How To Find a Therapist

Once you've made the decision to get support, the task of finding a counsellor can feel daunting. Just know that you're not alone, support is out there, and you don't have to have everything figured out before you start. I've put together a short guide to help cut through the overwhelm and get you started.

1. Ask yourself some practical questions

Before you begin your search, take a moment to reflect:

Would I prefer in-person sessions or am I open to online or telephone therapy?
Is there a particular gender I'd be more comfortable working with?
Do I have any specific issues I want to work through?
How often would I realistically be able to attend sessions - weekly, fortnightly?
Do I know what I'm hoping to get from therapy?

It's okay if you're not able to answer all of these questions, but if you do have an idea, it can help with your initial search.

2. Search using trusted directories

There are two main directories I recommend to find a qualified, professionally registered therapist in the UK:

BACP Find a Therapist
This is the official directory of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). All therapists listed are members of the BACP (MBACP) and adhere to their ethical framework.
Counselling Directory
Another great resource where all practitioners listed are verified professionals registered with a recognised UK professional body (e.g. BACP, UKCP, BABCP etc). Many therapists list their qualifications, areas of expertise, availability, and fees.

Both of these directories are useful to ensure you're contacting a professionally qualified and registered counsellor or psychotherapist.

When using these directories, you can filter therapists by location, areas they specialise in (e.g. anxiety, depression, LGBTQIA+), mode of counselling (online, in person etc) and types of therapy they offer (e.g. CBT, person-centred, psychodynamic).

3. Check their credentials

When you find someone you may want to work with, whether through a directory, google search, instagram, facebook or otherwise, take a moment to check they're genuine. A professional will make it easy for you to see:

Professional Body: Are they registered with the BACP or another recognised body (e.g. UKCP, NCPS)? For further peace of mind, you can check the member register for the professional body the practitioner is registered with.
Qualifications: Do they list a professional qualification in the field (e.g. MA Counselling and Psychotherapy, PGDip Counselling and Psychotherapy, Level 4 Diploma Counselling etc)?
Approach: Therapists often give a brief description of their approach to working with clients. Take some time to read over a few and see if anything in particular speaks to you. As long as the above are covered, this can be the most important thing to pay attention to.
Modality: If you're looking for a particular modality, do they mention it (e.g. CBT, EMDR, psychodynamic)?

If you find someone you want to work with, but are unsure about any of the above, reach out to them and ask. It's also completely fine not to know what modality you want to work with - the vast majority of people don't (and the vast majority of counsellors don't expect you to!) - just go with someone you like the sound of.

4. Reaching out

It's okay to feel nervous or unsure about what to do next. It's completely okay - and often helpful - to contact more than one therapist when you're starting out. Think of it as a process of finding the right fit for you.

Craft a short message for text or email. This could include info on what you're looking for or why you're looking for a therapist - but it's also okay if you don't feel comfortable sharing this information yet, or aren't able to put words to why you're looking for support.
Ask any questions you may have about location, availability, fees etc. Your message can be as basic as asking about a counsellor's availability.
Schedule an intro call. Many therapists, including myself, offer a short introductory chat if you'd like to get to know them a little before committing to a session. It's also okay to jump in and ask to schedule a session without this.

With each counsellor or psychotherapist you speak to or message with, pay attention to how they made you feel - safe, heard, respected? This can help in picking who to schedule a session with.

I'm happy to schedule a 15-minute chat, answer any questions you may have over text/email, or go ahead and schedule a first session. Get in touch using the contact form, email me directly at AffinityCardiff@gmail.com, or WhatsApp/message me on 07712 500 204. I offer in-person counselling and psychotherapy in Cardiff, and also offer online counselling and psychotherapy.

5. Remember: It's okay to try more than one

Finding the right therapist is a personal process. Sometimes it takes meeting one or two before finding the right fit. That's normal - and worth it. If something doesn't feel right with the first therapist you work with, it's okay to stop seeing them, and try someone else.

You don't have to have it all figured out before starting.
Being curious, open, and willing to begin is enough.