Collaboration Over Competition: Platforms and Places to Build Connections in Psychology-Based Business

Writers Bio:

I’m Karen Mills, (FMBPsS, CertBP), Director of Business and Strategy at the Psychology Business Incubator. I am a Registered Business Psychologist with the ABP and a Full Member of the BPS, with over 15 years’ experience in Adult Social Care. As a CQC Registered Manager in the West Midlands, I support adults with complex needs including disability, neurodivergence, mental health, and addiction. I am also the founder of KPF Services helping CQC-registered organisations with compliance, sustainability, and growth, while also lecturing in undergraduate psychology. I am passionate about service delivery and measurable outcomes. I am currently completing a PhD on dual diagnosis services (mental health and addiction) and I'm a Certified Advanced Practitioner with the Addiction Professionals network.

In the world of psychology-based businesses, it’s easy to assume that competition is the only way to succeed. Many of us work in similar areas, offering coaching, therapy, training, or consultancy, and the instinct to “stand out” or “compete” can feel like the only option.

But what if the opposite were true? What if the real key to success wasn’t competition, but collaboration? Here at the Psychology Business Incubator (PBI) collaboration and mutual opportunities is central to our mission and our values.

Why Collaboration Matters

At its heart, psychology is about people. Supporting them, understanding them, and helping them thrive. So, it makes sense that in business, too, we thrive most when we work together. Collaboration isn’t about losing ground; it’s about creating opportunities that benefit everyone involved.

When businesses collaborate, something bigger happens:

• Ideas multiply – when expertise is shared, new approaches and innovations emerge that are long lasting and influential.

• Reach expands – joint ventures, referrals, and co-marketing allow businesses to connect with wider audiences and growth in the business.

• Networks strengthen – trusted partnerships often lead to long-term opportunities and mutual growth.

A Personal Reflection

Starting or running a psychology-based business can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also feel very lonely and tiresome. Personally, I’ve experienced:

• The isolation of trying to figure everything out on my own- endless google searches and scanning the internet for advice.

• The uncertainty of not knowing what to do next and trying to navigate where to run for advice and how to admit I need help!

• The frustration of not having anyone to guide or support me and feeling inadequate at running a business.

At times, this has left me feeling overwhelmed, like there are endless possibilities but no clear path forward. I’ve often found myself stuck, wondering what’s the best way to collaborate? or where do I even begin searching for the right people and platforms?

That lack of clarity can make the journey even harder. Without knowing who to reach out to, or which spaces are best for building genuine connections, it’s easy to retreat into isolation. And too often, that’s where small businesses falter: not because they lack passion or expertise, but because they lack support and direction.

It’s in moments like these that the importance of collaboration becomes crystal clear. Having others to lean on, to share ideas with, and to help navigate the business landscape doesn’t just lighten the load, it makes success possible. This is the intentions of the Psychology Business Incubator (PBI), to collaborate, network and to support psychology-based businesses.

The Wider Benefits of Collaboration

Collaboration brings a wealth of advantages that directly strengthen psychology-based businesses:

• Access to shared resources – from co-hosting workshops to sharing software subscriptions, pooling resources reduces costs and makes your services more efficient.

• Increased visibility and reach – collaboration introduces your work to new audiences, helping you build brand recognition without relying solely on traditional marketing.

• Skill sharing and development – by working with others, you gain access to their expertise while contributing your own, raising standards for everyone involved.

• Credibility and trust – clients notice when professionals recommend or partner with each other, which increases confidence in your services.

• Innovation and creativity – collaboration sparks new ideas, allowing for unique programmes, research, or services that wouldn’t emerge in isolation.

• Emotional support and resilience – having someone to share the highs and lows with makes the entrepreneurial journey less overwhelming.

• Long-term sustainability – collaborations can evolve into ongoing partnerships, creating reliable streams of referrals, joint ventures, and growth.

How to Reach Out and Collaborate

So how do you begin collaborating? Here are some of the most effective ways, with a focus on the platforms and spaces that make it possible:

1. Attend networking events: Local meetups and professional gatherings (both formal and informal) are ideal for sparking conversations with peers. Even short chats can lead to introductions, referrals, or the seed of a project. Networking events also keep you visible in your community and remind others of the value you bring.

2. Take part in conferences: Conferences bring together larger groups of professionals who share similar interests, often across regions or even globally. They provide opportunities to learn, share, and connect on a bigger stage. Presenting at a conference positions you as a leader in your field and makes others more likely to approach you for collaboration.

So where can you find out about conferences?

• Professional associations such as the British Psychological Society (BPS), British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP), Association for Business Psychology (ABP) or the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) regularly advertise upcoming conferences and events.

• University websites often promote academic and practitioner-focused conferences in psychology, counselling, and related fields.

• Event platforms like Eventbrite and Meetup frequently list psychology, coaching, and wellbeing conferences, both in-person and online.

• Specialist journals and newsletters sometimes share calls for papers or conference announcements.

• LinkedIn groups and professional forums are great for hearing directly from peers about events they’re attending or recommending.

