Research Matters Podcast

In the final installment of the Research in Practice series, Jason Luoma focuses on turning ideas into action. After establishing the organizational incentives in Part 1 and the financial infrastructure in Part 2, this episode provides a practical roadmap for launching and sustaining a research program within a clinical practice.
Jason walks through the minimum infrastructure needed to get started, from selecting an IRB pathway and building data management systems to hiring key research personnel and creating team routines that keep projects moving forward. He also shares a step-by-step 90-day pilot plan designed to help clinics complete their first practice-based research study while laying the foundation for a long-term research program.
Many of the concepts discussed throughout this series build upon Jason Luoma and Jennifer LeJeune's work on the integrated scientist-practitioner model and using social enterprise principles to sustainably fund research within fee-for-service clinical settings.
In this episode, you'll learn…
The minimum infrastructure needed to begin conducting clinical research
How to choose an IRB pathway and streamline research administration
The key roles that support a successful research program and how they work together
Why simple organizational routines create long-term research momentum
How small practice-based studies can become the foundation for a thriving research program
A practical 90-day roadmap for launching your first clinical research study
Tips from the episode
On building research infrastructure…
Start with simple systems before adding complexity.
Reuse templates and standardized documents whenever possible.
Develop clear data management and security procedures from the beginning.
On creating a research community…
Define clear research roles and responsibilities.
Hold short, consistent meetings to maintain momentum.
Build a sustainable pipeline of students and trainees.
On getting your first study started…
Begin with a feasible, low-burden practice-based project.
Track recruitment, data quality, and feasibility alongside research outcomes.
Share early successes to build credibility and attract future collaborators.
Practical takeaways
Choose your first research question and identify your study team.
Schedule recurring research meetings and protected writing time.
Follow a structured 90-day implementation plan from planning through project completion.
Links from this Episode:
LeJeune, J.T. & Luoma, J.B. (2017). Using social enterprise concepts to create a sustainable culture to fund research in a fee-for-service setting . In R.T. Codd (Ed.), Practice-Based Research: A Guide for Clinicians. Routledge Press.
LeJeune, J.T., & Luoma, J.B. (2015). The Integrated Scientist-Practitioner: A New Model for Combining Research and Clinical Practice in Fee-For-Service Settings. Professional Psychology Research & Practice46(6), 421-428. Download here.
Portland Psychotherapy's Publications
Portland Psychotherapy's research lab page
Research Matters Podcast is hosted by Jason Luoma, who can be found on Twitter @jasonluoma or Facebook at: facebook.com/jasonluomaphd. You download the podcast through iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify. Reach out with suggestions, questions, or comments to researchmatterspod@gmail.com.

In Part 1 of this series, we explored why research often disappears from fee-for-service clinical settings despite clinicians valuing scientific inquiry. In this episode, Jason Luoma moves from theory to implementation by outlining the financial and organizational systems that make research sustainable over the long term.
Rather than relying on leftover time or grant funding, Jason explains how to build a clinic where research is intentionally supported through budgeting, compensation structures, and organizational policies. He introduces the concept of the "research line"—a standing budget allocation dedicated to research—and discusses practical strategies for protecting research time, designing compensation systems that align with organizational values, and growing revenue ethically to support scientific work.
Many of the concepts discussed in this episode build upon Jason Luoma and Jennifer LeJeune's work on the integrated scientist-practitioner model and using social enterprise principles to sustainably fund research within fee-for-service clinical settings.
In this episode, you'll learn…
What a research line is and why every research-active clinic should have one
How to create a sustainable funding model for research without relying solely on grants
Why research time should be protected through salary structures rather than billable incentives
How organizational guardrails prevent research priorities from eroding over time
Ethical strategies for increasing financial sustainability while remaining mission-driven
Practical budgeting, staffing, and policy templates you can begin implementing immediately
Tips from the episode
On funding research sustainably…
Create a standing research budget rather than relying on leftover funds.
Automate research funding through a consistent financial policy.
Review your research budget annually and adjust as your organization grows.
On protecting research time…
Separate clinical and research responsibilities with distinct calendars.
Make research blocks salaried and non-swappable whenever possible.
Regularly audit whether protected research time is actually being protected.
On growing responsibly…
Invest in areas where your clinic has specialized expertise.
Balance financial sustainability with accessibility and community impact.
Track research outcomes alongside traditional business metrics.
Practical takeaways
Establish a written research funding policy this month.
Create recurring protected research blocks for key team members.
Develop a simple implementation plan with clear staffing, budgeting, and review timelines.
Links from this Episode:
LeJeune, J.T. & Luoma, J.B. (2017). Using social enterprise concepts to create a sustainable culture to fund research in a fee-for-service setting . In R.T. Codd (Ed.), Practice-Based Research: A Guide for Clinicians. Routledge Press.
LeJeune, J.T., & Luoma, J.B. (2015). The Integrated Scientist-Practitioner: A New Model for Combining Research and Clinical Practice in Fee-For-Service Settings. Professional Psychology Research & Practice46(6), 421-428. Download here.
Portland Psychotherapy's Publications
Portland Psychotherapy's research lab page
Research Matters Podcast is hosted by Jason Luoma, who can be found on Twitter @jasonluoma or Facebook at: facebook.com/jasonluomaphd. You download the podcast through iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify. Reach out with suggestions, questions, or comments to researchmatterspod@gmail.com

