Private Practice
How to leave BetterHelp and set up your own private practice
Leaving BetterHelp for private practice is entirely possible, but the number of decisions involved surprises most therapists. Here is an honest look at what is involved.
Blog & articles
Blog and articles
Latest insights and trends
GDPR
Do therapists in Ireland need a GDPR-compliant website?
Yes: if you are a therapist in Ireland collecting client information through your website, even just a contact form, you are subject to GDPR.
Practice Tech
What is Cal.com and why do therapists use it for booking?
Cal.com is an open-source scheduling tool that therapists use because it is GDPR-friendly, integrates with Stripe for payments and Google Calendar for availability, and can be embedded directly into a practice website.
Private Practice
How to get your first private practice clients without word of mouth
Word of mouth takes 12 to 18 months to build, but a Google Business Profile, therapist directory listings, and a basic website with local SEO can generate your first private practice clients within weeks.
Websites
Why therapists on Psychology Today still need their own website
A Psychology Today listing generates referrals but owns the client relationship, places you alongside hundreds of competitors, and builds no SEO for you personally: your own website compounds over time in a way that a directory listing never will.
Websites
What makes a therapy website actually convert visitors into clients?
Conversion on a therapy website means a visitor becoming a booked client, and most therapy websites fail at this because there is no clear call to action above the fold and no photo of the therapist on the home page.
Private Practice
Should therapists show their fees on their website?
Yes: showing your session fees on your website pre-qualifies clients, reduces wasted enquiries, lowers no-show rates, and builds the kind of trust that makes a potential client more likely to book.
Websites
What should a therapist website include?
A therapist website needs a home page, about page, services page, fees page, and a contact or booking page, with a professional photo, visible booking link, and a privacy policy as absolute essentials.
Private Practice
How to set up a private therapy practice in Ireland: the complete checklist
Setting up a private therapy practice in Ireland involves professional accreditation, insurance, revenue registration, a website and booking system, GDPR compliance, and a clear strategy for attracting your first clients.
GDPR
Does your therapist website need a privacy policy?
Yes: every therapist website needs a privacy policy under GDPR, and most of the ones currently live are either missing entirely or copied from a template that does not reflect the tools actually used on the site.
GDPR
What client data do therapists need to store securely in Ireland?
Therapists in Ireland must store names, contact details, intake forms, session notes, mental health history, and payment records in encrypted, access-controlled systems based within the EEA, with records retained for at least eight years from last contact.
Private Practice
BetterHelp vs private practice: which is right for you?
BetterHelp suits therapists who want immediate client access with no admin, but private practice becomes financially superior at around eight to ten sessions per week and offers more autonomy and long-term stability.
Private Practice
What do you actually own on BetterHelp?
On BetterHelp, the client relationships, profile, reviews, and income stream all belong to the platform rather than to you, meaning if you leave or the platform changes its terms, you start again from zero.
Private Practice
How much more could you earn leaving BetterHelp for private practice?
Therapists on BetterHelp typically earn €30 to €50 per session, while private practice rates in Ireland and the UK run €80 to €120, a gap that adds up to tens of thousands of pounds or euros each year.