By keeping an eye on these sources, you can identify conferences that match your niche and make intentional choices about where to show up, connect, and collaborate.

3. Use Professional Platforms: Digital platforms are one of the easiest ways to find like-minded professionals and begin conversations that lead to collaboration if used correctly. Some of the most effective include:

• LinkedIn – ideal for showcasing expertise, joining professional conversations, and reaching out directly to potential collaborators.

• Specialist forums and associations – psychology membership bodies such as the BPS, BABCP, PBI, ABP and regulatory organisations like the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) often create spaces for networking, collaboration, and professional development. These associations frequently host events, discussion forums, and special interest groups that can connect you with professionals in your field.

• Other professional associations – depending on your niche, there may be sector-specific organisations such as the Association for Coaching (AC), UKCP, or the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Each of these opens doors to new communities and potential partners.

• Facebook and WhatsApp groups – smaller, more informal spaces where practitioners often exchange opportunities, referrals, and collaboration ideas.

• Collaboration platforms – tools like Slack, Circle, or Mighty Networks provide community-style spaces where professionals can connect and build projects together.

4. Start Small: Suggest a manageable collaboration such as co-writing an article, co-hosting a webinar, or running a joint training session. These small-scale projects help establish trust while also producing tangible outcomes like new content and expanded audiences.

5. Offer Value first: Successful collaborations are built on mutual benefit. Think about what you can bring; whether that’s expertise, contacts, or resources and offer it openly. This shifts the dynamic from “what can I gain?” to “what can we create together?” In business, generosity often comes back as loyalty, referrals, and shared success.

6. Recognise your Worth: Don’t confuse collaboration with undervaluing your expertise. Know what you bring to the table and make sure it’s respected. Strong collaborations are partnerships of equals, where everyone’s contributions are valued and fairly acknowledged.

7. Be Open and Genuine: Collaboration depends on trust. Being transparent about your goals, your challenges, and your vision invites others to do the same. Authenticity builds stronger, more meaningful relationships than transactional approaches ever could.

8. Follow Up and Follow Through: Initial enthusiasm is common, but it’s consistency that builds collaborations. Taking the time to follow up after a first meeting, setting clear next steps, and keeping commitments all show professionalism.

More than that, this step is often the most influential factor in building meaningful and long-lasting collaboration. Checking in regularly, showing genuine interest in the other person’s work, and building rapport all help establish trust. Over time, this creates mutual respect and influence which is the foundation of collaborations that don’t just last for one project, but continue to grow into deeper partnerships.

Collaboration starts with a simple reach-out, a message, an introduction, or a shared idea. The platforms and spaces we choose simply make those connections possible.

The Human Side of Collaboration

When we collaborate, we:

• Learn from one another and build confidence in our work.

• Feel less isolated because we know others are on a similar journey.

• Celebrate successes together, and find encouragement during challenges.

Collaboration transforms entrepreneurship from a solitary struggle into a shared journey; one that’s more sustainable, rewarding, and successful.

Practical Examples of Collaboration in Psychology-based Business

If you’re wondering what collaboration could actually look like in practice, here are some examples you can adapt to your own context:

• Referral networks – build a trusted group of professionals who recommend one another to clients based on needs (e.g., a therapist referring to a coach, or vice versa).

• Co-hosted events – run joint workshops, webinars, or wellbeing days to share knowledge and reach wider audiences.

• Shared training programmes – combine expertise to create multi-disciplinary courses that offer clients more value.

• Co-authored research or publications – publish articles, white papers, or blogs together to enhance credibility and share audiences.

• Podcast or video collaborations – feature each other as guests to cross-promote services and ideas.

• Joint bids for contracts – team up with complementary professionals to apply for projects that would be too big for one business alone.

• Peer support groups – create regular meetups (online or offline) to share challenges, celebrate wins, and exchange opportunities.

These kinds of collaborations not only strengthen businesses but also improve the quality of services offered to clients, creating impact that goes far beyond what one professional could achieve alone.

A final thought

In psychology-based businesses, there is plenty of space for all of us. Success isn’t a limited resource, and by choosing collaboration over competition, we create opportunities that reach further than we could ever achieve alone. The Psychology Business Incubator (PBI) was created as a central platform for psychologists and psychology-based businesses to collaborate and network to improve services and to offer advice and guidance.

Collaboration strengthens our businesses, supports us as individuals, and most importantly, improves the services we deliver to the people who need them most.

So, take the step: reach out to a peer, share an idea, or explore a joint opportunity. Even the smallest collaboration can spark something bigger. Because in the end, collaboration doesn’t just grow businesses, it builds stronger professionals, stronger communities, and stronger outcomes for the people we serve.

At the Psychology Business Incubator, we believe that collaboration is a strategy, and the foundation for growth in psychology-based business.

Too often, talented professionals work in isolation, trying to navigate entrepreneurship alone. Psychology thrives in connection. Our mission is to make collaboration practical. Through our events, online spaces, and shared projects. When we collaborate, everyone wins: professionals, clients, and the wider psychology community.