Link to the initial registration form is here.

Our team review all registrations. If you are successful we will ask you to send supporting documents and complete the final steps for getting you set-up on our systems and website.

Please email scanned or photographed copies.

• Professional training certificates to support all your credentials. e.g. BABCP accreditation

• Proof of professional body registration including number (BABCP/BPS with HCPC registration (for protected titles) / BACP / UKCP Accreditation.

• A current enhanced DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) certificate.

• Current Professional indemnity insurance certificate (minimum coverage £5 million). You will need to send us new copies of this annually.

• Photo Identification. Copy of passport or photo driving license, scanned or a clear photo.

Please note - We require therapists to possess a minimum of 3 years of post-qualification clinical experience.

1. MTO and DBS Checks:

• MTO cannot directly apply for DBS checks on behalf of self-employed or independent therapists.

• However, MTO can register with an umbrella body that provides DBS checks to affiliates. This allows MTO to facilitate DBS checks for you, but the cost would be covered by the therapist.

2. How to Get a DBS Check:

• Advanced DBS Check: Independent therapists need an advanced DBS check no older than 3 years, especially if working with vulnerable individuals or children.

• Applying via an Umbrella Body: You can use services like DBS Check Online or Disclosure Scotland to process your application through a third-party umbrella organisation that specialises in working with independent professionals.

3. BABCP and DBS Checks:

• BABCP and BACP do not handle DBS checks directly, but emphasise professional standards.

• It's important for therapists working with vulnerable clients to proactively obtain DBS checks to maintain trust and comply with ethical standards.

Summary

Independent therapists affiliated with MTO should independently seek DBS checks through umbrella bodies or third-party services. This builds client trust and is crucial for working with vulnerable populations.

The profile wording needs to explain your clinical skills and experience clearly to ensure the client feels confident in their selection of you.

Have a look at other therapists’ profiles on our website as a guide for writing this. We can hep edit the wording to best promote you.

We will also add the details from the skills form to the wording on your profile page.

Please our photo guidelines which are designed to help you create an image that is not only professional but also welcoming, allowing potential clients to feel connected to you even before the first session.

Expression - Capture a head-and-shoulders shot with you directly facing the camera, offering a warm smile or approachable expression that conveys your professional demeanour.

Attire - Dress in your usual professional attire to provide a true-to-life preview of how you will present yourself in therapy sessions.

Recent Image - The photo should be recent, taken within the past three years, to ensure an accurate representation of your current look.

Background - Opt for a simple, uncluttered background. Leave ample space around you in the photo for flexible cropping to fit various dimensions on our website.

Quality - High-resolution images are essential for clarity and detail, contributing to the overall impression of professionalism.

Authenticity - Refrain from using selfies. A photograph taken by another person or a professional service is preferable to maintain quality standards.

For visual reference, please view the six therapist profiles on our homepage. These will serve as a model for the type of photo we find most suitable.

Please complete this skills form.

Please note - the details in this form are used by our team to math you with the right clients.

• Put a 5 for the problems you feel you are an expert or extremely experienced in treating.

• Put a zero in the problem areas you do not wish to work with.

Please provide the names and email addresses of two professionals who have worked with you in a clinical setting completing the job you will be providing at MTO. This will have ideally observed you with clients or discussing clients in a professional setting.

Regular availability updates - Please keep us as up-to-date as possible by filling out the availability form regularly. Therapist typically update this when they are due to discharge a client soon, as there can be a is a 1-3 week lead time on sending referrals.

Holidays - Please let us know any up-and coming holidays.

Click here to access the availability form.

My Therapist Online - Three-Month Therapist Trial Protocol

Upon registration with My Therapist Online (MTO), therapists enter a three-month trial period, which serves as an opportunity for both the therapist and MTO to ensure a mutual fit. The following protocol outlines the expectations and processes during this trial.

Professional Conduct

Therapists are expected to maintain the highest standards of professionalism in all interactions with clients, both in therapy sessions and in any correspondence.

