Finding safe, non-drug support
We do not list individual therapists. In the UK, some therapy titles are not protected, so a directory listing alone cannot tell you whether someone is properly trained. Instead, here are the free NHS routes, regulated registers and quick checks that help you find legitimate support.
Regulated routes
Start with free NHS help, then use accredited professional registers. Large commercial directories are listed last because you must verify anyone you find there.
Start here — free/NHS
- NHS Talking TherapiesEngland, self-referral, free.
- Devolved nations: search “NHS talking therapies” plus your nation (Scotland via NHS inform/local health board; Wales via local health board psychological therapies; Northern Ireland via GP/local trust).
Find a regulated therapist (PSA Accredited Registers)
- BACP Therapist Directory
- UKCP Find a Therapist
- NCPS Find a Counsellor
- BABCP CBT Register — for CBT, most relevant to anxiety.
- BPC — psychodynamic/psychoanalytic.
Verify a professional
- HCPC Check the Register — for practitioner/clinical/counselling psychologists, which are protected titles.
- PSA Accredited Registers
Neurodiversity-aware
For neurodivergent clients, look for therapists experienced in autism/ADHD who offer adapted therapy.
Large general directories — useful, but verify
A listing here is not a guarantee of regulation; always check the therapist on an accredited register above.
How to check a therapist is legitimate
In the UK, “counsellor” and “psychotherapist” are not protected titles — anyone can legally use them; the responsibility to check falls to you. Here’s how, in a few minutes:
- Check the title. “Practitioner/clinical/counselling PSYCHOLOGIST” is legally protected — verify on the HCPC register. “Counsellor”/“psychotherapist” are not — go to step 2.
- Check they’re on a PSA Accredited Register (BACP, UKCP, NCPS, BABCP or BPC) — search that register’s own site for their name; don’t just trust a logo.
- For anxiety, look for CBT — strongest evidence; check the BABCP CBT Register.
- Ask three questions: your qualifications? regular clinical supervision? professional indemnity insurance?
- Ask about neurodivergence: experience with autistic/ADHD clients, and do you adapt how you work?
- Try the free route first — NHS Talking Therapies and charities may help at no cost.
- Walk away from red flags: promises to “cure” autism/ADHD, no verifiable registration, pressure to commit money quickly, or no clear complaints route.
Common questions
- Does NeuroCompare list individual therapists?
- No. Counsellor and psychotherapist are not protected titles in the UK, so we point to NHS services and professional registers where you can check a person's credentials yourself.
- Are counsellors and psychotherapists regulated in the UK?
- Those titles are not protected by law. Look for membership of a Professional Standards Authority Accredited Register, and verify the person on the register's own website rather than trusting a logo.
- How do I check a psychologist?
- Practitioner psychologist, clinical psychologist and counselling psychologist are protected titles. Check the professional on the HCPC register.
- Can I get talking therapy free through the NHS?
- In England, NHS Talking Therapies accepts self-referrals in many areas and is free. Routes differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so use your local NHS service, health board or trust.
- What should I ask about neurodivergent-friendly therapy?
- Ask about experience with autistic and ADHD clients and how the therapist adapts language, pace, structure and the sensory setting. A clear, specific answer is more useful than a general claim to be neurodiversity-friendly.
Information, not medical advice. Services and availability vary by area and can change. Check current details with the service or professional before making a decision.
Want a plain-English comparison of CBT, counselling, psychotherapy and other approaches? Read talking therapies explained.