The UpTopWeb blog

A steadier way to build your practice.

Practical, plain-English guidance for UK counsellors and therapists—from setting up safely to helping the right clients find you.

Illustration of four steps from counsellor to EMDR practitioner: full accreditation with a listed body, the 7-day EMDR Europe standard training, supervised EMDR practice with 25 clients, then EMDR Europe practitioner accreditation

Training & CPD4 November 20269 minute read

EMDR Training for Counsellors (UK): Who Can Train and What It Costs

Who can do EMDR training in the UK, why counsellors need full accreditation first, what the 7-day training costs, and the steps to practitioner accreditation.

By Jack Oldham Read article

Illustration of a calendar from November to January with four steps: tell clients, confirm in writing, update your website, then take the break

Starting a practice3 November 20269 minute read

Christmas Break for Therapists: Telling Clients and Updating Your Website

A week-by-week plan for a therapist's Christmas break in 2026: when to tell clients, what to put in writing, and the website, Google and email changes to make before you stop.

By Jack Oldham Read article

Illustration of a website on a server with a padlock, and three cards: who runs the server, ask for the patched version, check your enquiry form

Therapist websites2 November 202610 minute read

Therapist Website Security: What PHP2Shell Means for You

A serious flaw in PHP, the software behind WordPress, was fixed on 21 October 2026. What it means for a therapist website, who has to act, and what to ask your host.

By Jack Oldham Read article

Illustration of three cards for BACP, NCPS and UKCP showing a registered-level membership, its 2026 to 2027 annual fee, the training route onto the register and the testimonials rule, above a shared line saying all three registers are accredited by the PSA

Starting a practice30 October 202615 minute read

BACP vs NCPS vs UKCP: Which Professional Body to Join?

BACP, NCPS or UKCP? How the three registers compare on 2026-27 fees, entry routes, accreditation and advertising rules, plus a quick test for your practice.

By Jack Oldham Read article

Illustration: three ways to grow beyond a solo practice, shown as cards. Shared rooms (each therapist runs their own practice), associates (the practice finds clients, self-employed therapists see them) and employed staff (the practice employs and pays the therapists), with the question each one raises: who does the client contract with?

Starting a practice29 October 202614 minute read

Starting a Group Practice in the UK: A Guide for Counsellors

Thinking of bringing other therapists into your practice? How to choose between room-sharing, associates and staff, and what to sort out first: status, data, insurance and fees.

By Jack Oldham Read article

Illustration: three cards comparing UK training for counsellors. IFS Level 1: Level 4 plus a PSA-accredited register, places by lottery, £3,200 to £4,200. Compassion focused therapy: open introductory workshops, a ten-month diploma after three years' practice, no accrediting body. DIT: a 20-day route for diploma-level counsellors at the Anna Freud centre, with supervised cases

Training & CPD28 October 202612 minute read

IFS, CFT or DIT? Extra Therapy Training for Counsellors (UK)

Thinking about IFS, compassion focused therapy or DIT training? Who can apply in the UK, how long each takes, what it costs, and what you can say afterwards.

By Jack Oldham Read article

Illustration: a counsellor's receipts sorted into three columns, usually claimable (room hire, supervision, insurance, membership, CPD), business share only (phone and broadband, working from home, car travel, a shared laptop) and usually not (personal therapy, everyday clothes, training for a new career), with the 2025 to 2026 return due on 31 January 2027

Starting a practice27 October 202614 minute read

Allowable Expenses for Counsellors: A UK Self Assessment Guide

Which costs can a self-employed counsellor claim on a Self Assessment return? Supervision, room hire, CPD, personal therapy and more, checked against HMRC.

By Jack Oldham Read article

A route map branching from a Level 4 counselling diploma to five next steps: Level 5 diplomas, accreditation, supervision training, specialist training, and degrees or psychotherapy

Training & CPD26 October 202613 minute read

Counselling Qualifications After Level 4: Your UK Options

Finished your Level 4 counselling diploma? The UK routes after it compared: Level 5, accreditation, supervision, CBT, EMDR, couples work, degrees and UKCP.

By Jack Oldham Read article

Three steps rising from Level 4 (core diploma, registered member) to Level 5 (independent practice, children and young people, or CBT) to Level 6 (supervision or degree routes)

Training & CPD23 October 202612 minute read

Level 5 Diploma in Counselling: Is It Worth It?

Whether a Level 5 counselling diploma is worth it for UK counsellors heading into private practice: what it adds to Level 4, costs, funding, SCoPEd and accreditation.

By Jack Oldham Read article

Three overlapping circles labelled training and experience, clients you work well with, and what clients search for, with your niche where they meet

Marketing22 October 202615 minute read

How to Find Your Niche as a Therapist (UK Guide)

A practical way for UK counsellors to choose a therapist niche you can back up: what clients search for, a 20-minute local test, and how to use it on your website.

By Jack Oldham Read article

Illustration of a sponsored Google search result for a Leeds counsellor beside six set-up steps: Expert Mode and Search only, people in your area, phrase and exact keywords, blocking jobs, courses and free searches, describing rather than diagnosing, and tracking with consent

Marketing21 October 202618 minute read

Google Ads for Therapists (UK): A Step-by-Step Set-Up Guide

A step-by-step UK guide to Google Ads for therapists: the settings to change, keywords and negatives to use, ad wording that fits the rules, and consent-safe tracking.

By Jack Oldham Read article

Illustration of four ad channels for a therapist, from Google search for people already looking, through Maps and social media, to AI chat, which is marked as not available yet

Marketing20 October 202618 minute read

Paid Advertising for Therapists: Google, Meta and What's Worth It (UK)

A UK guide to paid ads for counsellors: where Google ads appear, Meta's health rules, why ChatGPT and TikTok are closed for now, and the cookie consent ads need.

By Jack Oldham Read article