About Private Practice Academy

About Kerstin

I believe that every psychologist deserves to be working, doing what they love, and using their gifts in a way that creates impact and feels meaningful.

How my journey started…

My journey with psychology started when I was 14 year-old.  I recall my mother saying to me that I was a regular “Dorothy Dix” and perhaps I should think about a career in psychology, because my friends would always come to me for counsel. However, at the end of my high school years, my mother advised that she thought my grades weren’t good enough for me to pursue a career in psychology and thought it best I go to business school instead.

In my first job as an admin assistant, people used to tell me that I was good looking, but that I didn’t have the brains to become anything of importance. At one point I applied for a promotion, only to be told by my male manager:

“You look good, but I’m not sure you’re very bright”. 

Yes, you’re reading correctly!  Well, I decided to prove them wrong.

I asked myself, “What do bright people do?” At the time, it seemed that bright people become accountants. So I went on to study accounting and started working in an accounting role within a couple of short years. 

However, it wasn’t long before I was feeling undervalued. 

I knew that I had strengths and a love for working with people that I wasn’t utilising in my role as an accountant. I had a deep desire to learn more about myself and others, and to help others do the same. I wanted to live a more authentic life of meaning and purpose.

At around the same time my father passed away I was left questioning why I was working as an accountant? Well, the answer was: I was doing it for other people, not for myself.

In that moment, I decided that it was time to follow my internal values and to start living true to myself. 

It was time to go back to the 14 year-old self who loved to counsel others.

And that’s when I finally made the decision to become a psychologist.

I started my psychology degree and in my third year moved from Adelaide to Perth. I recall we were promptly told that if we wanted to consider postgraduate studies, we needed to start obtaining work experience. I began volunteering at Holyoake and I went on to get as much experience as I could in the field. 

I completed my undergraduate studies, and then started my Master’s in Counselling Psychology. Soon after that I worked for DVA, Centrecare, Department of Justice Lifeline and an EAP company. 

But I quickly became tired of working for somebody else. I felt completely undervalued and out of alignment with the values of these organisations and my own core values. 

I wanted to work with clients I love working with. I no longer wanted to work with every client that walked through the door I wanted to develop my own niche. 

I wanted to have control over my own time and work schedule. 

I wanted to set and achieve my own professional and financial goals.

I wanted more meaning and purpose in my career as a psychologist.

So I decided to start my own solo psychology private practice and I’ve never looked back!

Back then there was no guidance available as to how to start your own practice. I worked things out on my own and learned the right and wrong decisions largely through trial and error.

I figured out how to set up and find referral sources.

I started out working in private practice in three different locations, which I eventually brought together under the one roof. I was driving all around town and realised it was better to focus all my time and energy on one location.

I discovered how to overcome the isolation that I was feeling in private practice by finding great supervisors and collegial support.

Within six months I had built a thriving solo psychology private practice.

My goal was to work three days a week after I had children and it was the best decision I made. 

As it turned out, the process of setting up my practice was far easier than I thought. 

I have always kept it simple. And keeping it simple works.

It doesn't have to be hard! And my passion is showing you the easy way.

What makes me the right person to guide you?

I have two master’s degrees in both Counselling and Clinical Psychology. 

I have been in private practice for 17 years and I’ve figured out the do’s and don’ts of private practice. 

I’ve been mentoring and supervising students for 13 years and I can teach you everything you need to know about going it alone!