How to start a private therapy or psychology practice in the UK
Going into private practice as a therapist or psychologist is one of the most common moves in the mental health field - but knowing how to set up the business side, and how to get found by the right clients, is a different skill entirely. This guide covers both.
Professional Registration Requirements for Private Therapists and Psychologists
The requirements vary depending on your professional background, so it’s worth being clear about which body regulates or accredits your practice.
Psychologists (HCPC regulated)
If you’re a chartered or registered psychologist, HCPC registration is a legal requirement to use the protected title. Your existing registration continues into private practice with nothing separate to apply for. The British Psychological Society (BPS) provides additional professional standing and access to their find-a-psychologist directory.
Therapists and counsellors
There is currently no statutory regulation for counsellors and psychotherapists in the UK, which means you can technically practise without being registered. However, accreditation with BACP, UKCP, or another recognised body is widely expected by clients, insurers, and EAP providers. If you’re not yet accredited, it’s worth understanding what’s required and working towards it.
Insurance
Your own professional indemnity insurance is essential for private practice. BACP, British Psychological Society (BPS), and UKCP all offer member insurance, and specialist providers like Towergate and Westminster Insurance are commonly used. Make sure your policy covers your specific modality and any online or telephone work if relevant.
Working environment
Many therapists start with a combination of online sessions and rented therapy rooms. Room hire through therapy centres, GP practices, and wellness spaces typically runs from £10–£35 per hour. Online practice significantly reduces overhead and broadens your potential client base.
On testimonials: BACP’s ethical framework advises caution around client testimonials due to the power dynamic in therapeutic relationships. Check your professional body’s guidance before using them on your website - there are other effective ways to build trust online.
See the going private practice hub for an overview of going private across other health disciplines, including physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
How to Build Your Private Therapy or Psychology Practice Online
Mental health is one of the most trust-sensitive areas of healthcare. People choosing a therapist or psychologist are making a personal, often vulnerable decision. Your online presence needs to communicate safety, competence, and the right fit - before they’ve ever spoken to you.
Your website
Keep it calm, clear, and honest. Your therapy website needs to explain who you work with and what kind of difficulties you support, communicate your approach and qualifications, and make it easy to take the next step - whether that’s an enquiry, a free consultation, or a direct booking.
Be specific about your specialism where you can - “I work with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, and trauma” is more useful to a prospective client than “I offer a range of therapeutic approaches.” Specificity also helps your SEO.
Google Business Profile
Set this up even if you work mostly online. Use a service area rather than a home address if you work from home. Choose the most accurate category (e.g. “Psychologist”, “Mental health service”, “Counsellor”). A complete, regularly updated profile with reviews will significantly improve your local search visibility.
Professional directories
The BACP’s therapist directory, Psychology Today’s UK directory, and Counselling Directory are the most widely used by people searching for a therapist. These sites have strong search rankings and often appear above individual therapist websites in Google results. Optimising your profile on each (clear headings, full descriptions, good photo) is worth the time.
Local SEO for Therapists and Psychologists: Getting Found on Google
People searching for a private therapist are often searching at a specific moment of need. Appearing in those searches - for the right things - matters enormously.
The searches that matter
- “Private therapist [your town]” or “counsellor near me”
- “CBT therapist [your town]” or “EMDR therapist [your town]” (specific modalities)
- “Therapist for anxiety [your town]”, “therapist for trauma [your town]”
- “Online therapist UK” (if you offer remote sessions)
- “Private psychologist [your town]” (for psychologists)
How to improve your visibility
- Include your specialism, modality, and location in your website page titles and headings
- Write helpful content about the conditions or difficulties you specialise in - these pages rank for long-tail searches and signal expertise to Google
- Optimise your directory profiles on BACP’s therapist directory and Psychology Today’s UK directory - many people find their therapist through directories rather than a direct Google search
- Collect Google reviews carefully and within your professional guidelines
- Make your qualifications and accreditations clearly visible - Google’s quality guidelines reward credentialled, author-attributed health content
On Google reviews for therapists: Due to confidentiality, asking clients directly for reviews needs careful handling. Some therapists include a note in their ending session or discharge letter. Others rely on reviews from supervisees, peer referrers, or professional contacts. Your professional body’s guidance should inform your approach.
Your First 30 Days as a Private Therapist or Psychologist
These steps are roughly ordered by priority. Work through them at a pace that suits you.
Week 1
- Confirm your professional registration or accreditation is current - HCPC for psychologists, BACP or UKCP for therapists
- Sort your professional indemnity insurance - check BACP, British Psychological Society (BPS), Towergate, or Westminster Insurance
- Register for data protection with the ICO (required if you hold client data)
- Buy your domain name
Week 2
- Get your website live with key pages: Home, About, What I Help With, Fees, Contact
- Set up and verify your Google Business Profile
- Set up or update your profiles on BACP’s therapist directory, Psychology Today’s UK directory, and Counselling Directory
- Set up a secure enquiry form and booking or contact system
Week 3
- Review your website copy against your professional body’s marketing guidance
- Write one piece of content about a condition or difficulty you specialise in
- Share that you’re taking private clients with your professional network
- Reach out to GPs, psychiatrists, or other professionals who might refer to you
Week 4
- Check your Google rankings for your main search terms
- Review your website on mobile - is the enquiry process clear and reassuring?
- Ensure your privacy policy covers your data practices (ethical and legal requirement)
- Plan content for the next quarter - one piece per month is enough to start
Our free guide covers the digital setup checklist in more detail, including advice on directory profiles and Google Business Profile optimisation.
Common Questions About Starting a Private Therapy or Psychology Practice
Do I need to be BACP or UKCP accredited to practise privately?
Legally, no - counselling and psychotherapy are not currently statutorily regulated in the UK. But accreditation significantly strengthens your credibility with clients, allows you to join professional directories, and is often required by EAP providers and insurers. If you’re not yet accredited, it’s worth prioritising this early in your private practice journey.
How should I handle confidentiality if clients find me through a public profile?
The same principles apply online as in clinical practice. Don’t discuss clients publicly, don’t share identifying details, and be careful about the specificity of any case examples on your website. Your professional body’s ethical framework will guide you on what’s appropriate in marketing materials.
Can I see clients privately who I currently see in my employed role?
Generally not while they’re active clients in your employed setting - this raises serious ethical and potentially contractual issues. If a former client approaches you for private work, seek supervision and check your employer’s policies and your professional body’s guidance before proceeding.
How do I get referrals as a new private practitioner?
Common routes include: a complete profile on BACP’s therapist directory or Psychology Today’s UK directory, a well-optimised Google Business Profile, contact with local GPs, word of mouth from colleagues, and organic search visibility through your website. Building a referral network takes time - most new private practitioners see a mix of directory referrals and Google searches in the early months.
Also useful: our guides for physiotherapists, nutritionists and dietitians, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists if you’re building a multidisciplinary referral network.
The digital side is where we come in.
The clinical setup is yours. But if you’d like support with getting found online, building a website that works, or running targeted ads to bring in your first clients, that’s what Evagrow does. We work exclusively with health and wellness practitioners - nothing else.
Download our free guide for a practical checklist covering your first 30 days online.
What we can help you with
A free 30-minute call, no obligation. We’ll be honest about what’s worth doing and what isn’t.