Respect, confidentiality, and ethical practice as per the therapists’s professional guidelines must be adhered to without exception.

Client Interactions

During the trial, therapists should ensure they are presenting a friendly demeanour and are communicating effectively and compassionately with clients.

The free initial consultation is a critical part of the therapy process and should be conducted with the intent to understand and establish the groundwork for potential therapeutic relationships.

Performance Evaluation

Client feedback is a significant factor in the evaluation process. This encompasses the therapeutic relationship, session engagement, and all associated correspondence.

The MTO team will also provide feedback.

Decision for Continued Listing

After the trial period, a decision will be made regarding the therapist's continued listing with MTO.

The decision will be based on the cumulative feedback from clients and the MTO team, along with the therapist's compliance with MTO standards.

Right to Un-list

MTO reserves the right to un-list a therapist from the MTO register if they do not meet the expectations outlined above.

Any such decision will be communicated promptly and with the intent to maintain respect and professionalism.

Feedback and Support

Throughout the trial, therapists will have access to support and feedback from MTO to help them meet the expected standards and to foster professional growth.

Documentation

Therapists are required to maintain accurate records of all sessions and correspondence as per therapists’ professional guidelines.

Any concerns, incidents, or deviations from expected conduct should be documented and reported to MTO immediately.

By adhering to this protocol, MTO aims to ensure that all therapists listed on our platform are aligned with our values and commitment to providing high-quality therapy services, thereby fostering a trusted and effective therapeutic environment for all involved.

Extension of Trial Period

In instances where the initial three-month trial period does not provide sufficient information to assess a therapist's performance, due to a lack of referrals or other factors, MTO reserves the right to extend the trial period. This extension will allow for the accumulation of adequate feedback and ensure a comprehensive evaluation of the therapist's fit with MTO's standards.

During the extension, therapists are encouraged to continue their efforts in engaging with clients and the MTO team, demonstrating their commitment to professional growth and client care.

The decision to extend the trial period is made with consideration for the therapist’s potential and opportunity for development within the MTO framework.

This provision ensures that all therapists are given a fair opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities and to receive constructive feedback that can lead to successful integration into the MTO community. Our goal is to facilitate a thorough and fair evaluation process, fostering a high-calibre network of therapists dedicated to delivering exceptional online therapy.

• Once a client has confirmed you as their therapist, we will send an introduction email between you. Links to terms and payment info is included in this email for both your reference.

• You will receive a separate email with their problem description and first name initial and surname (e.g.L.Smith) - Please do not use full name on any emails.

• A link to their full personal details located in your individual password-protected folder (we will send you the password for this folder separately).

• Please follow the introduction email as soon as possible with a friendly hello and suggestions of dates for an initial introduction call, as this helps to break the ice. Remember, most clients are quite nervous about starting therapy, so I’m sure it goes without saying, please keep your wording as warm and professional as possible, first impressions matterr.

• Please use an MTO header and footer in all emails - as provided. Feel free to edit the specific wording of our suggested intro email.

3 IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE

1 - The quicker we can turn around this initial client match, the more likely they will move into therapy.

2 - Please copy (cc or bcc) us in on your initial responses so we can better track if this moves forward or if we need to follow up with the client.

3 - If you don’t think the client’s problem match’s your skill and experience, please let us know the reasons for this, so we can adjust the details on the skills form to prevent any future mismatches from happening.

If you do not hear back from your client please follow up again or call them (emails can get lost). If you don’t hear back within 2 days, please let us know and we will follow-up.

This step is not compulsory, if the client is keen to start asap, then do so.

The Initial consultation is a free 10-15-minute initial call (Zoom or phone call) where you can help break the ice and agree a start date

Please note - at this early stage engagement is at it highest, but so can anticipation anxiety! The sooner the start date, the more likely they will move into paid therapy.

There are 3 main aims of the 10-15 minute initial meeting:

1 - Your client can meet you & check they are comfortable in proceeding with you as their therapist;

2 - You are able to meet the client and check you are comfortable treating them;

3 - To support the client in taking the next big step to commit to starting therapy with you by confirming a start date.

