Frequently Asked Questions for Therapists
+ What qualifications do I need to register as a therapist listed with My Therapist Online.
We require all therapists to have at least 3 years post qualification clinical experience working as a therapist.
We are happy to register therapists with the following professional qualifications, registrations and accreditations:
- BABCP, BACP, COSRT accreditation.
- BPS Chartership (with HCPC registration for protected titles).
- BACP/BPC/HCPC/NCS/UKCP Registration
To register with us today, please complete the form by clicking here.
We ask all therapists to email us original copies of the following documents:
- Professional training certificates. e.g. BABCP accreditation (Full or provisional).
- A current DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) certificate.
- Current Professional indemnity insurance certificate (minimum coverage £5 million).
- Photo Identification: Copy of passport or photo driving license, scanned or a clear photo.
- A professional profile picture & words. Please include a list of problems you feel most comfortable/skilled/experienced in treating, for your profile page.
- A short video introduction of you in your online therapy work setting.
Contact us at Hello@mytherapistonline.co.uk
+ What is the best way of contacting My Therapist Online?
Please contact us by email. We will do our best to respond as soon as it is possible.
Email us at Hello@mytherapistonline.co.uk
+ What happens once I have registered with My Therapist Online?
Once we are happy with the details and documents received with your registration, we will contact your references and let you know once we’ve heard back from them & validated your credentials.
From there we will need you to email us a professional looking profile picture and profile wording to enable us to design and activate your online professional profile ahead of recommending you to clients.
My Therapist Online Email - Hello@mytherapistonline.co.uk
Your professional profile will be an important process in clients choosing you as their therapist. Therefore, it needs to have a friendly but professional looking profile picture with a clear summary of your therapy experience and skills.
Profile words - The profile wording needs to explain your skills and experience clearly and make sure the client feels confident in their selection of you. Do have a look at other therapists' profiles as a guide for writing this - here.
Please include a list of the diagnoses you feel most comfortable treating within your profile.
Photo - Please send a warm and welcoming (and professional) looking head and shoulders profile picture of you which has a blank (or as blank as possible) background in as high resolution as possible.
+ How are the therapists verified?
We ensure that every therapist is fully licensed / registered / accredited and in good standing.
Therapists who apply are required to provide photo identification, full qualification documentation and further clinical certificates, and written references from other registered practitioners who have worked with them. We then cross-check their registration information with their registering organisation.
All therapists are also asked to provide an up-to-date DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) certificate.
+ What is the role of MyTherapistOnline.co.uk?
The role of My Therapist Online is to provide a platform to access therapy.
My Therapist Online matches therapists to clients and connects therapists with client ahead of treatment starting.
The therapists are not employees of My Therapist Online and the site doesn't oversee them professionally.
My Therapist Online manage all of the payments, therefore removing money discussions which can be counter therapeutic from the all-important therapeutic space.
My Therapist Online recieves confirmation of appointments from therapists and sends the client a monthly invoice. My Therapist Online informs therapists if a client has or has not paid in line with the terms of payment.
+ What video platform do you recommend I use for my therapy sessions?
Currently, all therapists work entirely online using video calls (Skype, Zoom or FaceTime.) which gives flexibility around scheduling sessions for both client and therapist.
At present we don’t stipulate which video platform you use for treatment, this is usually decided between the client and therapist and they often settle on which platform both feel most comfortable using.
+ Should or can I have my own contract with my clients?
Many therapists have their own contract they like to discuss with their clients at their first appointment. This might include your personal policy on contact between apointments, your own GDPR procedures, expectations for therapy etc.
If you do have your own contract/agreement, please make sure the cancellation policy, payment and risk assessment are all in line with the MTO terms which you will be familiar with.
+ What are the rules regarding treating people abroad?
There is not yet specific guidelines in the UK on this.
BABCP state "It is important that you feel satisfied that you can meet the general guidelines for ethical and best practice even whilst practising remotely.
In particular, it is important to consider issues of risk which may arise if you are providing therapy to someone in a country where you don’t know how the healthcare system works or are unable to liaise effectively, e.g. with their GP if necessary."
