Starting therapy is a significant step in your journey toward improving your mental health and well-being. It can also feel a bit daunting—especially when you start looking at the sheer number of therapists, titles, and approaches out there. How do you know who’s right for you? What qualifications should you look for? And how do you ensure you’re working with someone who’s both skilled and experienced enough to meet your needs?
It’s not just about finding any therapist—it’s about finding the right one for you.
Someone you feel comfortable with, who understands your concerns, and who has the right qualifications and experience to offer the level of support you need.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through some of the things you need to know before choosing a therapist: what professional titles mean, how levels of training differ, and what questions you can ask to feel confident in your choice.
Why the Therapeutic Relationship Is Key
When people think about therapy, they often focus on the specific approach or techniques a therapist might use—whether it’s CBT, psychodynamic therapy, or something else. While these methods are undoubtedly important, there’s something even more powerful that often predicts how successful therapy will be: the relationship you build with your therapist.
Research has shown that the quality of the therapeutic relationship—the trust, connection, and sense of being truly understood—has the biggest impact on how well therapy works.
What does this mean for you?
It means that finding someone you connect with matters just as much as their qualifications. Therapy is deeply personal, and you’ll be talking about things you might not have shared with anyone else. Feeling comfortable enough to open up is essential. My clients often say “I’ve never told anyone this before, but I feel safe enough to tell you.” That’s the kind of trust you want to build in therapy. It takes time, but the right therapist will create a space where you can feel secure enough to be open and honest.
It’s not about becoming friends with your therapist—our role is to stay professional while offering you genuine care, empathy, and understanding.
Understanding Professional Titles: What Do They Mean?
One of the most confusing aspects of choosing a therapist is figuring out what all the different titles mean. Clinical psychologist, counsellor, psychotherapist… what’s the difference?
The key thing to know is that not all titles reflect the same level of training or experience. Some are legally protected, while others are not. Understanding these differences can help you make a more informed choice because you might feel more comfortable with someone highly trained, or your level of need might require someone with a higher level of skill and experience.
Protected Titles
Certain titles are legally protected. This means that only professionals who have completed extensive training and are registered with a regulatory body (such as the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)) can use them and that offers some protection for you.
Clinical Psychologists, for example, have completed a doctorate in clinical psychology, which involves many years of advanced training across a range of mental health settings. If you’re looking for help with a complex mental health condition—like trauma, personality disorders, or ADHD—a Clinical Psychologist will have the training and experience to assess, diagnose, and provide tailored treatment as they are trained to the highest level possible.
In the UK, the following psychologist titles are protected by law under the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC):
Clinical Psychologist
Counselling Psychologist
Educational Psychologist
Forensic Psychologist
Health Psychologist
Occupational Psychologist
Sport and Exercise Psychologist
Practitioner Psychologist (umbrella term for applied psychologists)
Misuse of Titles
It is a criminal offence for anyone to use these titles without being registered with the HCPC. This ensures that individuals holding these titles meet specific training and professional standards to protect the public.
What to be careful of
Whilst these titles give you a sense of protection and an understanding of the level of qualification and experience a practitioner might have, some people use similar titles, which are often misleading and even useless.
The term ‘psychologist’ isn’t protected yet, and you might often hear of, or even see people on TV saying they are ‘psychologists’ but without having any qualifications related to protected titles, or being HCPC registered. Unless they define what type of psychologist they are, then the chances are they aren’t registered with the HCPC, and the title could mean nothing at all.
Unprotected Titles
Other titles—such as counsellor and psychotherapist are not legally regulated. This means that, technically, anyone can call themselves a counsellor or psychotherapist, even if they’ve had no formal training at all!!. It is very scary to think you might employ a counsellor or therapist who has no, or a poor level of training and not know it.
Now, this doesn’t mean all counsellors and psychotherapists are unqualified. Most have undergone proper training and are registered with reputable organisations like the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). But because these titles aren’t protected by law, it’s always worth checking their qualifications.
Counsellors typically hold a minimum Level 4 diploma. It is unadvisable to work with anyone that does not hold at least a level 4 therapeutic qualification that should be accredited with specific bodies that are listed below. Some internet courses claim to be accredited but the qualification is meaningless as they are not accredited with governing bodies.
Psychotherapists should hold a level 6 (degree level qualification) in a specific model of therapy (not a generic therapy or generic counselling).
Levels of Training: Why It Matters
Not all therapists have the same level of training, and this can make a big difference in the type of support they’re able to offer. Depending on what you’re dealing with, you may need a different level of expertise. Here’s a quick breakdown of the various training levels and what they mean in practice:
Level 4 (Diploma)
This is the entry-level qualification for counsellors. It provides a foundation in counselling skills and ethical practice, focusing on working with common issues like anxiety, low mood, and life stress. This should be the minimum level of qualification to look out for and they can offer emotional support and help you develop coping strategies. They’ve also completed supervised clinical practice, meaning they’ve worked directly with clients under guidance.
Level 5 (Foundation Degree or Higher National Diploma)
Therapists at this level have more advanced training and can help those who have experienced ongoing complex grief or have some anxiety or depression, a Level 5 therapist might help you explore and process these experiences safely.
Level 6 (Bachelor’s Degree)
Level 6 therapists have completed a degree giving them a deeper level of knowledge and practical experience. They can work with more complex issues, but still not at the higher level issues, and often take a more tailored approach. A therapist with a Level 6 qualification might help you explore how your early experiences influence your current behaviour patterns and work with some lower level trauma experiences.
Level 7 (Postgraduate Diploma or Master’s Degree)
Therapists at this level have completed advanced training in specialised approaches like Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), which are used for more complex difficulties such as trauma or emotional regulation problems. A therapist with a Level 7 qualification might help you explore how you fully start to process your traumatic experiences or teach complex strategies around emotion regulation.