Please remember - this could be the first time they have spoken to anyone about their problems and you play an important role in helping them start therapy.

There will not be time to dive into their problems at this meeting, but reassure them that is what will be looked at in the first full (paid) for appointment.

We need the start date please - Please let us know the agreed start date so we can re-send a copy of the terms and payment details.

All clients make an initial advanced payment ahead of the first appointment (the main reason that we require the start date to ensure this is in place before then).

After that, all payments are made at the end of the month (unless you prefer to use our automated booking and payment system which is available to therapists who provide over 10 sessions per week with MTO).

As independent practitioners within My Therapist Online, our therapists maintain autonomy, practicing according to the high standards of their professional qualifications. We respect your expertise in client care. The therapeutic space you create with your clients is yours to safeguard, ensuring confidentiality as in any private practice.

You are expected to practice within the scope of your skills and competencies, adhering to the ethical codes of conduct of your profession. This includes engaging in regular professional supervision and continuing professional development (CPD) to stay abreast of the most effective and evidence-based practices in the field.

Complete this session dates form.

• All therapists registered with My Therapist Online are required to bill all client referrals received through our platform exclusively through our service.

• This includes all assessments and billable report writing, all therapy sessions, as well as follow-up and return client sessions.

• All Fees will be deducted by us directly from the client’s payment.

• Please be sure to submit your end-of-month session dates by the last few days of a month.

  Here is the link you need to add the dates you carried out therapy each month - End of month therapy dates form.

• You can submit your therapy session dates earlier if you have finished all your sessions for the month.

• Please ensure we have the most up-to-date bank details for your payments.

• We try to pay therapists in full by the 14th of the month, but this is reliant on clients paying their invoices.

• We will notify you if we make a part payment and a further payment can be expected.

Non-attendance & Cancellation of appointments (DNA)

The policy communicated with the client is:

“To cancel, kindly notify your therapist at least 48 hours before your session. Late cancellations (within 48 hours) may incur a full or half-session charge, per the therapist's discretion.”

If you plan to charge for a DNA you need to clearly communicate this with your client and how much you plan to charge them 100% or 50% - this is at your discretion as you will know the context of each DNA.

They are very unlikely to pay this if it comes as a surprise in an invoice.

Implementing a charge for Did Not Attend (DNA) incidents requires careful consideration to balance maintaining engagement with clients and respecting the therapist's time. Our guidance suggests a flexible approach. Recognising that imposing a fee for a missed session before therapy commences may deter clients from continuing, it's essential to handle this sensitively to avoid damaging the budding trust and rapport.

You know your client best - we advise using the DNA policy as a framework, applying your judgment based on your understanding of the client. The goal is to foster commitment to the therapeutic process and respect for the therapist's time.

It's about finding a middle ground that protects the therapeutic alliance while also setting professional boundaries.

• Some therapists charge nothing for a first DNA - but remind the client of the DNA policy and explain they will have to charge for any further DNAs.

• Some therapists charge 50% for a second DNA - but remind the client of the DNA policy and explain they will have to charge for any further DNAs.

• Some therapists charge 100% only for a second or more DNAs.

Discharge from Treatment: Please notify us if a client ends their treatment so we can update their records. Please also update the availability form in good time for us to start the process of finding you new clients to fill your caseload.

Link to the availability form is here.

End of treatment questionnaire - Please give the end of treatment questionnaire to clients who are either discharged, or who have moved into less regular appointments or follow-up.

Link to end of treatment questionnaire.

The questionnaire aims to generate some super feedback which we can put on your profile page.

Follow-up Session - In private practice, clients often have the option to reconnect with their therapist if they need additional support after discharge. This could be through ad-hoc follow-up sessions (billed through MTO) or by booking with another MTO therapist.

Many therapists also schedule a post-treatment review session to help clients maintain progress and prevent relapse, in line with best practice guidelines.

All clinical notes must be managed by therapists in accordance with the ICO and UK GDPR guidelines while also respecting your professional codes of conduct.

