A survey of nearly 1,000 private therapy practice websites across the UK and Ireland has found that online therapy is now widely offered, yet the ability for clients to book sessions themselves online remains uncommon.
The research, conducted by MindDiary, analysed 983 independent therapy practice websites across the UK and Ireland.
Online therapy widely offered
Researchers examined 983 practice websites and found that 81.0% indicated they offer online therapy, equating to 796 practices. However, only 13.6% of the full sample provided a direct booking flow that clients could complete independently on the public website. Among the 796 practices offering online therapy, 85.4% did not provide such a booking option.
The findings highlight a gap between the delivery of therapy and the accessibility of practices’ public-facing websites. Therapy delivery has digitised much faster than the booking process available to clients online. The analysis notes that not every practice needs to adopt instant booking, but the figures show the limited options currently visible to potential clients.
Intake forms and policies patchy
Booking is only one part of the online experience, with intake processes and policy information appearing even less developed. Just 7.2% of practices, or 71 out of 983, exposed a true public intake form. Generic contact or enquiry forms were not counted. Meanwhile, 33.6%, or 330 practices, made a cancellation policy visible on their public website.
Clients seeking help must often still rely on contact forms, telephone calls, or email, leaving many without clear information before making contact.
Group practices more likely to offer booking
Group practices were more likely than solo practitioners to offer direct booking, although adoption remained limited in both categories. Among 619 solo practices, 10.5%, or 65, exposed direct booking. Among 354 group practices, the figure rose to 19.2%, or 68. Group practices were therefore about 1.8 times as likely as solo practices to provide the feature.
Fees consistent across sampled practices
Fee transparency exists on a substantial number of sites, providing a useful benchmark for those comparing options. The median minimum advertised individual therapy fee was £65 in the UK, based on 618 practices that published explicit recurring or session prices. In Ireland, the median was €70 (about £60), based on 76 practices.
These figures represent the lowest explicit prices found on public websites rather than a standardised national tariff. Practices advertise different therapist levels and services, so actual costs vary.
Sample covers all UK nations and Ireland
The final dataset included every UK nation plus Ireland. England accounted for 628 practices, Ireland 109, Scotland 100, Wales 71, and Northern Ireland 67. Eight eligible websites could not be confidently assigned to a location and remain marked as unknown.
What the data shows
The analysis covers public websites only, reflecting what clients can see and do rather than how practices organise their work internally. Practices may operate more streamlined systems behind the scenes, but the client experience begins with what is visible online.
As demand for accessible mental health support continues, the contrast between widespread online therapy and limited direct booking may become an increasingly important consideration for practitioners and people seeking help.