Co-founder
I'm Jack Oldham, co-founder of UpTopWeb. I've spent 25 years in marketing and web design, and now I help UK therapists get websites that bring them the right clients. I've also been on the other side of the room as a counselling client, so I know how much that first impression matters when someone is looking for help.
Before UpTopWeb, I led marketing teams at software companies, where being found on Google was a big part of the job. I hold a CertHE in Web Design Technologies from Birkbeck, and I co-build our sites with Dan.
On this blog I write about what I see working with therapists: websites, being found on Google and in AI search, and turning visitors into enquiries. I bring my own perspective and real examples wherever I can, and every article is checked against official sources and reviewed by Dan before it goes live.
I'm not a therapist, accountant or lawyer, so on clinical, legal and tax topics I'll point you to the official guidance.
Are you a therapist or counsellor with experience to share? I'd love to feature your perspective in an article. or connect on LinkedIn.
57 articles
Is Gmail or Outlook secure enough for client email? What UK GDPR expects, which messages need encrypting, and Microsoft 365, Google, Proton and Tuta compared.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Which costs can a self-employed counsellor claim on a Self Assessment return? Supervision, room hire, CPD, personal therapy and more, checked against HMRC.
Finished your Level 4 counselling diploma? The UK routes after it compared: Level 5, accreditation, supervision, CBT, EMDR, couples work, degrees and UKCP.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A UK guide to Facebook for counsellors: peer groups, replying to local recommendation posts, setting up a Page, and keeping Messenger enquiries safe.
What BACP accreditation asks for, what it costs, how long it really takes and when it's worth it for a private practice, plus how to show it on your website.
Can UK therapists write about client work in a blog or post? What BACP, UKCP and the ICO say, why disguise often fails, and how to write about the issue instead.
Where counselling referrals really come from in the UK: GPs, colleagues, link workers, insurers and EAPs, plus the rules on fees, consent and confidentiality.
Can counsellors use client testimonials? What BACP, UKCP, the ASA and the UK's fake reviews law say, how to get consent properly, and safer ways to build trust.
A UK guide to Instagram for counsellors and psychotherapists: setting up your profile, post ideas that build trust, and what BACP, UKCP and ASA rules rule out.
Nine practice management tools for UK therapists compared on price, UK data storage and features, plus how to choose and a folder system for client notes.
What therapy room hire costs in the UK, with real London and regional prices: hourly, weekly slots, memberships or your own room, and what to check first.
Making Tax Digital reaches self-employed counsellors earning over £30,000 from April 2027. Who's in, why turnover counts rather than profit, and what to do now.
In force since midday 3 November 2026. A plain-English summary of what's changed since 2018 (AI tools, privacy notices, fees, clinical wills) and a private practice checklist.
When an issue you work with deserves its own page on your therapy website, when a section is better, and how to avoid thin pages Google ignores.
What a clinical will is, what BACP, UKCP, BABCP and BPC expect, how to choose a clinical executor, and a free editable clinical will template for UK counsellors.
What UK counsellors need before offering online sessions: BACP's competence framework, choosing a platform, online contracts, risk planning and clients abroad.
What to put in a counselling contract with private clients, how BACP and UKCP expect you to agree terms, and the consumer law most cancellation clauses miss.
BACP supervision requirements explained: who must have 1.5 hours a month, what registered members need, UKCP rules, and how to choose and record supervision.
Most directory profiles are skimmed in two sentences. How UK therapists can write a clearer profile for Counselling Directory, Psychology Today or BACP.
Squarespace or Wix for your therapy practice? UK prices, booking, redesigns, cookie settings and leaving later, compared for counsellors and therapists.
Squarespace, Wix and GoDaddy Airo compared for UK therapists: first-year cost in pounds, online booking, AI-written copy and what each is like to live with.
Rewrite your therapist website in plain, warm words that help the right client get in touch, with worked before-and-after examples and the UK claims rules.
A practical guide to blogging as a UK therapist: what to write about, the confidentiality line to hold, and a realistic posting routine that works.
BACP expects at least 30 CPD hours a year, UKCP 250 over five years, and the HCPC sets no target. What counts as CPD, how audits work and how to stay ready.
The specific technical checklist behind AI search readiness: what's already handled, what to check yourself, and which AI crawlers to actually let in.
A Level 4 Diploma can get you BACP registered and seeing private clients, but it has limits. What it covers, how long each stage takes, and what SCoPEd changes.
What actually makes a therapist website GDPR compliant: cookies, your enquiry form, third-party tools and where your data ends up being stored.
Counselling Directory from £24.50 a month, Psychology Today £19.95 after six free months, BACP £76 a year. What UK therapists say, and when a listing pays off.
BACP and UKCP both allow therapists on social media, but expect clear boundaries. What their guidance actually says, and a simple policy you can use.
What UK law actually requires for therapist website accessibility, what WCAG 2.2 AA means in practice, and the most common mistakes to fix first.
What Google's AI Overviews and tools like ChatGPT actually mean for how clients find a UK therapist, and what your website genuinely needs to do about it.
Do UK therapists need a DBS check? What basic, standard and enhanced checks actually cover, how self-employed therapists can now apply for one, and what it costs.
An ethics-first guide to marketing yourself as a UK therapist: every channel compared, where to start for your situation, and a weekly routine under an hour.
Where legitimate backlinks for therapists actually come from, what Google calls a link scheme, and two realistic ones worth pursuing this month.
What indemnity insurance covers for UK counsellors, psychotherapists, art therapists and dramatherapists, what BACP, UKCP and HCPC require, and what it costs.
A practical guide to UK GDPR for therapists: whether you need to register with the ICO, what counts as special category data, how long to keep records, and what to do if something goes wrong.
A website builder like Wix or Squarespace looks like the obvious choice for a therapist website, but it isn't always the right fit. A clear way to decide.
A practical guide to local SEO for therapists: set up your Google Business Profile, choose between an address and a service area, and get genuine reviews.
What website maintenance really involves for a therapist website, what it costs across DIY, freelance and done-for-you routes, and what happens if you skip it.
How UK therapists can compare sole trader status with a limited company: liability, tax, Companies House costs, and a simple way to decide which fits.
How search engine optimisation actually works for a therapist or counsellor website, explained without jargon, plus the on-page and local SEO basics worth doing first.
A step-by-step way to work out how much to charge for counselling, starting from your real costs and income goal rather than a guess or a competitor's price.
Referrals, a directory listing, a simple website and tracking what converts: a realistic guide to finding your first counselling clients in the UK.
Directory listings and social media get you found, but only a website you own shows your fees, policies and FAQs in full. What each gives you, and when to wait.
A plain-English breakdown of what a therapist website actually costs: DIY builders, freelancers and agencies, and what's included versus billed separately.
The pages, trust signals and practical details a therapist or counsellor website needs, from your homepage and fees to accessibility and GDPR.
A practical guide to setting up a private therapy practice in the UK: qualifications, insurance, fees, client records, marketing and getting found online.