Risk needs to be assessed at the initial consultation, assessment and intermittently throughout treatment. If you feel someone is not appropriate for an online format of therapy, you must communicate this with the client and MTO will support your clinical decision on this.
+ How do I invoice so I can be paid for my therapy services?
We manage all the invoicing for you - we aim to remove discussions about money from the therapeutic space, therefore all invoicing and chasing of payments are done by us.
Therapist monthly invoicing form
Once we have received these details, we can invoice the client and transfer your payment as promptly as possible. Please note, this typically takes between 5-10 working days after client invoicing has been enabled.
We will inform you if the client is late with payment - it is then at the therapist’s discretion if the next session goes ahead. You can choose to pause treatment until payments are settled.
Please note - any new therapist starting after February 2022 will use the new booking system which provides up-front payments.
+ How much should I charge for my therapy sessions?
Therapists set their own rate they charge which is typically between £60 - £110 per session and can set their own availability choosing how many sessions they offer each week.
We do not ask therapist to provide a minimum or maximum amount of sessions, this can be scaled up or down depending on your needs. This flexibility means you can work your private sessions in and around your home, work & family life, which was one of the initial goals in setting up My Therapist Online.
+ How much is the My Therapist Online service fee?
It is free to register with My Therapist Online with no monthly subscription.
My Therapist Online charges a 23% service fee of each session booking price for successful client referrals.
My Therapist Online manages all the business side of private practice for you (marketing, advertising, screening, invoicing etc), so you just need to focus on the all important therapy.
+ When do clients typical want therapy?
Clients request treatment across different days and hours. However, we see most demand for treatment out of typical working hours in the evenings after 6pm and weekends.
+ How do I let My Therapist Online know if my availability changes?
Please do update us when your availability changes so we can send you relevant referrals that match with your availability, including holidays etc. You can update us as often as you need to using this form
If we don't have an update on your current availability, we will assume this remains the same. Thank you.
+ What details are taken from clients at registration with My Therapist Online and why?
In line with GDPR the details we keep on any client are ‘adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary’ in relation to the purposes for which they are processed.
Therefore, we take only the necessary information from a client to be able to make recommendations of the best suited therapists for their needs. This includes;
Name / Address / Age/ Email Address/ Mobile No / Video Platform contact details / Summary of the problems / Consent for sharing your information with therapists / Confirmation that they are over the age of 18/ Confirmation of reading and agreement to the MTO Terms & Conditions.
Please note - it remains the individual therapist's responsibility to complete their risk assesment & obtain a current emergency contact number for each client.
+ How are therapists selected for clients?
We read through and screen every client registration (this is done by a qualified therapist and no algorithms are used). We offer profiles of 1-3 therapists to choose from, with a stronger recommendation of one based on their individual need and the experience and skills of the therapist.
Therapists are still responsible for completing a full assessment including a brief risk assessment at the start of treatment.
+ What can I do to ensure I provide high quality online therapy?
Test your internet connection.
Online video therapy requires a reliable and reasonably fast internet speed.
A good and steady connection makes online treatment sessions run as smoothly as possible.
There are some things that can enhance connections such as: ensure you are not too far away from your router ask others to limit wifi use during your treatment sessions so there is minimal interference with the connection. wireless internet signals can fade in and out. If you have an ethernet cable handy
Download the necessary video platform - Check with your client what their preferred online video format is and if possible use that. Most video chat platforms require some software to be downloaded and an account set up, so try to do this well ahead of your first session. The most common (and free) platforms are FaceTime, Google Hangouts and Skype.
- FaceTime - this is only compatible with Apple products (iPhones, Macs and iPads).
- Google Hangouts - There is a quick plugin for Google Hangout that requires a browser restart. You can download this from here — www.google.com/tools/dlpage/hangoutplugin
- Skype - is very easy to download, you can do so by following the simple instructions here — www.skype.com
Confidentiality - Try to choose somewhere for your online treatment sessions such that nobody will overhear your conversations or interrupt the session.
We also recommend using a headset which both ensures your client’s words are not overheard along with providing decent sound quality on the call.
Consider your backdrop - Be mindful of what is behind you during your video session. Too much going on behind you can be distracting for your client. Try to ensure your backdrop is one that portrays a professional image, such as a well organised bookshelf, a painting, a plant or even just a blank wall works.
