Check they are on a register
In the UK, anyone can call themselves a counsellor or psychotherapist and set up in private practice. The professional registers are how you know a therapist has completed a recognised training, follows a code of ethics, and has a complaints process behind them.
- BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy). The largest register. A registered member has completed a core training including 100 hours of supervised client work. An accredited member has also completed at least three years of supervised practice and a longer assessment. Search the BACP register.
- UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy). Mainly psychotherapists, whose training is usually longer. Search the UKCP register.
- HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council). The legal regulator for psychologists. Titles such as clinical psychologist and counselling psychologist are protected by law, so only people on the HCPC register can use them. The word psychologist on its own is not protected. Check the HCPC register.
A "Dr" in a therapist's listing usually means a research doctorate rather than a medical degree. That is not a problem, but it is worth knowing.
Which kind of therapy?
- CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) is structured and usually short, often between 5 and 20 sessions. It works on the link between thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and it is the main therapy offered by NHS Talking Therapies.
- Person-centred counselling gives you space to talk things through with someone who listens closely and without judgement. It suits bereavement, life changes and feeling stuck.
- Psychodynamic psychotherapy explores how past experiences and patterns shape the present. It is often longer term, and it is what many low-fee London clinics offer.
- Couples therapy works with both partners together on the relationship itself.
Research consistently finds that the relationship with your therapist is one of the strongest predictors of how well therapy goes, whatever the type. If you are unsure, it is fine to say so in a first call and ask what they would suggest.
Questions worth asking in a first call
Most private therapists offer a short free call or a first session before you commit. Some useful questions:
- Which register are you on, and what is your membership number?
- Have you worked with people dealing with something like what I am going through?
- How do you work, and what would sessions with you look like?
- How much is each session, and what is your cancellation policy?
- How often would we meet, and how will we know when it is time to stop?
Afterwards, notice how you felt. Did you feel listened to? Could you imagine telling this person difficult things? If not, it is completely fine to try someone else. Good therapists expect that.