The Profession Under Threat: A Call for Innovation and Advocacy with Sahra O'Doherty

If you've been feeling like our profession is under siege, you're not imagining it. This episode dives deep into the systemic challenges facing Australian therapists and why staying silent is no longer an option.

I'm sitting down with Sahra O'Doherty, President of the Australian Association of Psychologists (AAPI), for a conversation that will change how you think about your role as a therapist. Sahra reveals everything from the two-tier Medicare system to the Training Pathways Review that could completely overhaul psychology training in Australia.

With 30-40% of Australians now seeking support from unregulated providers, we're at a crossroads. We can either evolve and innovate, or risk becoming obsolete.

If you've felt torn between wanting to innovate and fearing professional backlash, or you're tired of feeling like our profession is being left behind - this episode is for you.

HERE ARE THE 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:

The profession is self-policing to a fault - Most AHPRA complaints come from other psychologists without collegial conversation first. This lateral violence keeps us small and scared.

Innovation is now mandated, not optional - New core competencies coming December 2025 explicitly require psychologists to advocate for clients and health equity. Your comfort zone is no longer compliant practice.

The substantial equivalence pathway is changing everything - Hundreds of psychologists are gaining endorsements in different areas, proving the arbitrary nature of the two-tier system.

Training reform is coming - Complete overhaul of psychology training pathways in the next 3-5 years, focusing on job-readiness rather than academic research.

Fear is keeping us irrelevant - While we stay paralyzed by compliance anxiety, other professions step into mental health spaces and government pushes psychology assistants as first-line interventions.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Australian Association of Psychologists (AAPI) - Learn more about membership and advocacy efforts
• AHPRA Core Competencies - New standards coming into effect December 2025
• Training Pathways Review - Government consultation on psychology education reform

MORE FROM SAHRA O'DOHERTY

• Mindscape Psychology: Sarah's private practice in Sydney's inner west

MORE FROM ME

• The Incubator: For therapists ready to create scalable digital offerings
• Follow me on Instagram: @dr.hayleykelly

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If this episode opened your eyes to what's really happening in our profession, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts here. Your support helps us reach more therapists who need to hear these crucial conversations.

The psychology profession is at a turning point. The question isn't whether change is coming - it's whether we'll lead it or be left behind.

Thanks for tuning in to Therapists Rising! See you next week!