Your online therapist is here to help

There are two simple ways to find an online therapist with Pleso:

• Start our 5-minute matching quiz for instant suggestions.

• Browse therapist profiles with bios and video introductions to see who you feel drawn to.

The quiz asks about what you'd like support with and how you like to work, and gives you a shortlist rather than a single assigned match.

However you like to find a therapist online, once someone feels right, you can book a therapist and get your first session in the diary in minutes. And if it turns out they're not quite right once you've met them, you can switch therapist once for free.

Only around 15% of applicants pass our process. Every candidate is peer-interviewed by our clinical team, led by our UK Therapy Lead Tim Felton, a UKCP registered psychotherapist. Each of our online therapists has at least three years' post-qualification experience and belongs to a recognised UK professional body such as BACP, UKCP, HCPC, NCPS, COSRT or BABCP.

Every UK therapist on our platform holds an enhanced DBS check and professional indemnity insurance, and we have a wide pool of therapists and specialisms to choose from. Wherever you're based, you can expect the same standard from every online therapist we work with in the UK. We show qualifications and memberships on every profile, so you always know who you're booking.

The matching quiz takes about 5 minutes. You tell us what you'd like to get out of therapy, how you've been feeling lately and how much different issues affect you. If you like, you can also add preferences for your therapist: gender, age, approach or specialism.

The algorithm compares your answers with our therapists' profiles, where each therapist sets out which issues they have experience with. Recommendations are ranked to make it easier for you to find a therapist you'll want to keep working with until you reach your goals.

You get three recommendations, each with the therapist's next available time, and the choice is yours. If you'd like to compare more options, you can browse all our therapists.

Our product team develops the algorithm, and therapist selection is led by Tim Felton, our UK Therapy Lead and a UKCP registered psychotherapist. If a therapist doesn't feel right, you can switch therapist once for free and keep the sessions from your bundle.

Different types of therapy suit different people, and the theory matters less than the relationship you build with your therapist. Whether you're drawn to Cognitive behavioural therapy, person-centred work, Psychodynamic therapy or something more integrative, our online psychotherapy options cover a broad range of modalities.

If you're new to online talk therapy and not sure where to start, a psychotherapist can talk you through what might suit you at your first session. Many clients simply want an online psychotherapist to point them in the right direction, no prior knowledge needed.

In the UK these terms often overlap, so if you've been searching for an online counsellor or an online therapist, you're in the right place. "Therapist" is an umbrella term for professionals who provide talking therapy.

Counsellors usually help with a specific issue or life event over a shorter period. Psychotherapists typically complete longer training and often work with deeper, longer-standing patterns. In practice, many professionals do both.

Neither "counsellor" nor "psychotherapist" is a legally protected title in the UK. That's why every Pleso therapist belongs to a recognised professional body such as BACP, UKCP, HCPC, NCPS, COSRT or BABCP and has at least three years' post-qualification experience.

Psychologists, such as counselling or clinical psychologists, are registered with the HCPC, and their titles are protected by law. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medication. Pleso therapists don't prescribe medication or give medical diagnoses: if you're considering medication, speak to your GP or a psychiatrist.

A typical session lasts 50 minutes. Your therapist will ask what's brought you to your first online therapy session and what you'd like to change, and you'll agree next steps together.

There's no need to prepare anything in advance, and it's totally normal to feel a little nervous. Most therapists build in a little time at the start to help you understand the process and settle in.

We always recommend joining from a private, quiet space with a stable connection.

Yes. Once you're matched with a therapist that you feel is the right fit, you'll keep working with them for every session, rather than being passed between different people. Building a consistent relationship is a big part of what makes therapy work.

That's totally understandable and we want to make sure the therapist you build a relationship with is the right one for your needs. Not every therapist will be an instant connection. You can switch therapist once for free, and our Care Team will help you rematch with a therapist who's a better fit. A good match matters more than sticking it out.

There's no fixed number. Some clients want a handful of focused online therapy sessions to work through something specific, others continue for months. You and your therapist will review progress together and decide when it feels right to wind down.

If you're only looking for a few sessions, pay-as-you-go might suit you better than a bundle. If you know you'll want longer-term, regular support, a bundle or subscription usually works out cheaper per session.

Many clients feel some relief early on, simply from being heard and having a plan. Lasting change takes longer and looks different for everyone.

Your therapist will focus on small, doable steps and review your progress with you along the way.

This is one for you and your therapist to agree together, based on what suits your situation and what they'd recommend clinically. Many clients start weekly and adjust from there. However often you book therapy sessions, keeping them regular makes all the difference.

If your circumstances change, whether that's a busier few months at work or wanting more support during a hard patch, you can talk to your therapist about adjusting frequency at any point.