Most clinicians are trained in research, yet very few clinical practices consistently produce it. Why? In this special solo episode, Jason Luoma steps away from the interviewer role to explore one of the biggest structural barriers to clinician-led research: incentives. Traditional fee-for-service models reward billable hours, often leaving little time for the deep thinking, writing, and collaboration that meaningful research requires.
Drawing on the experience of building Portland Psychotherapy as a clinical research social enterprise, Jason shares a practical framework for designing organizations where research is not an afterthought but a core function. He explains how changing financial structures, organizational policies, and workplace culture can create protected time for scientific discovery while maintaining a thriving clinical practice.
Whether you're leading a private practice, directing a research clinic, or simply wondering how to better integrate science into clinical work, this episode offers concrete ideas that can be adapted to organizations of many sizes.
In this episode, you'll learn…
Why fee-for-service reimbursement unintentionally discourages research productivity
How a clinical social enterprise differs from a traditional private practice
Why protected research time must be built into organizational incentives—not left to individual motivation
How financial policies can sustainably fund research without relying on grants alone
Why organizational culture is just as important as budgeting when supporting scientific work
Three practical changes you can begin implementing immediately to strengthen research within your clinic
Tips from the episode
On aligning incentives with research…
Design systems that reward research instead of expecting it to happen during spare time.
Protect research time with salaried, non-swappable blocks.
Build research funding directly into your organization's financial model.
On creating sustainable research organizations…
Write clear organizational policies that prioritize research, training, and community impact.
Review your research funding strategy annually and adjust as your organization grows.
Let financial decisions serve your mission rather than define it.
On building a research culture…
Hire people who share your organization's values.
Foster autonomy, purpose, learning, and belonging throughout the workplace.
Invest in internal grants, mentoring, and professional development to encourage innovation.
Practical takeaways
Write two policy statements that formally protect research within your organization.
Establish one recurring, protected research block on your calendar this week.
Choose one cultural change that strengthens research and commit to implementing it this quarter.
Links from this Episode:
LeJeune, J.T. & Luoma, J.B. (2017). Using social enterprise concepts to create a sustainable culture to fund research in a fee-for-service setting . In R.T. Codd (Ed.), Practice-Based Research: A Guide for Clinicians. Routledge Press.
LeJeune, J.T., & Luoma, J.B. (2015). The Integrated Scientist-Practitioner: A New Model for Combining Research and Clinical Practice in Fee-For-Service Settings. Professional Psychology Research & Practice46(6), 421-428. Download here.
Portland Psychotherapy's Publications
Portland Psychotherapy's research lab page
Research Matters Podcast is hosted by Jason Luoma, who can be found on Twitter @jasonluoma or Facebook at: facebook.com/jasonluomaphd. You download the podcast through iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify. Reach out with suggestions, questions, or comments to researchmatterspod@gmail.com

Dr. Mary Alvord is a clinical psychologist with over four decades of experience, known for her innovative work integrating cognitive-behavioral therapy with resilience training for youth. As founder of Alvord, Baker & Associates and the nonprofit Resilience Across Borders, Dr. Alvord has led a groundbreaking effort to merge clinical practice, research, and social impact. 

