Our Team
Here is a little more about our outstanding, certified staff:
Dr. Kelley Ahr, Psy.D.,
Clinical Director/Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Kelley Ahr received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 1998. After she completed her residency, she began working for the Police Department as the supervisor for the Domestic Violence Unit. While there, she developed and conducted training programs on topics such as trauma reactions in children, school violence, and child development. In 2000, she went into private practice by joining a well-established group of psychiatrists and psychotherapists. Dr. Ahr had a long-standing goal of developing a psychological clinic aimed at providing quality care in a caring and relaxed atmosphere, and in 2002 she made that dream come true by starting Austin Psychological and Testing Center. Today, APTC is a highly regarded agency that many professionals refer to with confidence.
Dr. Rachal Harman-Rodriquez, Psy.D.
Clinical Director/Licensed Psychologist
Rachal Harman-Rodriquez is the Clinical Director of APTC and a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. She has worked at APTC since June 2015. She graduated with her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2012 from Argosy University in Dallas, Texas. Prior to moving to Austin, she worked as a therapist and forensic evaluator at The Children’s Assessment Center with victims and family members of child sexual abuse. She has provided many different types of therapy and psychological evaluations to a wide variety of clients including young children, adolescents, and adults. Her passion lies in the world of assessment, and her goals are to continue providing clinically- and ethically-sound psychological evaluations.
Christina L. Torti, Psy.D., Provisionally Licensed Psychologist
Supervised by Dr. Kelley Ahr
Christina has her roots at APTC. She completed her doctoral practicum under the supervision of Dr. Kelley Ahr, at APTC from March 2005 to March 2007 and was employed full time as a psychometrician while continuing to attend school from August 2006 to December 2007. She then moved to Mississippi in 2008 to work with adolescent trauma victims from hurricane Katrina in Bay St. Louis. While in Mississippi, she worked at Mississippi State Hospital at a crisis intervention , forensics and female receiving units and completed her doctoral internship there. She graduated with her doctorate in psychology (PsyD) in December 2014. A Texas at heart, she was excited to move back to Texas in the summer of 2015. Before returning to APTC in January of 2019, she was the Clinical Director at a drug and alcohol treatment center in the hill country. She is currently pending licensure as a Psychologist in Texas. Christina’s education and experience have primarily been focused on the treatment of trauma, anxiety and depressive disorders, as well as psychological evaluations, child and adolescent psychology, crisis intervention and stress management. When she isn't working, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, live Texas music and being outdoors.
Dr. Helena Kopecky, Ph.D.
Helena Kopecky is a Licensed Psychologist, who is passionate about helping people succeed. She received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Rochester in 2005. Her previous positions include Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Rochester’s Counseling Center and Staff Psychologist at California Institute of Technology. In both of these positions, Helena served as a clinician and clinical supervisor and also delivered psychoeducational workshops and training sessions. Currently, Helena splits her time between APTC and teaching at Austin Community College. In her free time, Helena loves spending time with family and friends, going on hikes and reading books.
Julie Debner, B.A.
Julie began working as a psychometrist at APTC in early 2022. She received her Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from St. Edward’s University in Austin. Prior to joining APTC, Julie worked in Applied Behavioral Analysis, providing therapeutic intervention to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She also has experience working with children in a school setting through after school programs, working towards students’ social and emotional well-being. She grew up in Austin and enjoys going hiking at the green belt, crafting, and painting.
Stephanie Skillern, M.S.
Stephanie Skillern has a diverse background in both education and psychology. She began her career in education, working in various teaching positions from 2009 to 2020. During this time, she gained experience in special education, intervention, and general education. In 2016, Stephanie became certified as a registered behavior technician, showcasing her dedication to working with children with behavioral challenges with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. She continued her education and completed a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in mental health counseling at Grand Canyon University. In 2020, Stephanie transitioned into the field of psychometry, as a master's level psychometrist, she has expertise in administering and interpreting psychological tests to assess cognitive abilities, emotional functioning, and personality traits. Currently, Stephanie is pursuing a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from California Southern University, with an expected graduation in 2025. Her main area of expertise and interest lies in working with individuals who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and specifically in helping them develop and improve their executive function skills. She aims to help individuals with ASD improve their cognitive abilities and enhance their overall functioning and quality of life. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, and reading books.
Taylor Sacks, M.A.
Taylor Sacks is a master’s level psychometrist. She earned her master’s degree in psychology from New York University in 2020. Her graduate level education involved strong training in the foundations of psychology with an emphasis in assessment and forensic psychology. Taylor was part of a graduate research group at NYU Langone looking at the modifiable risk factors between Alzheimer’s and type II diabetes, during which, she administered and interpreted cognitive assessments under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. Prior to coming to APTC, Taylor worked in both inpatient and residential settings as a psychiatric aid to individuals with acute psychosis and adolescents. Taylor has a passion for testing and helping others. In her spare time, Taylor likes to do yoga and spend time outdoors.
Holly Anderson, M.A., LSSP
Holly Anderson is a master’s level psychometrician. She graduated from the School Psychology master’s program at The University of Texas in 2021. Her graduate level education involved strong training in the academic foundations of psychology. Her experience as a graduate research assistant further developed her skills in the areas of assessment, intervention, and consultation. Prior to coming to APTC, Holly worked as a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology, conducting comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations and determining student eligibility for special education services. Holly values the importance of building rapport with clients, and she brings a warm and interpersonal approach to the assessment process. Holly was born and raised in Austin, and she enjoys running and hiking in her free time.
Frances Garces, Office Manager
Frances serves as the Office Manager for APTC, and she has worked in this role since April 2007. She was born in Taft, TX. She moved to Austin at the age of five and continues to reside in the Austin area with her family. Frances graduated in 1995 and has 10 years of experience in billing. She has excellent customer service skills, has never met a stranger, and is exceptionally friendly and outgoing; in short, she loves her job and is the perfect fit to make clients feel welcome and comfortable throughout the entirety of the assessment process. Frances is always willing to go that extra mile to help all of our new and existing patients. Please feel free to contact Frances if you have any questions regarding appointments, records requests, insurance, or billing.
Amanda Kyser
Office Administrator
Amanda has worked for APTC since December 2012 and assists with office administration tasks, including scheduling, billing, and all filing. Amanda attended Texas State University for five years towards a Bachelor’s degree in General Studies with Minors in Mass Communications, Geography, and International Studies before taking a break from coursework when she had her son in 2013. She graduated from Elgin High School in 2007 and has worked passionately in customer service since. She loves to help people and does her best to make the scheduling process as quick and easy as possible.
Sydney Nyp
Office Administrator
Sydney is an Office Assistant with APTC at our South Austin location. She moved from Nebraska to Texas when she was nine and has been living in Austin since. She’s been working in customer service since 2016 and has had her own side business of photography since 2014. She’s never too busy to help others and loves interacting with new friendly faces. She is always happy to answer all questions and help clients understand the process of assessment. Sydney’s number one goal is to always greet you with a welcoming smile and to make your visit with APTC as calming and comfortable as possible.