Here's a summary of guidance to help ensure compliance:

• Understand Legal Obligations - Familiarise yourself with the UK GDPR requirements. Your handling of clinical notes should be lawful, fair, and transparent.

• Ensure Confidentiality and Security - Protect patient data from unauthorised access, disclosure, or loss. This includes secure storage of physical and digital records, cautious sharing of information, and mindful discussions about patients.

• Manage Consent and Patient Rights - Inform patients about how their data is processed, who has access, and their rights regarding their data. While consent is a complex issue for public authorities, private practitioners should still ensure clear communication with patients about data handling.

• Record Keeping and Retention - Keep clear, accurate, and up-to-date records. Adhere to guidelines regarding the duration for which records are kept, ensuring they are securely disposed of when no longer needed.

• Follow Organisational and Professional Standards - Abide by the policies and procedures of your professional body regarding confidentiality, data protection, and records management.

• Maintain Transparency with Patients - Provide patients with accessible information about the use of their data, ensuring there are no surprises regarding how their information is handled.

• Regular Training and Awareness - Stay updated on data protection laws and best practices through regular training and awareness programs.

• Professional and Ethical Considerations - Always consider the ethical implications of data handling in line with your professional code of conduct.

By following these guidelines, private practitioners can ensure that their management of clinical notes is compliant with both legal requirements and professional standards, thereby safeguarding patient privacy and maintaining trust in their practice.

Most therapists offering therapy privately will typically establish have their own agreement/contract which they share with their clients at the start of treatment to lay down a clear framework for the therapeutic relationship.

This contract sets out the expectations, boundaries, and the professional guidelines which govern the therapy sessions.

It ensures both the client and therapist have a mutual understanding of confidentiality, session frequency, fees, and cancellation policies, among other aspects.

The agreement is also a part of ethical practice standards, helping to build trust and transparency right from the outset, and provides a point of reference for both parties throughout the therapeutic journey.

Importantly, it aligns with the legal and professional requirements set by UK governing bodies to safeguard the interests and well-being of both the therapist and the client.

Examples of headings in a therapy contract may include:

• Therapeutic approach and goals

• Confidentiality & notekeeping in your private practice

• Recommended session frequency

• Your fees (as advertised at MTO)

• Cancellation policies - in line with those of MTO/

• Contacting your therapist and your position on out of hours contact

• Use of homework between sessions

At My Therapist Online (MTO), we aim to provide continuity of care by making it easy for clients to resume therapy with their therapist after a break.

If a client originally came through an MTO referral and later wishes to restart therapy, they will remain an MTO client, and all invoicing will continue to be arranged through MTO.

This ensures a seamless experience for both the therapist and the client, maintaining the same setup as before.

If your rate has changed, please let us know if you want us to inform the returning client of this, or if you plan to offer your previous rate.

If you have current testimonials, please share them with us. Client testimonials add to the confidence of potential clients.

Please send clients this My Therapist Online Questionnaire which generates testimonials.

We can send you an email pro-forma to use for this.

Blocks of text and still photographs cannot convey your warmth and personality, the tone of your voice, or the human qualities that will endear you to potential clients.

A video introduction doesn’t need to be long or an Oscar-winning performance, just a brief friendly ‘hello’.

• A little research - Do have a look at other therapists' videos on the website to get an idea.

• Time - Please keep it to 30 second-2 minutes

• Location - in the professional therapy setting you will typically provide your therapy sessions. Ensure a professional and simple background.

• Good lighting - Ensure bright lighting (ideally recorded in daylight).

• Good Camera Position - an eye-level camera position

We can add any extra training or new clinical expertise to your profile page at any stage.

If you have written an article we can add this to our website to further increase click through to your page.

