How we verify therapists

A verified counsellor has had all of this checked by us: photo ID against a live selfie, right to work in the UK, membership of an accredited voluntary register (such as BACP, UKCP, NCPS or BABCP — or HCPC/BPS for psychologists), current professional indemnity insurance, and their supervision arrangement. Where they see clients in person we also confirm the practice address. Only then do they get the verified badge.

Qualification certificates are checked separately, one certificate at a time, and deliberately don't gate the badge: a live register entry already means the register has satisfied itself about the counsellor's core training — and, unlike a certificate, it tells us they are in good standing today. What a certificate check adds is honesty about the specific claims on a profile: an MA or a specialist diploma shows a verified tick only when we have seen the paper, and says “self-reported” until then.

Not every listing is verified, and we never pretend otherwise. A counsellor can create a listing and start taking bookings while verification is still in progress — those profiles say “verification in progress” on every card and list each check as “not yet” or “self-reported” on the profile itself. Nothing is ever shown as checked by us unless we have checked it.

“Counsellor” and “psychotherapist” are not protected titles in the UK, so register membership is the meaningful check rather than a state licence. We confirm the register entry at the point of verification. We do not yet re-check registers automatically on a schedule — so if you think a registration has lapsed, tell us and we will check it the next working day and remove the badge if it has.

We check documents, not clinical practice. If something feels wrong about a session, tell your counsellor if you can, use the complaints page here, or complain directly to their register — all three routes are always open to you.

Questions about this page? Email [email protected].