Ensure your camera is at eye level - by raising your computer up a little (on some books or folders) you will have both a better face shot of you, as well as it being better for your posture.
Good Lighting - It is important that your face is well lit so your client can see you clearly. Natural light is best, so having a window behind the computer for day time sessions is ideal. Some overhead lighting can create unhelpful shadows and a poorly defined on screen image. Investment in a small desk or clip on light directed towards your face will ensure a good on screen image.
Have your therapy tools at hand - Use of a whiteboard or large plain paper will enable you to draw models and all other standard treatment diagrams. These can be emailed to your client as a photo or a screen grab. Have other diagrams (such as the anxiety curve for explaining ERP), outcome measures and therapy tools within grabbing reach so you don’t have to leave the screen to get them. All of these can also be emailed to your client, when appropriate.
Plug in Your Charger! Video drains your battery more than nearly any other program you can run on your computer. If you are using a laptop or tablet, charging it to 100% is a great idea. An even better idea is to have your laptop plugged in.
Do a test run - the best way to test that everything is set-up is to arrange a test call with someone. The person you have called can give you feedback about sound, lighting, camera height, connection and backdrop.
+ What if internet connection fails?
We suggest that therapists make a contingency plan about this at the initial cosultation or in the first appointment.
Agree a second platform option if one is not working - e.g. move to google hangouts or facetime.
Try re-connecting. Ask your client if they can turn off other wifi using devices if possible.
Ensure there is 30 minutes between your therapy appointments should a wifi problem cause a break in the session.
If the sound is not working properly but image is - if you can both turn off the volume on your computer, you can continue with the therapy session using a phone connection for audio. This is not ideal, but it keeps the flow going.
+ How many clients can I expect to be referred through My Therapist Online?
We will do our best to fill the slots you ask for. This will initially build up gradually and we will work hard to keep your caseload full. We just ask you to keep us updated with your most up-to-date availability.
You can update us as often as you need to using this form
+ How can I help to increase the amount of clients selecting me as their therapist?
Blocks of text and still photographs cannot convey your warmth and personality, the tone of your voice, the human qualities that will endear you to potential clients.
We have found that those seeking therapy are more likely to choose therapists who have a video introduction over those who don’t. People seeking online therapy have been shown to be initially hesitant about taking the step to meet a therapist in person. We believe a video introduction will go a long way to breaking down some of these barriers.
*A short and simple video clip introducing you can be added to your personal profile and could do wonders for your client referrals. *
It enables clients to make an earlier decision about your therapy and if you are suitable for their needs.
An introduction video doesn’t need to be a brilliant performance, the best video is one which represents your most authentic professional self. A relaxed and natural video enables the client to gain a good sense for who you are, why they can trust you and encourage them to book an appointment with you.
What else?
Writing interesting and informative pieces for the My Therapist Online Blog can help to both increase clients confidence in your knowledge as well as send them through to your profile page.
+ Is online live video therapy effective therapy?
There is growing studies to support the effectiveness of online video therapy.
Online video therapy is the exact same process as in-person counselling or psychotherapy therefore the therapists use the same, evidenced based therapy they are trained to do for in-clinic therapy, it is simply delivered through computer screens.
Our confidence continues to grow as we receive more and more feedback and testimonials from people who have benefited from online video therapy. We are proud of the service we provide and it makes us to happy to know that more and more people are being helped on their path towards being their best self through accessing the service.
You can read some of the feedback and testimonials here.
+ How long can clients use My Therapist Online?
This depends on the clients needs and varies a lot from one person to another.
Some people feel they get most of the value after just a few appointments, while others prefer to stick to regular appointments for an extended period of time. This is completely up to you and your client.
Please note - if after a client has finished therapy, it may be they asked to re-connect with you for ‘top-up’ appointments or to book another course of therapy.
+ Where do I find the My Therapist Online Feedback Questionnaire?
If you move your client to less regular appointents, follow-up or discharge, please ask your client to complrete a feedback questionnaire.
The questionnaire provides invaluable information about how we can improve our service. It also helps to generate some testimonials about you and your therapy which can be put on your professional profile page. The more glowing testimonials you have the more likely clients will be to choose you as their therapist.
