Built one steady year at a time
CAYA Psychology started with one psychologist, one caseload and a decision to build a different kind of practice. Over the years, I've grown it carefully, keeping the things that matter to clinicians while adding the systems, referrals and support that make independent practice sustainable. That remains the approach today.
How I got here
There's a reason CAYA Psychology looks the way it does today.
The practice has been built gradually, with each stage shaped by what I've learned about clinical work, private practice and what psychologists need to do good work.
Here's how I got here.
CAYA Psychology begins
CAYA Psychology began as my independent practice while I worked as a contractor within established psychology clinics. It gave me the opportunity to build my own clinical practice while seeing first-hand how different practice models worked from the inside.
CAYA becomes its own clinic
After several years working within other practices, I opened CAYA Psychology as an independent clinic under the CAYA brand.
This was the beginning of the practice as it exists today — built around clinical independence, a strong referral base and the freedom to create the kind of practice I wanted to work in.
Building the practice
CAYA grew steadily through referrals and clinical work. During this period, I focused on building a sustainable practice with the systems, resources and processes needed to support good clinical work.
A new home in Geelong
I moved CAYA to Geelong, establishing a permanent base in the region and continuing to build its referral network and reputation.
My first independent contractor
After years of building and refining the practice, CAYA reached the point where the model could support another psychologist.
I welcomed my first independent contractor into CAYA — the beginning of a new chapter, while keeping the independence and flexibility that shaped the practice from the start.
Growing deliberately
CAYA is now opening the model to more independent psychologists.
The goal isn't simply to grow the number of practitioners. It's to create a practice where psychologists can work independently, with the referrals, systems, administration and support of an established practice behind them.
Led by someone who's done the clinical work and the business work
Twelve years of full-time private practice sit behind CAYA — not just as a clinician, but as the person who's built and run the business itself.
What this history means if you're considering joining CAYA
Still clinician-led
I still see clients and provide supervision, so decisions about CAYA are informed by the realities of day-to-day clinical work — not just the headline numbers.
That means thinking about how full a diary should be, what administrative work is genuinely necessary, and what support different practitioners actually need. Caseloads, working styles and client needs differ, so the practice should be able to adapt rather than impose one way of working.
For me, being clinician-led means building CAYA around the realities of good clinical care — for both the psychologist and the people they support.
Referrals are built, not left to chance
I've deliberately built multiple sources of referrals into CAYA, including Medicare, NDIS, assessment work and active marketing and advertising.
That matters for both clinicians and clients. Clinicians need to work within their areas of competence and interest, while clients deserve to be matched with a practitioner who is appropriately equipped to help them.
A diverse referral base gives me the flexibility to make those matches thoughtfully, rather than simply trying to fill every available appointment.
Small by design
CAYA has been operating for a decade, and it's still deliberately small.
I believe there's value in having the systems and support needed to practise well without losing the autonomy, flexibility and personal connection that make independent practice valuable.
Built for independent psychologists
Psychologists at CAYA work independently, with the referrals, administration, systems, resources and professional support of an established practice around them.
My aim is simple: to give psychologists the freedom of private practice while creating an environment where they can focus on their clients and do good clinical work.