Why Highlighting Your Areas of Expertise Leads to Increased Referrals

As a private therapist, being clear and specific about your areas of expertise can significantly boost your chances of receiving more client referrals. Here's why:

1. Reassurance for Clients: When clients are searching for a therapist, they are often overwhelmed by the choices available. They tend to gravitate toward professionals who clearly specialize in the specific issues they are facing. By highlighting your specialized treatment areas, you help potential clients feel more confident that you are the right therapist to support them through their struggles. This reassurance is key in helping clients make their decision.

2. Targeted Marketing: From MTO’s perspective, knowing your key areas of expertise allows us to market your skills more effectively to potential clients. When we understand the specific issues you treat—whether it's anxiety, trauma, OCD, or relationship challenges—we can better match you with clients who are looking for help in those areas. This targeted approach results in higher quality referrals that are aligned with your strengths as a therapist.

3. Building Your Reputation: Being known for a specific expertise also helps build your reputation in that field. Clients are more likely to recommend you to others when they know you specialize in certain areas, and this can lead to a steady stream of word-of-mouth referrals in addition to those generated through MTO.

Ultimately, clarifying your specialties helps both you and MTO better connect with clients who need exactly what you offer. By doing so, you increase your visibility and improve your chances of consistently receiving referrals that align with your expertise.

Boost Your Referrals Through MTO by Contributing to Our Blog

Writing a blog post for the MTO website is an excellent way to increase your visibility and attract more clients. Once your post is published, we’ll link it directly to your profile page, which can also be used when promoting your services to potential clients.

You could write a post under the heading “5 Things You Need to Know About...” and focus on any topic you're passionate about or an area of your expertise. This is a powerful opportunity to showcase your knowledge and connect with clients who are specifically seeking support in that area. Potential clients will be more likely to navigate between your profile page and your article, building their confidence in your therapeutic skills and expertise.

A thoughtful, well-written blog post not only highlights your skill set but also establishes you as an authority in your field. It can directly influence clients to choose you as their therapist because it demonstrates your approach, understanding, and professionalism.

By sharing your insights, you help educate the public while increasing your chances of attracting clients who resonate with your style and are impressed by your depth of knowledge.

Don’t worry about the technical side—our MTO team will handle the formatting, adding images, and linking it to your profile with good SEO. All you need to do is provide the content, and we’ll take care of the rest.

Reduced Rates for Training, CPD Opportunities at https://contextualconsulting.co.uk

20% Discount code = MTO20

________________________________________________________________________________

My Therapist Online are affiliated with Contextual Consulting Training

My Therapist Online is proudly affiliated with Contextual Consulting Training, a renowned provider of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) Training.

We have partnered with world-renowned experts in this field to offer top-quality training opportunities.

All of the training events are conveniently conducted online, allowing for easy accessibility. We provide a range of formats to suit your preferences, including live events, recorded sessions of previous live events, and pre-recorded on-demand training sessions.

Simply use the code MTO20 when booking any training event with Contextual Consulting.

We are committed to supporting your professional growth and making these valuable training experiences more accessible to you.

________________________________________________________________________________

https://contextualconsulting.co.uk

20% Discount code = MTO20

If you have a client that needs to book a GP appointment. We have a partnership with Dr.Online, where your clients can access fast-track online GP appointments.

Dr.Online services, accessible from anywhere in the UK, provide you with professional medical advice and e-treatments in the comfort and privacy of your chosen location.

Dr.Online takes pride in ensuring all our services are delivered by online doctors (GP’s) registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). The GP team are on hand to help you with your needs to provide a personal service for your clients.

Mable Therapy - Online Speech and Language Therapy.

We're proud to be working in partnership with Mable, a leading provider of speech therapy and counselling for children and young people across the UK.

Mable’s team of experienced specialists are passionate about helping children overcome barriers and reach their full potential. Like us, they believe that no child should be left behind due to long waiting lists or limited access to the right support.

Together, we're committed to making timely, high-quality support more accessible — so children and young people can get the help they need, exactly when they need it.

Reduced Rates for Training, CPD Opportunities at https://contextualconsulting.co.uk

20% Discount code = MTO20

________________________________________________________________________________

My Therapist Online are affiliated with Contextual Consulting Training

My Therapist Online is proudly affiliated with Contextual Consulting Training, a renowned provider of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) Training.