In this episode, she shares how her early experiences as the daughter of immigrants shaped her mission to provide equitable mental health support for underserved communities. We explore her transition from private practice to conducting research in school-based and low-resource settings, her challenges navigating the grant and IRB systems, and her founding of a nonprofit to ensure long-term sustainability and scale. 

Dr. Alvord discusses her emphasis on team collaboration, ethical imperatives for outcome research, and how she's helping bridge the gap between evidence-based practice and community-based application. 

In this episode, you'll learn… 

Why Dr. Alvord created a nonprofit to sustain mental health research and services 


How early training in behavioral psychology inspired her lifelong research values 


The logistical and ethical challenges of conducting practice-based research in schools 


Strategies for integrating outcome research into clinical practice 


The importance of cultural responsiveness in designing and delivering mental health interventions 


How to create a team culture of collaboration and perseverance in the face of rejection 


Tips from the episode: 

On building resilient communities: 

Start with prevention and reach youth early — ideally within school settings 


Empower underserved communities by removing barriers to access 


Cultural relevance and linguistic inclusivity are essential in outreach materials 


On sustaining research in real-world settings: 

Private practices can support research — if values and resources align 



Building partnerships with universities offers mutual benefits in research 


Establishing a nonprofit can open doors to grants and expand your impact 


On leading a mission-driven team: 

Weekly research meetings foster continuity and shared vision 


Advisory boards and community members can help shape programs 


Perseverance is key — most grant applications and papers will face rejection, but the impact is worth it 


 

Links from this Episode: https://alvordbaker.com/

Louis Castonguay, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at Penn State University and a leading figure in contemporary psychotherapy research. With a career spanning decades, Dr. Castonguay has focused on what truly makes psychotherapy work—examining the variables that shape client outcomes, therapeutic relationships, and the process of change. 

But perhaps what sets him apart most is his leadership in Practice Research Networks (PRNs), collaborative research communities that unite clinicians, researchers, and stakeholders to study therapy as it actually happens in real-world settings. In this episode, we talk about how these networks got started, what keeps them going, and why Dr. Castonguay believes collaboration across differences isn't just productive—it's essential. 

We also explore the balance between research rigor and clinical relevance, the hidden power of motivation and respect in research partnerships, and how his counterphobic drive led him to take on big challenges others avoided. This is a rich, behind-the-scenes look at a man who's helped change the culture of clinical research by running toward the hard stuff—with humility and heart.
In this episode, you'll learn… 

• What Practice Research Networks are and why they matter  • How clinicians and researchers can work together effectively without burnout  • Why studies that are "clinically syntonic" are more sustainable and valuable  • What makes Louis Dr. Castonguay run—not walk—to a meeting  • How to navigate power dynamics and avoid "empirical invasions"  • Why flexible participation and shared ownership are key in PRNs  • How humility, curiosity, and a love of process shape good science 

Tips from the episode: 

Tip 1: On sustaining clinician involvement in research:  • Design studies that serve both scientific and clinical purposes  • Let clinicians co-create the research questions and methods  • Be transparent about power and open to hearing doubts  • Participation should be flexible, not all-or-nothing 

Tip 2: On what makes a successful PRN:  • Shared goals with diverse expertise  • Mutual respect between all team members  • Freedom for each member to contribute in the way that fits them  • A culture where research and practice grow each other 

Tip 3: On Louis's personal approach:  • Counterphobic drive means he runs toward hard problems  • Collaboration isn't a tactic—it's a value  • Being a generalist helps bridge gaps between orientations and settings  • Excellence and perfectionism can be double-edged—learn to aim "imperfectly right" 

Links from this Episode: 

Fostering collaboration between researchers and clinicians through building practice-oriented research: An introduction 

Faculty homepage 

Lab 

Publications