Article summary
- Think systemically: Understand clients in the context of families, schools, communities and broader systems.
- Use technology wisely: Embrace AI for efficiency but always prioritise ethics and clinical judgment.
- Lead with human connection: Empathy and authenticity remain the core of effective practice.
- Communicate clearly: Avoid jargon – write and speak so clients and stakeholders truly understand.
- Tolerate uncertainty: Progress takes time. Stay curious, reflective and open to learning.
- Hold healthy boundaries: Don’t let clients’ stories become your own.
- Support your wellbeing: Build daily habits to recharge and prevent burnout.
- Stay connected: Learning and resilience come from peer networks and honest reflection. Supervision is not just for meeting registration/organisational requirements. Any time you are applying a new approach, or engaging with new clients/presentations, it may be appropriate to seek the expertise of a supervisor with those specific skills and experience. Supervision should be considered a valuable resource throughout your entire career.
- Join the APS Career Expo to network with your peers and to hear from experiences psychologists.
Beyond the critical foundational competencies, today’s early-career psychologists should cultivate a broad suite of personal and professional skills to thrive in an increasingly complex landscape.
Working in psychology has always been a diverse and dynamic experience. It offers the opportunity to support individuals from all walks of life and to engage with some of the most pressing issues facing our communities. No two days are ever the same.
However, the context in which psychologists are now practising has shifted significantly from a decade ago. The proliferation of AI, rising environmental distress and growing sociopolitical complexity are all reshaping the landscape – and with it, the skillsets required to practise effectively and ethically.
Ahead of the APS Career Expo, we spoke with four psychologists who will be presenting at the event to explore the capabilities they believe are essential for emerging professionals looking to adapt to the evolving needs of the profession.
1. Systems thinking: Seeing the forest, not just the trees
Anna Waters, workplace psychologist and Chief Operating Officer at the Neuro Group, who is speaking at the Brisbane APS career expo, describes systems thinking as foundational to her approach – a lens that allows psychologists to move beyond the individual and consider broader dynamics within teams, organisations, communities and the global landscape.
“I grew up in a very small, integrated community, where everything affected everyone. That taught me to instinctively take a systems approach – first looking at the individual, then teams, functions, organisations, and how all of these sit within a broader global context,” she says.
“From early on in my studies, organisational psychology made a lot of sense to me for that reason. It mirrors how I naturally see the world. I think psychology as a discipline already tends to take an integrative approach, but it could go even further by incorporating insights from other fields and collaborating more across disciplines."
This mindset is critical for psychologists working in today’s increasingly complex, interdependent world. As Waters notes, psychologists need to be able to zoom in and out – from micro to macro – without losing sight of the relationships between each layer.
Jessica Kaufman-Wood, General Manager Clinical of Insight PBS and Bridging Psychology, who is speaking at the Melbourne APS career expo, echoes this, adding the importance of developing strong critical thinking skills.
“Our clients are presenting with many intersecting issues – mental health, trauma, neurodivergence, family and cultural context – and it’s happening at a time when the world feels incredibly uncertain.
"We need to slow down, think critically, and reflect on our own practice. What do these presentations actually mean for this person, in this context?”
2. Embrace technology, but be discerning
Andrea Groom, Founder and Principal Psychologist at Connections WA, who is speaking at the Perth APS career expo, is excited by what technology such as AI could do for the profession, but emphasises a cautious, ethics-first approach.
This means developing not only digital literacy, but digital discernment.
“We need to be really careful about what we’re using, why we’re using it and how we’re using it. Reflective practice is essential. Governance needs to meet AHPRA’s requirements, protect client data and protect yourself as a practitioner.”
She uses AI in specific, supportive ways, such as transcribing notes, generating data visualisations or synthesising research, but says it should never replace clinical judgment.
“We’re psychologists. We can’t rely on AI. It can support your work, but it can’t replace it. If you’re going to use it, you need to test it, research it and make sure you feel competent to recommend it."
Upcoming Melbourne career expo speaker, Gavin Duarte, Educational and Developmental Psychologist, who works in a school and operates his own business, Daily Growth Psychology, agrees, highlighting its role in reducing administrative burden.
"That’s a big positive of AI. But you still need to understand the bigger picture. There’s so much that goes into our role. Technology cannot replace that."
Waters says psychologists at all career stages should try to be at least as fluent in the digital landscape as their clients – not only to increase their own efficiency and productivity, but also to remain relevant and relatable.
“Our ability to support people depends on our ability to understand their environment. That includes the technology they use and the online worlds they’re part of.
“If we as psychologists don’t understand that, we’re missing a huge part of the picture. Whether it’s in clinical, organisational or any other field, people are digitally enabled all the time. If we’re not up to date, how can we best help others navigate this digital world?”
3. Lean into your human skills
While AI and other advanced technology will revolutionise how psychologists work, it should also be treated as an enhancer, not a replacement for some of the human skills that make psychology so impactful.
“For a human to sit with another human in their challenge or complexity, and help them feel a sense of hope – that’s one of the most impactful things we do," says Waters.
"In a world that feels overwhelming, psychologists are really well-placed to help people reconnect with possibility.”
Groom adds that no matter how the profession evolves, the capacity to form authentic, person-centred relationships remains essential.
“Reasearch indicates that when the therapeutic alliance is strong, it is a predictor of positive therapeutic outcomes.
“I always say, you've got to find your flow – who you are – and don't be afraid to be who you are in the therapy room. When a client feels heard, seen and held, that's when change and healing takes place.”
These core conditions – empathy, congruence, unconditional positive regard – are not "basic" skills, she adds. They are the ongoing backbone of connection and psychological safety.
