The Complete Guide for Therapists in the UK: Private Practice, Supervision, CPD, Placements & Building Your Online Presence
Whether you’re just starting out or growing an established practice, this guide covers everything you need to know about building a successful therapy career in the UK.
Setting Up a Private Practice in the UK
Starting a private practice is one of the most rewarding steps a therapist can take — but it requires careful planning. Here’s what you need to consider:
Get the right insurance
Professional indemnity insurance is essential before seeing any private clients. BACP, UKCP and other professional bodies often have recommended providers, and some membership organisations offer group rates.
Register with a professional body
While therapy isn’t currently a legally regulated profession in the UK, registering with a recognised body such as BACP, UKCP, NCPS or ACC adds credibility and reassures clients. Most clients specifically look for BACP registered or accredited therapists.
Set your fees
Research what other therapists in your area are charging. Consider your experience level, your overheads and whether you’ll offer a sliding scale for lower income clients. The average private therapy session in the UK ranges from £40 to £100+.
Choose your working environment
Decide whether you’ll work from home, rent a therapy room, work online or a combination. Online therapy has grown significantly — many therapists now work entirely remotely, reducing overheads considerably.
Get your admin in order
You’ll need a clear cancellation policy, a client contract, a GDPR-compliant privacy policy and a secure way of storing client notes. There are several therapy-specific client management systems available to help with this.
How to Find Clinical Supervision as a Counsellor
Clinical supervision is an ethical requirement for all practising therapists and counsellors in the UK, regardless of experience level. Finding the right supervisor is crucial.
What to look for in a supervisor:
Relevant experience in your client area or therapeutic modality
A recognised supervision qualification
Registration with a professional body
A supervision style that suits your learning needs
Where to find supervision:
Your professional body’s directory (BACP, UKCP, NCPS)
Peer recommendations from colleagues
Supervision networks and communities — including The Therapy Hub UK, where verified supervisors are listed in our directory
Individual vs group supervision
Individual supervision offers personalised support, while group supervision can be more cost-effective and provides peer learning opportunities. Many therapists use both.
CPD Requirements for Therapists in the UK
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a requirement for maintaining membership with professional bodies such as BACP, UKCP and NCPS.
BACP CPD requirements:
BACP members are required to complete a minimum number of CPD hours each year and keep a reflective log of their learning. The exact requirements depend on your membership level.
What counts as CPD:
Workshops and training courses
Webinars and online learning
Reading professional journals and books
Attending conferences
Supervision (in some cases)
Peer consultation groups
Topics worth exploring for CPD:
Trauma-informed practice, neurodiversity, ethics and professional practice, working with specific client groups, anxiety and depression, EMDR, CBT, ACT and other modalities.
The Therapy Hub UK CPD library covers a growing range of topics specifically relevant to UK therapists — available to Founding Members as part of their membership.
How to Get a Counselling Placement
For counselling students and trainees, securing a placement is one of the most important steps in qualifying. Here’s how to approach it:
Start early
Many training courses require a minimum number of client hours before you can qualify. Start looking for placements early — ideally in your first year of training.
Where to find placements:
Charities and third sector organisations (Mind, Relate, local counselling services)
GP surgeries and NHS services
Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs)
Schools and universities
Community organisations
Through professional networks — The Therapy Hub UK offers online and telephone counselling placements within our trusted verified community
What to expect from a placement:
Most placements are unpaid, though some offer expenses. You’ll typically be required to have your own supervision in place and hold student membership with a professional body.
Building Your Online Presence as a Therapist
In an increasingly digital world, having a strong online presence is essential for attracting private clients and establishing your professional reputation.
Your website
A professional website is your most important marketing tool. It should include: who you are, who you work with, what issues you specialise in, your location and how to contact you. Use the words your clients actually use — anxiety, stress, depression, burnout — not just therapy jargon.
Directory listings
Get listed in therapist directories such as the BACP therapist directory, Psychology Today and The Therapy Hub UK’s verified directory. Many clients search directories first when looking for a therapist.
Social media
Choose one or two platforms and show up consistently. Share psychoeducation, reflections on your work (within ethical limits) and information about your practice. LinkedIn is particularly valuable for connecting with other professionals.
Set up a Google Business Profile if you see clients in person. This helps you appear in local searches for therapists in your area.
Join The Therapy Hub UK
The Therapy Hub UK brings together everything in this guide — and more — in one professional community built specifically for therapists, counsellors, supervisors and wellbeing practitioners across the UK.
Whether you’re looking for supervision, CPD, placements, private practice support or simply a community of like-minded professionals, we’d love to have you.
Join free today and explore everything the community has to offer.