The Problem with Being Independent – Why Going It Alone Isn’t Working for Psychologists (or Clients)

For decades, private practice has been the gold standard for psychologists seeking flexibility, autonomy, and control over their clinical work. It’s a model that has served many clinicians well, but increasingly, it’s a model that no longer serves our clients.

Working independently can initially feel empowering. You set your hours. You choose your caseload. But with that independence comes a hidden weight: the emotional, professional, and administrative load of operating in isolation.

Too many psychologists are working alone, overwhelmed and unsupported. They’re juggling Medicare compliance, appointment scheduling, billing, reporting, ongoing professional development, marketing, and client management, often without admin support or clinical backup. 

In this model, there’s no room for team-based care, case conferencing, or multidisciplinary collaboration. When a complex case arises -  involving trauma, neurodivergence, family breakdown, or systemic risk -  the clinician is left holding it all, without a safety net.

From the client’s perspective, this can translate into a narrow and inconsistent experience. One practitioner, one point of view, and often, no onward pathway. Clients are referred elsewhere when they need additional help, but these referrals are rarely warm, coordinated, or followed up on. 

It becomes the client's job to manage the next steps. For those experiencing mental health challenges, this is a heavy, and sometimes impossible, burden.

The result is a system where no one truly owns the journey. The GP refers. The psychologist assesses. The psychiatrist prescribes. The school observes. But no one is tasked with stitching the pieces together into something coherent and supportive.

This isn’t just a clinical problem; it’s a systemic failure. As mental health presentations become increasingly complex and multifaceted, we require a model that reflects the real-world needs of patients: integrated, responsive, and collaborative care.

At Malu Health, we believe there’s a better way. We offer clinicians the freedom and independence they value -  but within a structure that supports them. That includes:

• Peer consultation and regular case discussions.

• Streamlined admin systems that free clinicians from the burden of logistics.

• Warm internal referrals that ensure clients stay within a trusted network.

• Professional development that’s clinically relevant and practitioner-led.

• A shared mission that values whole-person care, not just symptom management.

We’re creating a professional home for mental health clinicians, a place to do meaningful work, without the exhaustion of doing it alone.

Because independence should never mean isolation, for clients, the difference between siloed care and integrated support is not just a better experience; it’s better outcomes.