How to find therapy - 3 steps

Don't feel like you're alone looking for therapy. 1 in 3 UK adults have reported having therapy at some time in their lives - it's super, super normal.

Fortunately, there's no shortage of therapists in the UK - we have about 75,000 of them.

But… how do you choose the right one?

1. Make sure they're registered

The following registers are recognised by the Professional Standards Authority. Practitioners registered with them must meet a minimum standard of personal behaviour and technical competence to be included:

• ACC - Association of Christians in Counselling and Linked Professions
• BACP - British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
• BPC - British Psychoanalytic Council
• HGI - Human Givens Institute
• NCPS - National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society
• UKCP - UK Council for Psychotherapy

2. Check that they can work with you

• Affordable for you - most charge in the region of £50–£100 per hour
• Located in the right place, or working online if you need that

3. Check that they're the right fit

• Find a video they have available - think about whether this is someone you feel you can trust
• Ask for an initial consultation - many offer 15 minutes free, just so you're sure

This isn't foolproof, and you may need to speak with 3–5 therapists before you find the right one for you, but it's a solid starting point.

There are also 1,000 other things you can filter for:

• Are they male or female?
• What times of day do they have availability?
• What is their therapy modality?
• Are they available on health insurance?

But don't let these filters distract you from what you're really looking for - somebody that's qualified, and that you can genuinely trust. That's the important bit; the rest is just jazz.