Los Angeles is often seen as a city of youth and reinvention—but it’s also home to a rapidly growing population of older adults. From retirees to multigenerational families, aging Angelenos are navigating complex emotional, cognitive, and social transitions. And yet, geropsychology remains an underrepresented specialty in many private practices. Only about 2% of healthcare providers, including mental healthcare providers, specialize in aging. In the context of a large and growing population of older adults, this means there is a serious shortage of providers equipped to serve aging patients and clients in LA.
As a practicing geropsychologist in LA, I’ve spent the past 10 years helping older adults manage depression, anxiety, grief, cognitive changes, and identity shifts. I’ve also worked closely with families, caregivers, and medical teams to ensure holistic care. If you’re a psychologist or therapist looking to expand your services to include older adults, now is the time—and here’s a primer on how to do it thoughtfully and effectively.
Understand the Unique Needs of Aging Clients
Older adults may face distinct psychological challenges: new-onset disability or illness, loss of independence, bereavement, and age-related cognitive decline. But they also often possess resilience, wisdom, and a rich life history that can be powerful therapeutic tools.
Geropsychology isn’t just about treating pathology; it’s about honoring the developmental stage of late adulthood. This means adapting your approach to account for sensory changes, slower processing speeds, and the importance of legacy, meaning-making, and life review.
Build Medical Literacy and Collaborative Skills
Many older clients are navigating multiple medical conditions and medications. To serve them well, you’ll need a working knowledge of common geriatric issues like dementia, Parkinson’s, and polypharmacy, and the ability to collaborate with physicians, social workers, and home health aides.
In LA, where healthcare systems are sprawling and fragmented, being a connector is invaluable. Learn to read medical records, communicate with primary care teams, and advocate for your clients in interdisciplinary settings.
Adapt Your Practice Environment
Accessibility matters. Is your office ADA-compliant? Are your intake forms readable for clients with vision impairments? Do you offer home visits or telehealth for those with mobility challenges? How do you handle technology issues and limitations?
Even your scheduling practices may need to shift. Older adults may prefer morning appointments and may need extra time to get to and from your office. Small adjustments can make a big difference in engagement and retention.
Rethink Your Marketing and Messaging
Some older adults won’t resonate with the term “mental health.” They may be more receptive to language around “well-being,” “coping,” or “adjustment.” Consider partnering with senior centers, religious communities, and geriatric care managers to build trust and visibility.
In LA, where cultural diversity is vast, it’s also essential to understand how aging is viewed across different communities. Tailor your outreach to reflect cultural values, caregiving norms, and language preferences. All of us as clinicians bring our unique backgrounds, training, skills, and “stimulus value” to our work, and you may be specially prepared to offer your services to a niche market of older adults! Consider your own identity, treatment philosophy, and experiences with aging, and how these may set you up to serve a particular group of older adults.
Invest in Training and Supervision
Geropsychology is a specialized field. If you’re new to it, seek out continuing education in aging, dementia care, and end-of-life issues. Join professional organizations like the APA’s Division 20 (Adult Development and Aging) or the California Psychological Association’s geropsychology interest group.
Part of my recent work as a geropsychologist has been in building a continuing education company specifically designed to offer high-quality geropsych continuing education for mental health providers and other professionals. Insights into Aging, LLC (www.insightsintoaging.com) is created for clinicians who already work with older adults and don’t have formal geropsych training, and for clinicians who see the need and want to expand their work with aging, and for other professionals who work with older adults, like attorneys, fiduciaries, nurses, and physicians, and want to deepen their understanding of psychological concepts in aging.
We may even expand in the future to have courses for caregivers and adult children navigating their parents’ aging process who want to know more about the psychology of aging. Insights into Aging is designed so all these folks will have a place to learn more from experts in the field and build confidence and competence in working with older adults.
And if you’re looking for personalized guidance, I offer one-on-one consultations for clinicians expanding into geropsychology. Whether you’re refining your intake process, navigating Medicare billing, or expanding your assessment practice to include capacity or dementia evaluations, I’d be honored to support your growth.
Aging Is Not a Niche—It’s a Necessity
By 2030, one in five Americans will be over 65. In Los Angeles, that demographic shift is already underway. Integrating geropsychology into your practice isn’t just good business—it’s a moral imperative. Older adults deserve clinicians who understand their stage of life, respect their autonomy, and offer informed care through the joys and sorrows of aging.
If you’re ready to expand your practice, deepen your skills, or simply explore what geropsychology could look like in your clinical work, reach out. I offer consultations tailored to your goals, your setting, and your client base.
Expanding Your Clinical Impact Through Geropsychology in Los Angeles, CA
Are you ready to expand your skills and serve the growing population of older adults with confidence? With specialized training in geropsychology in Los Angeles, CA, you can integrate new approaches that address the unique needs of aging clients, families, and caregivers. Dr. Stacy Reger offers expert guidance to help you thoughtfully build competence, deepen your practice, and make a meaningful difference for older adults in your community. Follow these three simple steps to get started:
Call (424) 262-1925 to schedule a private consultation
Meet with a licensed geropsychologist for a consultation tailored to your goals
Begin expanding your clinical impact and support older adults
More Support from Dr. Stacy Reger in Los Angeles, CA
As a geropsychologist and neuropsychologist, Dr. Stacy Reger understands that professionals working with older adults often need specialized guidance. She offers services designed to help psychologists, therapists, attorneys, fiduciaries, and healthcare providers integrate geropsychology in Los Angeles, CA into their practice with confidence and clarity. Her approach emphasizes both clinical expertise and practical tools, supporting professionals as they navigate the complexities of aging, capacity, and care planning.
Her neuropsychological assessments provide essential insight into conditions such as dementia, ADHD, and traumatic brain injury—factors that directly affect capacity evaluations, mental health treatment planning, and decisions about independence. Beyond this, Dr. Reger offers med-legal assessments, workers’ compensation evaluations, and pre-surgical screenings, helping professionals ground their work in accurate, clinically informed data.
Dr. Reger also provides tailored training, consultation, and keynote speaking to equip professionals with the skills to better serve older adults and their families. Whether through continuing education, collaborative workshops, or community presentations, she ensures each engagement delivers meaningful strategies that can be applied immediately. To further explore her expertise in mental health, capacity, and aging, visit Dr. Reger’s blog for additional insights.