming enrollment

Cool Things Mentioned

Featured Resources

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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 Sout

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