“It's often taught as basic counselling skills, but it's the most powerful connection you can have in the room. That’s where therapy happens."
Kaufman-Wood says patience is also an important skill to cultivate, as the work you're engaging in is often long-term.
“There’s this expectation that you’re meant to have the answers, or that you should see rapid improvement in your clients straight away. But we know that real change takes time. Just because progress isn’t immediately visible doesn’t mean we’re not having an impact.
“I’ve had clients where it’s taken a year to see real shifts, but then I’ll notice they’re doing something we spoke about months earlier. Sometimes you’ve just planted the seed – and it takes time for that to grow.”
Resilience, she says, is also important, and is often misunderstood as individual stoicism. In reality, it’s about recognising your limits and leaning on systems of support.
“There’s so much administrative burden in the NDIS and other regulated spaces. One way we build resilience is by knowing we’re not in it alone. I’ve never seen the profession collaborate more – we’re all navigating this together.”
“I once heard a piece of advice that stuck with me: ‘Learn from others, then add your own 10%.’ That’s what keeps your practice genuine.” – Jessica Kaufman-Wood, General Manager Clinical of Insight PBS and Bridging Psychology
4. See yourself as a communicator
Duarte warns against overuse of technical language, especially in assessments and reports. Being a clear and inclusive communicator is a core competency of being an effective psychologist.
“We can easily forget that not everyone speaks our language. A parent or teacher might not understand diagnostic terminology – and if they can’t engage with the recommendations, the intervention is already compromised.”
He also cautions against over-reliance on manualised therapies or “ticking the box” approaches.
“You might be doing CBT, ACT or Schema, but, at the end of the day, what matters is whether you’ve built meaningful rapport. The therapeutic relationship is what drives progress."
5. Become an expert at tolerating ambiguity and being adaptable
Waters emphasises the importance of staying curious and humble – especially in the face of uncertainty or novelty.
“Adaptability is essential. The world is changing all the time – AI, global conflict, social movements, climate anxiety – and that means we have to continually learn, unlearn and re-learn,” she says.
“We don’t need to come from a place of knowing. We need to come from a place of learning – of curiosity and openness. That’s where growth happens.”
For psychologists in both clinical and non-clinical roles, that might mean being willing to evolve your methods, integrate new modalities, or question your assumptions – especially in diverse or unfamiliar contexts.
6. Avoid enmeshment with your clients
One of the most critical – and often underdeveloped – skills Groom identifies is the ability to separate your own narrative from that of your clients.
“When you’re listening to someone’s story, it’s their story. It may be similar to yours, but it’s not yours. If you’re connecting it to your own experience, you’re not present. You’re not truly there for them. Overtime, this could lead to burnout.”
She encourages early career psychologists to train their minds to recognise these moments and redirect.
“When something comes up for you, note it. Say to yourself, ‘That’s one for supervision.’ Then come back to their story. Respect their narrative. Don’t contaminate it with yours.”
7. Self-awareness and emotional regulation
The world is only going to become more complex, which means psychologists' work will likely continue to be complex. The only way to sustain the effort required to do this important work is to look after yourself.
Groom is a strong advocate for personal therapy, not just in response to crisis but as routine professional accountability.
“I dip in and out of therapy all the time. If something comes up, I go and work on it. That’s my responsibility – to my clients and to myself.”
Waters agrees, saying the ability to take care of your inner world cannot be understated.
“We often concentrate so much on supporting others that we forget to check in with ourselves. But our ability to self-regulate and be self-aware is absolutely fundamental – not just for ethical practice, but for our own sustainability,” she says.
“How you show up in the world, how you manage your emotions, how you recharge – all of that matters. We can’t model healthy behaviour or hold space for others if we’re not doing the same for ourselves.”
Psychologists hear and hold a great deal, which is why Groom argues that resilience must be proactive, not reactive.
“We’re hearing stories. Our bodies are hearing that. We’re holding that. It’s got to go somewhere. For me, it’s movement. I go to the gym, I swim, I walk, I get into the ocean. That’s my transition between the therapy room and the rest of life,” says Groom.
She teaches her supervisees to recognise signs of burnout before they hit breaking point – using both internal cues and tools like the ProQOL.
“It’s not a matter of if, it’s when. We all track toward burnout at some point. You need to know your red flags – what keeps you well, and how you’ll know when you’re drifting.”
She also uses a strong visualisation practice to create separation between herself and the work.
“I imagine taking a coat off at the end of the day and hanging it up – dropping all the little stories I was carrying. Then I’d put my own coat on and re-enter my life. It has helped me not to carry everything home.”
A final thought
At this critical point in your career journey, Duarte highlights the importance of leaning on your network.
“You can’t do this work alone. Whether you're in a private practice or the only psychologist at a school, stay connected. Talk to peers. Reach out. That’s how you grow.”
Reflecting on her own early career journey, Kaufman-Wood reminds new psychologists that feeling uncertain or overwhelmed is both expected and valuable.
“My biggest piece of advice for someone stepping out of their academic role is: don’t put pressure on yourself to have all the answers. You’re not expected to know everything on day one.”
Instead, she recommends a mindset of learning by observation and iteration.
“Watch what works for others. See what feels authentic to you. I once heard a piece of advice that stuck with me: ‘Learn from others, then add your own 10%.’ That’s what keeps your practice genuine.”
And when in doubt? Don’t be afraid to say: “Let me get back to you.”
“It’s more genuine and professional to admit when you don’t have the answer. You’re not failing. You’re just still learning.”
Gain more useful advice and connect with your early career peers at one of the six APS Career Expos being held across Australia.