Sessions are by secure video link through our own platform, not phone. We find video keeps things closer to an in-person conversation while still letting you have therapy from home.

Some health insurance policies may cover online counselling or therapy, but this depends on your provider, policy and therapist.

We always recommend contacting your insurance provider directly to check whether you're covered, what your policy includes and whether there are any requirements you need to meet before booking a session.

If your insurance doesn't cover online therapy, or you'd prefer to pay privately, you can book sessions with Pleso Therapy directly.

We currently offer individual therapy for adults aged 18 and over. We do work with individual clients on relationship difficulties, such as communication patterns, boundaries or the impact a relationship is having on you, just not with couples together in the same session.

No. You can book directly with Pleso without a referral from your GP or anyone else. This is one of the main differences between online therapy and NHS mental health services, where a referral or assessment is often required before you're seen (see below).

The NHS provides vital mental health services and support to people across the UK. Depending on where you live, the type of support you need and local demand, you may have to wait for an appointment.

Online counselling platforms in the UK, like Pleso, offer another option if you're looking for more immediate, flexible support. You can book directly with a therapist and choose a time that works for you, without needing a GP referral.

It also means you can choose a therapist based on the areas you'd like to work on, whether that's anxiety, relationships, stress, low mood or something else.

Everyone's needs are different, so the right type of support will depend on what you're looking for. Online counselling can be used alongside NHS services, or you can see a private therapist online if you want more flexibility and choice.

Completely normal, and one of the most common feelings clients describe before their first session. Not knowing what to expect, worrying about what to say, or feeling unsure whether virtual therapy is even the right move are all things your therapist will have heard before.

You don't need to have it figured out before you start. Booking a first online therapy session is often the hardest part, and most clients say the nerves ease once the session begins.

Yes, online therapy is confidential. Sessions aren't recorded, and we follow UK GDPR and strict confidentiality standards. There are limited safeguarding exceptions, such as a serious risk of harm to you or others, or a legal obligation, and your therapist will explain these clearly.

Like most online therapy services, we offer ways to save if you're planning to attend regularly. You can save with a bundle, and depending on your account you may also see a subscription of 4, 12 or 24 sessions at the same price per session as a bundle of that size. It renews automatically every 28, 84 or 168 days and can be cancelled any time before the next billing date. You don't need a bundle to get started: you can simply book a therapy session and pay as you go.

Often, yes. Message our Care Team and we'll try to get you a same-day therapist appointment.

We currently support adults (18 and over) only, so this isn't the right service if you're under 18 yourself. If there's a young person in your life who needs support there's a well-established network of UK services built specifically for their age group, since the safeguarding and clinical approach for under-18s is different from adult therapy.

A few good starting points:

• YoungMinds offers free, confidential advice for parents and carers worried about a child or teenager's mental health.

• Kooth is a free, NHS-commissioned online service for young people aged 11 to 25, with no referral needed.

• The NHS's mental health service finder can point you toward local support, including how to access CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) through a GP referral.

Pleso therapists don't prescribe medication or provide medical diagnoses. If you're considering medication, speak to your GP or a psychiatrist, who can assess whether it might help alongside the work you're doing in therapy.

We use Stripe, so you can pay by debit or credit card, or with Apple Pay and Google Pay. We don't support PayPal. We can also issue invoices for companies or bulk purchases.

We know life can get busy and appointments can slip through the cracks. We'll always send you an email reminder before your therapy session.

After you book, you'll get an email with your booking details and a join button. Sessions run on our own secure online therapy platform, right in your browser, so you can join your therapy sessions online from anywhere in the UK, with nothing to install.

Just click the link in your confirmation email a few minutes before your session starts, and you'll be taken straight through to your therapist.

All you need is a phone, tablet or laptop with a camera, a stable internet connection and a private space where you won't be overheard. Like most online therapy platforms, we don't ask you to install anything. Remote therapy doesn't need anything more complicated than that.

Yes. Cancel for free up to 24 hours before your session, or reschedule up to 12 hours before, subject to your therapist's availability. Inside those windows, the full fee may apply. Eligible refunds go back to your original payment method.

Therapy isn't a takeaway. We prioritise professional standards, verified qualifications and a human match over star ratings for individual therapists, which can be misleading in healthcare. You'll see transparent bios, methods, qualifications and video introductions instead.

Pleso Therapy isn't an emergency service.

• If you're in immediate danger or feel unable to keep yourself safe, call 999 (or 112) now.

• If it's urgent but not life-threatening, use NHS 111 online or call 111.

• You can also contact Samaritans on 116 123 (free, 24/7) or text SHOUT to 85258.