In private practice, a full caseload is often seen as a sign of success. But one of the biggest challenges that comes with it is what to do with new enquiries when you’re fully booked. The common approach? A waiting list.
But waiting lists are unpredictable. Sometimes the wait is four weeks, sometimes eight, and sometimes a client drops out, freeing up a spot immediately. The problem is that by the time I finally get back to many of these clients, they’ve already found another therapist.
At the same time, I continue to receive new enquiries, many of whom will also end up on a waiting list that may or may not work for them. It’s an inefficient cycle—one that leaves clients waiting unnecessarily, therapists with extra administrative work, and opportunities for connections lost.
Why I Created PsyConnect
I wanted to find a better way.
I was fortunate to have colleagues who referred clients to me when they couldn’t take them on, especially those with complex needs such as addictions and emotion regulation difficulties, knowing that I had a background in those areas.
So why not expand that idea into a professional network—a space where therapists could refer clients to each other without requiring clients to reach out to multiple people, hoping for a response?
But PsyConnect isn’t just about referrals. When I worked in organisations, I had access to shared resources—handouts, training materials, and supervision groups. I contributed my own materials as well. I wanted to replicate that same sense of professional collaboration —a platform where therapists can:
✔ Refer clients to each other instead of leaving them on long waiting lists.
✔ Share resources—handouts, therapy tools, and professional materials.
✔ Contribute to the community by organising peer supervision, discussion groups, and professional development.
The Culture We’re Building at PsyConnect
So far, 50 therapists have joined PsyConnect, and in the past two months, I’ve personally referred around 10+ clients to the network. The idea is that as more of us use the system the way it was intended, the network becomes more valuable for everyone.
Many therapists naturally refer clients to colleagues when they’re fully booked, while others add them to a waiting list. PsyConnect offers a third, more effective option—one that ensures clients don’t have to wait unnecessarily and that therapists don’t miss out on potential opportunities.
We’re still in the early stages, but as therapists start referring in as well as taking on clients, we’ll create a steady, self-sustaining stream of referrals. That’s the vision, one of reciprocity.
At the moment, it’s just my wife and me running PsyConnect. We are juggling this with my full caseload, and our two kids (2 and 6 years old). We’re about to start advertising directly to clients, but we had hoped that therapists who naturally have to refer clients elsewhere would see PsyConnect as a more ethical and sustainable way to handle overflow than a traditional waiting list.
In fact, I already explain PsyConnect to my own prospective clients as a kind of shared waiting list—if I can’t accommodate them in the next four weeks, I offer them a choice: wait for me, or be referred to another psychologist who might be available sooner. Many choose to explore other options, and that feels more ethical than asking them to wait indefinitely.
How Can Benefit You as a Therapist
✔ Recover 50% of the commission you pay when you take on a client—by referring clients into the system, you’re balancing out the cost of commissions you pay when accepting new clients from the network.
✔ Choose who you work with—PsyConnect allows therapists to select clients based on how well they match their skills, availability, and preferences.
✔ Avoid unnecessary admin—Instead of responding to multiple individual emails, simply provide a referral link and let PsyConnect handle the matching process.
But for this to work, we need therapists to refer into the network. If you’re a member, I encourage you to start using the referral system—even if you’re fully booked, you can still benefit through commission-based referrals while ensuring clients get the help they need.
If you’re considering joining, this is the kind of network we want to build—one that prioritises collaboration, mutual support, and professional growth.
Let’s create something better than waiting lists.
👉 If you’re a therapist and want to join PsyConnect, you can learn more here:
(And if you’re looking for a therapist, start here: https://www.psyconnect.co.uk/therapists )
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