For Surgeons & Practice Managers
How CPA works
for your practice
CPA integrates into your referral workflow without adding burden to your team. From the moment a patient is referred through to their post-surgical follow-up, the psychological component of their care is managed clearly, quickly, and with the clinical depth your patients deserve.
Zero cost to your practice. Same-day reports. A small, intentional referral load that guarantees genuine attention for every patient you send.
The referral pathway
Four steps.
Seamless from your end.
CPA is designed to complement your existing workflow, not add to it.
Initial screening
Your practice screens first
Your team conducts its standard pre-surgical psychological screener, such as ReadyMind or PACSS, as part of your existing patient intake process.
Patients who pass proceed to surgery as normal. Those flagged for further psychological assessment are referred to CPA. No disruption to your timeline, no change to your existing process.
Referral
Refer the patient: two ways to do it
When a patient is flagged for further assessment, your team can choose whichever referral method works best for your practice.
Assessment & report
Consultation, same-day report, patient support
Jackson conducts a comprehensive psychological assessment covering emotional readiness, motivation quality, expectations, BDD screening, personality pathology, and psychosocial risk factors relevant to your patient population.
A clear clinical report is delivered to your practice the same business day, with one of three outcomes stated plainly:
Any relevant clinical notes or recommendations are attached. The patient also receives a personalised resource covering what to expect emotionally at each stage of their journey, positioning your practice as one that invests in the whole person.
Post-surgical care & documentation
Follow-up included. Your practice protected.
Jackson schedules a post-surgical follow-up with the patient to assess wellbeing, satisfaction, and psychological adjustment after their procedure. This is included in the patient's $350 fee at no additional cost to your practice.
The follow-up creates a formal psychological record showing that care was provided at every stage of the patient's surgical journey. In the event of a complaint or legal challenge, this documentation demonstrates comprehensive duty of care and provides meaningful medico-legal protection for your practice.
Clinical depth
What we actually assess
CPA goes beyond standard BDD screening into the full picture of what makes a patient genuinely ready for surgery.
Emotional readiness
Is the patient approaching surgery from a settled, internally motivated place? Or is the decision driven by a period of instability, grief, or relationship pressure?
Motivation quality
Internally motivated patients, those seeking surgery for their own sense of identity and wellbeing, report significantly better outcomes than those seeking external validation.
Expectation realism
Patients with unrealistic expectations or a perfectionistic presentation are at elevated risk of dissatisfaction regardless of surgical outcome.
BDD screening
Body Dysmorphic Disorder affects approximately 1 in 50 people and is significantly more prevalent in cosmetic surgery populations. When present, surgery worsens rather than resolves distress.
Personality pathology
Certain personality presentations are associated with significantly higher rates of post-surgical dissatisfaction, complaint behaviour, and revision surgery requests.
Complaint & litigation risk
Psychosocial indicators of risk, including poor social support, chronic dissatisfaction, and approval-seeking patterns, can be identified before a patient ever reaches theatre.
What your practice gains
Protection.
Clarity.
Better outcomes.
CPA isn't a gatekeeping service. The goal is never to obstruct surgery. it's to ensure that when patients proceed, they do so with the psychological foundation that gives them the best possible chance of a positive experience.
The practices that work with CPA find that the referral relationship protects them, reassures their patients, and adds genuine clinical depth to their care model, without adding a single minute to their team's workload.
Patients who are genuinely ready
Flagged patients receive the support they need before they reach theatre, reducing post-surgical complications, dissatisfaction, and repeat consultations.
Same-day clinical clarity
A plain-language report (Approved, Defer, or Further Support Recommended) delivered the same business day with any relevant clinical notes attached.
Documented duty of care
Pre and post-surgical psychological records protect your practice in the event of a complaint and demonstrate genuine commitment to patient wellbeing.
AHPRA-compliant screening
All assessments are built to APS guidelines and AHPRA standards, covering BDD and beyond. Regulatory compliance is the floor, not the ceiling.
No cost, no admin burden
The $350 all-inclusive fee is paid by the patient. Your practice gains a specialist referral partner without adding a line to your budget or a task to your team.
Where CPA specialises
Not all patients are the same
The psychological profile of a rhinoplasty patient differs meaningfully from someone presenting for breast augmentation or a hair transplant. CPA's assessments are calibrated to each population.
Primary focus
Rhinoplasty & Septoplasty
High rates of identity-based motivation and body image complexity. Deepest clinical experience and most refined assessment framework.
Primary focus
Breast Augmentation
Distinct psychosocial profile requiring assessment of self-esteem foundations, external validation patterns, and partner-influenced decision-making.
Primary focus
Hair Transplant
Grief, masculinity, and self-worth intersect in ways that require specialist assessment distinct from other cosmetic procedure populations.
Breast Reduction
Functional and psychological motivations assessed alongside realistic expectations of physical and lifestyle change.
Body Contouring
Post-weight-loss identity adjustment and body image recalibration are key factors in this population.
Facial Surgery & Other Procedures
Non-invasive procedures and other facial surgery accepted. Assessments tailored to the specific procedure and patient profile.
Take this with you
Download the
practice flyer
A two-page PDF covering everything on this page: the referral pathway, what CPA assesses, clinical outcomes, and how to get started. Designed to share internally with your surgical team or principal surgeon.
PDF · 2 pages · Print ready
CPA Surgical Practice Flyer · 2 pages
Ready to connect?
Let's talk about
your practice
CPA works with a small number of surgical practices by design. If you're interested in exploring whether this is the right fit for your team, the best first step is a direct conversation. No obligation, no pitch.