We cut through the noise to focus on exactly what you need - nothing more, nothing less. No fluff, just the essential 10 steps to get your practice up and running.
Key Workshop Highlights
The workshop was designed to demystify the process of starting a private practice, addressing the most common fears and obstacles therapists face. We covered everything from the initial mindset shift to the nitty-gritty details of business setup, marketing, and client acquisition.
Between Sessions Subscribers can access a free month subscription with Kiku, and then after this 30% off for 3 months! Use this exclusive discount code: BETWEEN_SESSIONS
The 10 Essential Steps Covered:
1 Insurance
Professional liability insurance isn't just a recommendation—it's a critical shield for your therapy practice. Purchase professional indemnity insurance. Often your accrediting body may have recommended insurers that offer discounts. E.G. BABCP members can get a discount with Balens.
Key things to consider:
Does your insurance allow for in person or remote work only?
Can you see clients only in the UK or can they live abroad?
2 ICO Registration
Register as a data controller here: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/data-protection-fee/register/
Review your requirements under the data protection guidance
3 Check Your Body Requirements
Each regulator has different requirements for private practice - including supervision requirements, CPD requirements, clinical wills and more.
Key things to check:
Supervision requirements
Clinical Will policy
Complaints procedures
Risk requirements
If you are a member of the BABCP, they have private practice guidelines that summarise everything here.
4 Terms and Conditions
Create your terms and conditions for clients - please consult a lawyer
Kiku has a template in their clinical management software you can use for ideas and guidance
The BABCP has an example contract in your account section if you are an accredited member
We have a full populated example terms and conditions to help get you thinking here
5 Set Your Fee
We have a full in-depth post and guide on how to set and find the right fee for you. This includes marketing approaches, your level of experience and how to find the fee that matches. You can read it here.
Other helpful basic resources include:
6 GDPR Compliant Clinical Management and Notes System
A robust and GDPR-compliant clinical management system is not just a technological convenience—it's a critical safeguard for both therapists and clients, and often a legal and accrediting body requirement.
We've partnered with Kiku Practice Management Software, a made by therapists, for therapists, clinical management system, to offer Between Sessions members an exclusive discount on their GDPR complaint therapist software.
Kiku helps you manage clients, notes, payment, terms and conditions, and admin efficiently and securely from day one. Kiku also has questionnaires for clients, templates for terms and conditions and a section for your clinical will.
Between Sessions Subscribers can access a free month subscription, and then after this 30% off for 3 months! Use this exclusive discount code: BETWEEN_SESSIONS
(Disclosure: Between Sessions makes no commission off this discount — this is purely because we think Kiku is great and are excited to partner with them!
7 Secure Video-call System or Therapy Room
If providing services online, you will need a secure videocall service. Secure videocall platforms include Zoom, Googlemeet CiscoWebex and more. Find a platform that works for you. You may need a paid subscription as free options my limit the time and amount of calls. Remember - you can tax expense this cost.
If providing services face to face, you will need to seek out an appropriate therapy room.
8 Clients
Clinicians face a critical decision when choosing how to attract clients, each with distinct advantages and trade-offs.
Option 1: Direct to Client Approach
Register with platforms such as Psychology Today and the Counselling Directory
Can also create a Facebook Business profile or market on Instagram
In the future: website, marketing, advertising, social media etc. but not necessary to start.
Choice of who you want to work with and can specialise
Discount Code for Counselling Directory: mIriKMq8
Option 2: Register with Insurers and/or Therapy Platforms
Register with Insurers such as BUPA, AXA etc. or therapy platforms such as HelloSelf or Meela
You can register to accept insurance clients on the private practice register. Remember to check you are ok with the differing fees, and only register with insurers where you agree to the fee.
Platforms and insurers will either set your fee or take a percentage of your earnings
Less marketing burden
The best approach often depends on individual factors like your specialisation, target demographic, time you can dedicate to marketing and promotion, financial goals, and comfort with marketing and business development. You can always start with one and switch, or do a mix of both.
9 Risk Management
In private practice we should not be taking on clients with risk due to limited support.
However, unexpected scenarios can of course occur.
Familiarise yourself with your accrediting bodies guidance and seek supervision as needed.
BABCP Guidance on Risk for Private Practitioners: Here
Other helpful resources:
10 A Basic Website
It’s not an absolute necessity, but if you can get a basic website up it helps establish credibility and connect with potential clients. It acts a digital business card.
Expensive fancy websites with optimised SEO (google rankings) can come later.
To start with, a basic website is all that is needed.
Squarespace has an easy to use AI builder. You tell the AI what you need and it will create you a basic therapy website. We’d recommend making sure you include these pages:
About Me
Issues I Work With
Contact
If this feels too much for you right now — don’t worry — it’s not absolutely necessary, but does help.
If you feel lost in building websites and technology, consult a professional who can help get you up and running easily!
+ Optional but recommended: Niching
As CBT therapists, we often hesitate to specialise beyond our core training. The idea of narrowing our focus to a specific client group can feel restrictive—even risky. Let's explore why it's not.
Consider this scenario: A potential client is looking at ten different CBT therapist websites, none with any specialisation. How do they choose? Without differentiation, their decision often defaults to price alone.This is precisely why niching is crucial for your practice's success. But how do you do it?
When a potential client lands on your website and thinks, "This therapist truly understands my specific challenges," they're not just more likely to book—they're willing to pay a premium for your specialised expertise.
You can read our guide on how to find your niche and charge a premium fee as a result here.
Other useful resources for your blooming private practice:
Check out our upcoming events including how to ethically market on Instagram and how to boost your google website ranking
A Call to Community: Spread the Knowledge
If you've found value in these insights, you're not just learning powerful information—you're holding a lifeline for fellow therapists struggling to navigate the complex world of private practice. Share this guide with:
Your therapy school colleagues still finding their footing
Clinicians feeling stuck
Mental health professionals dreaming of professional independence
Supervisees looking to understand their future career paths
By sharing these strategies, you're building a community of empowered therapists who can support, inspire, and elevate each other.
Every shared post, every forwarded email, every conversation about private practice is a step towards collective professional growth.
Together, we can demystify the process of starting a private practice, break down barriers, and create more opportunities for therapists to do the work they love on their own terms.
Share this post