Level 8 (Doctorate)
This is the highest level of training. Clinical Psychologists and Psychiatrists are trained at this level and only they are qualified to work with the most complex and enduring mental health issues. If you’re struggling with multiple long-term difficulties—such as PTSD, chronic anxiety, and relationship trauma—working with a Clinical Psychologist can give you access to a range of therapeutic approaches and a thorough assessment of your needs.
Only Psychologists and Psychiatrists should assess and diagnose complex mental health conditions such as PTSD, personality disorders, or bi-polar etc. Sadly, I often face clients who have been misdiagnosed at lower levels of care, and this can delay the correct treatment and often lead to additional psychological difficulties. If anyone other than a psychologist or psychiatrist starts to diagnose you, its ok to challenge if they are qualified to do so or ask for a second opinion.
A keynote about fees is that understandably you will be charged more, the higher level of education, skill and experience that someone holds. Choosing a therapist may well involve choosing what is right for you financially (unless you have insurance to cover that). A good therapist at any level should be able to tell you if they can work at the level you need.
Memberships to Governing Bodies
A qualified practitioner should also be registered with their appropriate governing body. These are regulatory bodies that ensure there are ethical frameworks we work to, give a right to complain when things don’t go well, and give you reassurance of that practitioners professional standing. Look for registration with one of the main bodies:
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
British Psychological Society (BPS)
British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
Society for Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (SfDBT)
British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)
National Counselling Society (NCS)
Sadly, I see courses being sold online saying they are accredited, but the accreditation is often with themselves and therefore doesn’t count in terms of these standards. Look for the above bodies as they do offer some reassurance.
If looking for a counsellor then make sure your therapist is accredited by one of the bodies, not just a member.
What Therapy Do They Offer
One of the other differences between these level of qualifications is the type and amounts of different therapies someone might be able to offer you. I will talk about the different types of therapy another time.
What I do know, as someone who has trained at every single one of the above levels, is that at lower levels the therapy is taught at more basic levels to deal with lower levels of need, and understandably as you advance in training then the level of training becomes more in depth and therefore can be utilised more fully and for more complex needs.
Some therapists use just one model, whereas others train in many therapies to offer more choice. Remember though unless someone has higher level trainings in specific models, they could be the ‘jack of all trades, and master of none’. This is why its always good to check. Legitimate therapists are usually happy to talk to you about their level of training.
What to Check When Choosing a Therapist
So, that’s a lot to take in but how do you put all this information into practice? I have collated a checklist for you so that when looking for a therapist you might want to enquire about these things. Here are some tips to help you make the best choice:
Check Qualifications: Ask about their training and the level of qualification they hold and what level they should be working with.
Look for Professional Memberships: Make sure they’re registered with reputable bodies like the HCPC, BACP, or UKCP.
Ask About Experience: Find out what kind of issues they specialise in and whether they’ve worked with people facing similar challenges to yours.
Check they are insured and registered with the ICO to hold your information. You can ask for a GDPR statement and to see their insurance documentation.
Ask if they receive regular supervision as this is a requirement of good practice.
Trust Your Instincts: The right therapist will make you feel safe, understood, and supported. If something feels off, it’s okay to keep looking.
Where do I fit in?
At Rainbow Psychological Services Ltd, I bring a unique combination of training and experience as I have trained at each level of qualification which most practitioners haven't, and that allows me to offer a highly tailored approach to each client. I’ve completed multiple qualifications, including one level 4, one level 5, two level 6 (Undergraduate level), two level 7 (Postgraduate level), and one level 8 (Doctorate level) qualification from some of the top universities in the country with the highest possible grades.
As part of my commitment to offer the best service possible I have a programme of ongoing educational and personal development including training in new therapies and advanced training in ones I already use. I have also undertaken training in the assessment, diagnosis, and care of neurodevelopmental conditions, and I receive regular clinical supervision.
I am a chartered member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) where I am also an associate fellow, a registered member of both the Health Care Professional Council, and the British Association Counsellors Psychotherapists (BACP) where I am also on the BACP accredited register. In addition, I am a registered member of the Society for Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and a fully trained DBT therapist. I am a qualified EMDR therapist having trained with EMDR UK academy and a member of the EMDR association.
On top of that, I hold the status of EuroPsy meaning my qualifications match or exceed those required in every country across Europe. I am fully insured, registered with the ICO, and I am able to supervise both clinicians and research projects as I am registered on the RAPPS register with the BPS. To offer tailored and effective treatment options, I am highly trained in a variety of therapeutic models such as CBT, ACT, CFT, EMDR, and DBT (and others please see my website).
This means I am trained to work with most issues you might bring. Please don't think your problem is too big or too small. Mental health matters at all levels.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a practitioner with the appropriate level of expertise is crucial. Just as you wouldn’t want a first-year medical student or someone trained only in taking blood pressure readings to perform a complex surgery, your mental health deserves the same careful consideration.
However, it isn't just about qualifications and knowledge its about the right person for you. Even if you have had a recommendation about a therapist, that doesn’t mean you will ‘gel’ with the person like someone else did as we are all different.
Choosing a therapist is a personal decision, and it’s okay to take your time. Whether you’re facing a specific challenge or just want to understand yourself better, the right therapist can and really does make all the difference. Nearly every time someone comes to work with me and we talk about previous therapy and they felt it ‘didn’t work' for them, it boils down to they just didn’t feel they could open up, or that the therapist didn’t ‘get them’ not just about qualifications.
So, take your time, ask the questions, and be open to the possibility that you might need to try a few therapists until you find the one for you. If you feel you might like to work with me, then feel free to get in touch.
As always until next time
Carla
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