Question 1

How can I find a therapist that meets my specific needs?

Accepted Answer

You can use our detailed search filters, including location, issue, and availability, to find therapists who match your requirements. In addition to the first filters you see, there are also advanced filters.

You can use as many filters as you like when searching or enquiring.

For those preferring in-person sessions, our regional focus enhances your ability to connect with local therapists.

If you prefer not to search and choose, you can fill in an enquiry form so that a therapist who is able to work with you reaches out. If you complete this form your message will be anonymised, and a maximum of three therapists would contact you.

Question 2

How do I make an enquiry or book a session with a therapist?

Accepted Answer

Simply browse through our therapist listings or use the search function to find a therapist. You can then click "Contact Therapist" to initiate contact with a specific therapist.  Alternatively, you can use the search filters and submit a general enquiry to any therapist, using those filters - which therapists can see (anonymised) and then they can contact you.

The therapist will then contact you using the contact details you have provided and once you decide you are right for each other,  you agree a first session date and time together.

Question 3

Not sure which type of therapy is right for you?

Accepted Answer

You do not need to choose a therapy type before you start. You can begin by searching for therapists by issue, location, fees or availability. Many therapists work with more than one approach, and they can help you decide what may suit your needs. If you want to compare approaches first, you can also read more about the different types of therapy on PsyConnect.

Question 4

What qualifications do your therapists have? Are therapists accredited?

Accepted Answer

All therapists on our platform meet the qualifications required by their respective accrediting bodies, ensuring they meet the highest professional and ethical standards.

Here are some examples:
CBT Therapists are accredited by the BABCP (British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies), the leading professional body for CBT in the UK, which ensures therapists meet rigorous training and ethical standards.
EMDR Therapists are accredited by the EMDR Association UK & Ireland, which is affiliated with EMDR Europe, the governing body that sets high clinical and ethical standards for EMDR practice across Europe.
Psychologists listed on our platform are HCPC-registered Practitioner Psychologists, meaning they meet the standards set by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the UK’s statutory regulator for health and psychological services.
Psychotherapists and Counsellors are accredited by recognised professional bodies such as the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy), the NCPS (National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society), or the UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy), all of which uphold professional and ethical standards for therapy practice in the UK. 
Some members are also members of other relevant professional bodies, and may have further  qualifications in their home country - this will be detailed in their profiles. The qualifications listed are for practice in the UK.

You can filter therapists based on their professional body or view the specific accrediting body for each therapist by clicking on the "Read More" section of their profile.

Each therapist is verified by PsyConnect before joining our network.

Question 5

I'm not sure what I want out of a therapist, how do I decide?

Accepted Answer

Firstly, don't worry. Go to the "Find a Therapist" search.  You can use as many of the search filters as you would like. You might find selecting an "issue" a good way to start, or your location if you want in person therapy.

You can select some things, then see the search results and either read more about the therapists that appear in the results, and contact them if you like, or click the button "submit an enquiry with these filters".

Whether you contact a specific therapist, or submit an enquiry, you will have the option to write a short message for the therapist to read. If you submit an enquiry your personal information will be anonymised to protect your privacy, and the number of therapists who can get in touch with you will be limited to three.

Question 6

What kind of therapists can I find on PsyConnect?

Accepted Answer

PsyConnect aims to host a diverse range of therapists specialising in various areas, including clinical and counselling psychologists, CBT and EMDR Psychotherapists, Psychiatrists and Counsellors ensuring you can find a professional suited to your specific mental health needs.

Question 7

Can I request a therapist with experience in a specific area?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can specify your needs in your enquiry or use our detailed search filters to find therapists with expertise in particular areas.

Question 8

Can I change my therapist if I feel the match isn't right?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. It's important that you feel comfortable with your therapist, and you're free to search for and connect with another therapist at any time.

Question 9

What should I do if I have concerns about my therapy experience or if I'm in crisis?

Accepted Answer

If you encounter issues with your therapy experience, we encourage you to register a complaint with us at PsyConnect. While we don't hold clinical responsibility for the therapeutic relationship, we take the integrity of our network seriously and will investigate complaints to determine whether a therapist should continue to be part of our platform.

If you are feeling suicidal or in immediate distress, it's crucial to seek help directly from emergency services. Contact the NHS crisis team or emergency services in your area for immediate support. Sending an enquiry through PsyConnect or engaging with a therapist via our platform does not constitute an immediate treatment relationship or crisis intervention. Your safety is paramount, and professional emergency services are equipped to provide the immediate help you need.

Question 10

Are there any fees for clients using PsyConnect?

Accepted Answer

There are no fees for clients to search or make enquiries on PsyConnect.  Clients do however need to be able to fund their own therapy (this can be via grants or insurance if they have these) as therapists listed in PsyConnect are working in private practice and charge for their services. Payments for therapy do not go through PsyConnect, but are directly arranged between clients and therapists.

Question 11

What do you pay your therapists?

Accepted Answer

At PsyConnect, we don’t take payments from people seeking therapy (clients) or pay therapists, we put you in touch with each other and you pay your therapist directly. We charge therapists a one-off commission for this service.

Question 12

Do I need to sign up?

Accepted Answer

Clients don’t need to create a login and password/account, but when you make an enquiry or request contact with a particular therapist, we ask your consent to keep the details you have completed in our secure database  (with personal details limited on a need to know basis according to our privacy policy) - so that we can help you find a well-matched therapist for you.

Question 13

How is my feedback used by PsyConnect?

Accepted Answer

Client feedback is invaluable for improving PsyConnect and ensuring the platform meets the needs of its users. We regularly review feedback to make enhancements and support our community better.

