How to Find a Private Child Therapist in the UK

If you have decided to pursue private therapy for your child, the next step is finding the right therapist. With so many options available, it can feel overwhelming to know where to start.

This guide explains what to look for, where to search, and how to make sure you are choosing someone who is properly qualified and experienced.

Why Choosing the Right Therapist Matters

The relationship between a young person and their therapist is one of the most important factors in the success of therapy. Getting it right from the start, finding someone who is properly qualified, experienced with children and young people, and a good fit for your child, makes a significant difference to outcomes.

What Qualifications Should a Child Therapist Have?

Therapy is not a regulated profession in the UK in the same way that medicine or nursing is, which means that in theory anyone can call themselves a therapist. This makes it particularly important to check qualifications and accreditations carefully before proceeding.

For CBT, look for a therapist who is accredited by the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies, known as the BABCP. BABCP accreditation requires therapists to meet rigorous standards of training, supervision and continuing professional development, and is the gold standard for CBT in the UK.

For EMDR, look for a therapist who is an accredited member of EMDR UK, the professional body for EMDR therapists in the UK.

It is also important to check that the therapist has specific training and experience in working with children and young people. Many therapists work primarily with adults, and working with children and young people requires additional training, a different skill set, and an understanding of child development and family dynamics.

Where to Find a Private Child Therapist?

There are several ways to find a qualified private therapist for your child. Online therapist directories allow you to search by specialism, therapy type and age group, and can be a useful starting point. Professional bodies such as the BABCP and EMDR UK also maintain searchable registers of accredited therapists.



Whichever route you take, the most important thing is to verify the therapist's qualifications and experience before proceeding. A listing in a directory is not in itself a guarantee of quality.

What Questions Should I Ask?

Once you have identified a potential therapist, it is worth asking a few questions before committing to sessions. How much experience do they have working with children and young people? What specific conditions do they specialise in? What is their approach to involving parents in the therapy process? Do they hold a current DBS check?



A reputable therapist will be happy to answer these questions and will welcome the opportunity to discuss whether they are the right fit for your child.

Should I Choose an Online or In-Person Private Therapist?

Online therapy has become increasingly mainstream and the evidence consistently supports its effectiveness. For many young people, particularly teenagers, the comfort and privacy of their own home makes it easier to engage openly in sessions. Online therapy also removes the need to travel and makes specialist therapists accessible to families anywhere in the UK, regardless of location.

If you are based in a rural area or a part of the UK where specialist child therapists are limited locally, online therapy significantly expands your options.

A Note on Cost

Private therapy involves a cost per session that varies depending on the therapist and the type of therapy. It is worth checking whether your child is covered by private health insurance before ruling out private therapy on cost grounds. Some insurers cover CBT and EMDR, and the cost of sessions may be partially or fully covered by your policy.

At Sulis Therapies

At Sulis Therapies, we offer specialist private CBT and EMDR therapy for children and young people up to the age of 26, delivered online across the UK. Our therapist is BABCP accredited and a member of EMDR UK, and has over twenty years of experience working exclusively with children and young people. Get in touch to arrange a free initial consultation and find out how we can help.