Start a counselling or psychotherapy practice

The law does not protect the titles 'counsellor' or 'psychotherapist'. It protects the titles of practitioner psychologists and arts therapists, and only people on the Health and Care Professions Council register can use them. A care regulator applies if a doctor, nurse or other listed health professional provides or supervises treatment in your practice. Joining a voluntary register is your choice, so decide which one, if any, suits your training.

Your structure affects your tax, your liability and your paperwork. Your choice of room, at home, rented or online, affects your insurance and your data security. Settle these before you take your first booking.

Sort your cover and your client agreement before your first session. Your agreement sets your fees, your cancellation terms and what clients can expect from you.

Notes about a client's mental health are health data, and duties follow from that. You owe clients clear information about how you use their notes. You also pay a data protection fee if you keep any client details on a computer, phone or other device. Some laws override confidentiality, so know them before a client tells you something that triggers one.

A register, agency or client may ask you for a criminal record check. Your client group decides which check you can apply for. Scotland and Northern Ireland use their own schemes, and in Scotland joining the PVG scheme is a legal requirement for a regulated role.

The Advertising Standards Authority enforces the CAP Code on your website and social media. VAT depends on the register you are on, so check your position before your taxable turnover nears the registration threshold.

Review your data protection duties every year. Come back to this step when you take on staff, because taking on staff adds employer duties, including insurance and PAYE.