Question 14

How is my personal data protected?

Accepted Answer

When clients make enquiries we keep their personal information secure, personal data that could identify you is anonymised in our database so that only once therapists express an interest in working with you do they see any identifying information, this keeps your information on a need to know basis.

Once you have matched with a therapist, they will explain how confidentiality works, and its limits, such as when your life or others are at imminent risk or when requested by a court.

Please read our full privacy policy here.

We also have a number of other policies and proceedures related to data and security - these are summarised on our Data and Security page, with links to the relevant documentation.

Question 15

How do I ensure my privacy while using PsyConnect?

Accepted Answer

Your personal information is shared only with your explicit consent, either by requesting contact from a specific therapist or agreeing to be contacted. Our system upholds the highest standards of privacy and confidentiality.

If you submit a general enquiry then your name and contact details will be anonymised in our platform, so that only a limited number of therapists who express an interest in working with you may see any identifying personal details. More detailed inrormation about how your privacy is protected can be found in our Privacy Policy.

Question 16

I'm having technical problems, what should I do?

Accepted Answer

Please contact us on admin@psyconnect.co.uk as we are a new and small business we appreciate your patience while we work on any technical issues that may arise. We welcome feedback.

Question 17

Do you offer a free first session, or any discounts?

Accepted Answer

PsyConnect is designed to be good for therapists and clients alike. We don't ask our therapists to accept below market rates or offer free first sessions. You will find most therapists will speak to you on the phone (if you like) before arranging a first session. This conversation may take up to 15 minutes and this is what many therapy platforms or therapists  refer to as a "free first session". It is a chance to speak to the therapist, ask any questions, and see if you both think you may be a good match for each other before committing to work together.

If you are concerned about the cost of therapy you can use the maximum fees or concessions filters in the therapist search to see concessions that therapists may be able to provide and/or find a therapist that you are able to afford. Sometimes, if they are able to, therapists may offer a hard to fill slot, or a limited number slots at a lower rate to ensure accessibility for people on lower incomes.

Question 18

Does PsyConnect provide therapy to children and teenagers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The PsyConnect network includes therapists who are experienced and qualified to work with children and teenagers under 18. This is indicated in therapist profiles, and you can use the “Type of Client” filter in the Find a Therapist search to select “Child” when looking for a suitable match.

If the client is under 18, a parent or legal guardian must submit the initial enquiry on their behalf and is responsible for organising payment for any sessions. For older children and teenagers, we encourage them to be actively involved in the process and to manage communication with the therapist, where appropriate.

In line with safeguarding best practices, enquiries should not be submitted by third parties for under-18s (such as teachers or other professionals) unless acting with explicit parental consent.

Please note that PsyConnect connects clients with independent therapists in private practice who charge fees for their services.

If you are under 18 and do not feel safe involving a parent or guardian, private therapy through PsyConnect may not be suitable. We recommend contacting a GP, school counsellor, or a free and confidential service such as Childline (0800 1111), who can help you explore safe options for support.

In an Emergency
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999.
If you're worried but not sure it's an emergency, you can call 111 for advice.

FAQs

Find answers to common questions about PsyConnect below.

Frequently asked questions

How can I find a therapist that meets my specific needs?

How do I make an enquiry or book a session with a therapist?

Not sure which type of therapy is right for you?

What qualifications do your therapists have? Are therapists accredited?

I'm not sure what I want out of a therapist, how do I decide?

What kind of therapists can I find on PsyConnect?

Can I request a therapist with experience in a specific area?

Can I change my therapist if I feel the match isn't right?

What should I do if I have concerns about my therapy experience or if I'm in crisis?

Are there any fees for clients using PsyConnect?

What do you pay your therapists?

Do I need to sign up?

How is my feedback used by PsyConnect?

How is my personal data protected?

How do I ensure my privacy while using PsyConnect?

I'm having technical problems, what should I do?

Do you offer a free first session, or any discounts?

Does PsyConnect provide therapy to children and teenagers?

Frequently asked questions

How can I find a therapist that meets my specific needs?

How do I make an enquiry or book a session with a therapist?

Not sure which type of therapy is right for you?

What qualifications do your therapists have? Are therapists accredited?

I'm not sure what I want out of a therapist, how do I decide?

What kind of therapists can I find on PsyConnect?

Can I request a therapist with experience in a specific area?

Can I change my therapist if I feel the match isn't right?

What should I do if I have concerns about my therapy experience or if I'm in crisis?

Are there any fees for clients using PsyConnect?

What do you pay your therapists?

Do I need to sign up?

How is my feedback used by PsyConnect?

How is my personal data protected?

How do I ensure my privacy while using PsyConnect?

I'm having technical problems, what should I do?

Do you offer a free first session, or any discounts?

Does PsyConnect provide therapy to children and teenagers?

Frequently asked questions

How can I find a therapist that meets my specific needs?

How do I make an enquiry or book a session with a therapist?

Not sure which type of therapy is right for you?

What qualifications do your therapists have? Are therapists accredited?

I'm not sure what I want out of a therapist, how do I decide?

What kind of therapists can I find on PsyConnect?

Can I request a therapist with experience in a specific area?

Can I change my therapist if I feel the match isn't right?

What should I do if I have concerns about my therapy experience or if I'm in crisis?

Are there any fees for clients using PsyConnect?

What do you pay your therapists?

Do I need to sign up?

How is my feedback used by PsyConnect?

How is my personal data protected?

How do I ensure my privacy while using PsyConnect?

I'm having technical problems, what should I do?

Do you offer a free first session, or any discounts?

Does PsyConnect provide therapy to children and teenagers?

Not sure where to start? No problem!