Grow your start-up – New ideas in psychology

Tarnya Davies is the director and principal clinical psychologist at NewPsych. When she started the business in 1997, it was her and a mobile phone. Now it’s a team of excellent people, a beautiful space and loads of ideas.

With over 20 years’ counselling experience, Tarnya is interested in working with people who have experienced trauma and grief – including physical and sexual violence – and with people experiencing relationship difficulties.

Davies also writes a weekly column for the Newcastle Herald ‘Weekender – H2’and the paper calls on her to comment on anything psychological. She is a regular guest speaker, a regular on ABC Sunday-morning radio with Helen Claire, and runs training sessions for organisations, psychology students and peers.

‘I had just returned from working in the UK as a clinical psychologist and didn’t want to return to working for someone else. I imagined that growing my own business would continue the sense of excitement and challenge that I had from travelling. I had no partner, no children and no mortgage. I figured if I was ever going to have a shot at growing my own business, it needed to be now or it would probably be never!’

Minimising risk

To minimise risk, Tarnya was mindful of not having all her eggs in one basket: ‘Not relying on one source of income, as funding and rebates for psychological services can change quickly with the whim of a government.’

Identifying the market

Davies identified her market via ‘feedback from others like my patient accountant. I came to realise I couldn’t be all things to all people – we could aim not to be the biggest, but we could try to be the best at what we do.’

I came to realise I couldn’t be all things to all people – we could aim not to be the biggest, but we could try to be the best at what we do.

She describes the culture of her business as positive, supportive, dynamic and adaptive. The most successful tools to attract her ideal client are a good reputation and communicating a clear message – ‘What we do at NewPsych really does make a difference.’

The juggling act

Her biggest challenge has been juggling work and family. ‘I had four children in quick succession, including twins, and it was difficult to leave work at work, and also difficult to work when there was so much happening with the kids. I am still not on top of that one, and have come to accept it is what it is – and it most probably will never be static or balanced. I just need to remember what to focus on, when.’

How have she managed to balance fun and pressure in the growth of her business?

‘Hmm…’she muses. ‘I’m probably better at that since I’ve had my four kids, as I can’t afford to immerse myself in fears of failure and doomsday thinking as there are lunches to make. Surrounding myself with really positive and talented people has also helped the practice stay energised and focused as well as open to new ideas. Being psychologists, we can use what we know helps people to also help ourselves along the way.’

Help & advice

‘The Business Centre has been a huge help to me,’ she continues. ‘From the beginning, the Women in Business Mentoring program was an amazing support and provider of knowledge as well as women role models.

‘The Business Centre has since then offered individual sessions tailored at my business and my specific needs. Perhaps like therapy is for my clients, it has provided a space dedicated to my practice, as well as an opportunity to explore what is working and what isn’t, in a nonjudgmental way, by asking questions that I often don’t know how to answer. There is the chance to think about things differently, to grow new ideas and to enter a new space (or revisit old ground), which has been immeasurably beneficial to the practice and has revitalised me.

‘I talk often to clients about the benefit of accessing a community, learning to ask for help, gaining from the path travelled together – that for me has been The Business Centre.

‘My business has evolved and changed as time has gone on. I continue to be surprised by how the business has grown and hopeful of more excitement to come.’

Three things that put NewPsych on the map

• Look after my clients really well
• Look after my referrers really well
• Attract really amazing and talented people to work with me

Tarnya’s tips for success

• Work hard
• Don’t give up too easily but also know when to give up or change tack
• Be flexible and resilient
• Expect and accept mistakes; we all make them, but resilient people and resilient organisations learn from them

Attracting and keeping key staff members

• Be compassionate and respectful
• Encourage people’s creativity and sense of self-worth
• Show them you value what they do

Tarnya Davies replied to questions from The Business Centre, Newcastle region.