Here is a link to the therapy feedback questionnaire.
+ Do I need to have supervision?
All therapists are expected to arrange for their own regular supervision in line with the stipulations set out by their professional guidelines.
Many My Therapist Online therapists offer onine supervision. Please ask and we can try to arrange this for you.
If you are new to online treatment, it may be that you arrange your supervision sessions through online video too. It will give you extra experience of using the platform, as well as enabling your supervisor to give clinical feedback about the format of your treatment sessions.
+ How is my privacy protected?
My Therapist Online understands that your privacy is important to you and that you care about how your personal data is used and shared online.
You can read our privacy policy here
We respect and value the privacy of everyone who visits this website, and in a manner that is consistent with our obligations and your rights under the law.
All personal data is processed and stored securely, for no longer than is necessary in light of the reason(s) for which it was first collected. We will comply with our obligations and safeguard your rights under the Data Protection Act 1998 or GDPR at all times.
Once treatment starts, My Therapist Online will not ask for any details or discussed content of that therapy.
+ How do you introduce me to my clients?
Once the client has confirmed they are happy to proceed with setting up an initial consultation with you we send an introductory email between you and your clients.
+ What is the free initial consultation?
We ask all therapists to offer a no obligations, brief consultation ahead of confirming paid therapy.
The aim of this brief (10-15 minutes) meeting in to;
- meet your client face-to-face ahead of treatment starting
- check you can engage comfortably with your client before they committing to any paid treatment
- check if therapy via Skype, FaceTime or other preferred video platform, is approprate for meeting their needs
- establish a brief initial understanding of the problems they want to address in therapy
- confirm details of the first appointment including a contingency plan if the internet for some reason fails
+ When is a client not appropriate for online therapy?
My Therapist Online is NOT the right solution for people if they are actively experiencing any of the following:
- Thoughts, plans and intent of hurting themself or others
- Are under the age of 18 or you are under the care of a legal guardian
- Are in an urgent crisis or an emergency situation
- Been diagnosed with a severe mental illness, or have been advised to be supported by a community mental health team care. Severe and enduring problems require a multidisciplinary team approach.
- Are required to undergo therapy or therapy either by a court order or by any other authority
- Do not have a device that can connect to the Internet or do not have a reliable Internet connection.
Due to the remote nature of therapy delivery, My Therapist Online is NOT able to help those who are in Crisis.
If a person’s life may be in danger through suicide or believe they are at risk from harming yourself or others, recommend that they contact the emergency services by phoning 999 or ask the, to go to their nearest Accident & Emergency department.
There are also many crisis support services people can contact, including the Samaritans who can be contacted here.
Video therapy is not appropriate where there are concerns about the well being of a child under the age of 16.
Please note - People wanting treatment for Bipolar disorder, it is best managed by video therapy if the person is also engaged with a psychiatrist and compliant with medication.
+ How is risk assessed and managed?
All therapists registered with My Therapist Online have over 3 years clinical experience and work as independent practitioners, operating under guidelines set out by their professional qualification.
While risk is screened at registration, therapists are responsible for completing a full assessment at the start of treatment. A high risk client will be advised to seek local, face-to-face support and be discharged from a therapists caseload having agreed a discharge and risk plan, as per a therapist's clinical training.
An emergency contact (and also GP details) should betaken by the therapist at the initial assessment. In line with GDPR, this information can not be stored by My Therapist Online.
Please note: if you feel the client is high risk, they are not suitable to this type of remote online therapy. This is made clear to the clients at registration.
However, if, within treatment further information is disclosed to suggest the client is at risk to themselves or others it is the therapist’s responsibility to discuss suitability of online treatment with the client. My Therapist Online will support the therapist's clinical decision on this.
Guidance for the management of risk
You can read more about information gathering on the summary I have attached at the bottom and in the therapist and client terms below.
Therapist terms & conditions Client terms & conditions
+ How do clients cancel an appointment?
To cancel a therapy appointment, we ask clients to notify their therapist at least 48 hours prior to the planned session.
Cancellations that are made within two days of the session will be subject to a cancellation charge for the full session amount, subject to the therapist’s discretion.