How to Know You’ve Found a Real, Qualified Therapist in the UK
Every time a new client starts therapy with me I ask: “How did you find me?”
Part of it is my bit of market research to see if all efforts to be visible are actually working. But also, let’s be honest, the web is overflowing with “coaches,” “healers” and “self-help gurus” promising transformation in just three sessions.
I mean, if you can truly pull off a miracle in three sessions, advertisers are most likely paying you.
So where do you actually start if you want to find someone real — a qualified therapist or counsellor in the UK who’s trained, insured and accountable?
BACP Directory – Where Professionalism Begins
The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) is one of the main governing bodies for therapists in the UK.
Everyone listed there goes through a verification process. Qualifications, insurance, professional training, supervision and ongoing development are all checked before a profile is approved.
It isn’t a marketing platform. It’s a professional register.
If you want reassurance that someone truly holds the title of therapist or counsellor this is where to look first.
Counselling Directory – Clarity and Connection
This is a UK-based and locally grounded directory.
It’s a more self-expressive and straightforward space where each therapist lists their verified professional membership, usually BACP, UKCP or NCS, along with areas of focus, fees and contact details.
You can feel the difference immediately. It’s built around real human connection, not only marketing promises. You also get longer introductions and more detailed information written directly by therapists.
Psychology Today – The Global Map of Therapy
You’ve probably seen it before, the blue and white profiles of therapists that appear when you search for “therapist near me.”
That’s Psychology Today, one of the most widely used therapy directories in the world. It’s a brand in itself.
It lets you filter by therapy type such as CBT, integrative or psychodynamic, by issue like anxiety, grief or trauma, by language or even by personality fit.
It’s an intuitive way to explore what therapy might feel like before you book. It’s also one of the best places to search, especially if you’re looking for online therapy options available globally.
A Quick Insider Tip
Therapists pay a listing fee to appear on these directories. It isn’t to advertise but to be verified and visible — and not all of us choose to do it for various reasons.
That’s why it’s worth checking all three. Some professionals list on one, some on two, depending on their focus and audience. By visiting all three you get a complete view of who’s available and can explore their own websites to get a better feel for their approach.
So, if you’re ready to take that step, I salute your courage and invite you to tune into your intuition — but take the professionalism and qualifications of your future therapist seriously. Just as you would when choosing a surgeon, lawyer or nanny.