We have partnered with world-renowned experts in this field to offer top-quality training opportunities.

All of the training events are conveniently conducted online, allowing for easy accessibility. We provide a range of formats to suit your preferences, including live events, recorded sessions of previous live events, and pre-recorded on-demand training sessions.

Simply use the code MTO20 when booking any training event with Contextual Consulting.

We are committed to supporting your professional growth and making these valuable training experiences more accessible to you.

________________________________________________________________________________

https://contextualconsulting.co.uk

20% Discount code = MTO20

If you have a client that needs to book a GP appointment. We have a partnership with Dr.Online, where your clients can access fast-track online GP appointments.

Dr.Online services, accessible from anywhere in the UK, provide you with professional medical advice and e-treatments in the comfort and privacy of your chosen location.

Dr.Online takes pride in ensuring all our services are delivered by online doctors (GP’s) registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). The GP team are on hand to help you with your needs to provide a personal service for your clients.

We aim to remove discussions about money from the therapeutic space, therefore all invoicing and chasing of payments are done by us, leaving you to focus entirely on the all-important therapy.

IMPORTANT - We kindly request that all client referrals provided by My Therapist Online be billed through our service, including follow-up and return clients.

This ensures a streamlined process for everyone involved and helps us maintain the high standard of service we strive for.

Here is the link to comlete your session dates at the end of the month - End of month Clirent Sessions Form

It’s free to register with My Therapist Online with no monthly subscription. 

We charge a 23% service fee on sessions completed (this includes all therapy sessions, assessments and report).

Some therapists choose to raise the session fee slightly to accommodate our service fee. 

If you do adjust your rate to accommodate our service fee, please ensure you remove or match any other online session rates to avoid confusion. 

Please submit dates of all your completes therapy sessions at the end of the month, or earlier if you have completed them all earlier.

- Link to form is here

Our accounts team sends all clients invoices for their sessions at the end of each month (minus any credit).

• We try to pay therapists in full by the 14th of the month, but this is reliant on clients paying their invoices.

• We will notify you if we make a part payment and a further payment can be expected.

• Please ensure we know which insurance services you are registered with.

• Most MTO customers pat privately or by their employer. For insurance-linked referrals, we charge a one-off fee of £50 for the connection but then ask you to link directly with the insurer for payment.

• If you have less than 2 sessions with this client, please get back in touch and we will arrange a full or partial refund of the £50 as we don't want you to bear the cost of a referral that doesn't progress into more regular sessions.

You can set your own rate for therapy (which may be raised a little to factor in our fee). 

Our therapists charge different rates depending on their skills, experience and expertise.

• Clinical Psychologists between £90 - £130 per session

• Counselling Psychologists charge between £90 - £120 per session

• CBT Therapists between £60 - £100 per session, with specialists around £110 per session

• Counsellors between £60 - £85 per session

All clients book directly with you, unless you are on our automated booking system (see below).

For therapist on invoicing payment pathway (you automatically start on this) -

• Once we know the date you have agreed to start therapy - we ask your clients for an initial payment to cover the first two sessions.

• We will inform you when this is in place so. the therapy can go ahead. This advance payment gives you confidence that the sessions will be attended & any unused credit will be refunded in full.

There are two ways for your clients to pay:

1. Using our secure payment link by clicking here

Most debit / credit cards are accepted, the payment is fully secured by Stripe and you can save your card details for paying future invoices, or

2. Send us a bank transfer using the following details:

My Therapist Online Limited

Sort Code 40-01-07

Account Number 91754238

IBAN GB83HBUK40010791754238

Swift / BIC HBUKGB4105G

Address: HSBC Balham · 117 Balham High Road · Balham · London · SW12 9AS

Please quote your name & therapist’s first name in the payment reference

Automated booking and payment system - If provide more than 30 therapy sessions per month, you may wish to move to our free automated booking and payment system. Simply ask Keith about moving to this system - hello@mytherapistonline.com