The Legal Essentials Every Counsellor Must Include on Their Website

Managing the online presence of your counselling practice can feel overwhelming.

Your website is often the first place a client visits when they are looking for a therapist they can trust. That means your counselling website needs to be clear, professional and legally compliant. Including the right information not only protects you, it also helps clients feel confident and safe from the moment they land on your site.

Below is a simple guide to the legal essentials every counsellor needs to have on their website.

1. Privacy Policy

If you offer counselling services or any type of talking therapy, your website must have a clear and accessible privacy policy. This tells visitors how you collect, use and store their personal information. Most counselling websites collect some form of data, even if it is just through a contact form or cookies.

A strong privacy policy should explain:

What information you collect

Why you collect it

How long you keep it

How clients can request or delete their data

This is a legal requirement under UK GDPR and it also helps build trust with potential clients who want to know their information is handled with care.

2. Cookie Notice

If your therapy website uses cookies, including analytics tools such as Google Analytics, you must show a cookie notice and gain consent from visitors.

Your cookie notice should:

Explain what cookies are used

Give visitors the choice to accept or reject non essential cookies

Link to your full cookie policy

This is an important part of being transparent online and is often expected on modern counsellor websites.

3. Terms and Conditions

Terms and conditions outline the general rules of how people can use your website. They protect your content and set boundaries around things like copyright, liability and acceptable use.

For counsellors, it is especially helpful to include:

Copyright protection for your written content

A disclaimer that your website information is not a substitute for therapy

A statement that your services are subject to your therapeutic agreement

This creates a clear foundation for how people interact with your online content.

4. Professional Registration and Credentials

If you are a counsellor or psychotherapist in the UK, it is important to show your professional memberships and accreditation. Clients want reassurance that you are qualified and accountable.

Include your registration details with bodies such as:BACP

UKCP

NCS

BABCP

You can list these in your footer or on your About page. This boosts credibility and strengthens your website SEO because clients often search for a therapist by professional body or accreditation

5. Your Full Business Information

If you are a sole trader or run a private practice, your website must clearly show your business details. This should include:

Your full name or business name

Your business address or registered office

A professional email address

Your privacy contact details

Many counsellors avoid adding their address for safety reasons. If this applies to you, use a registered business address or coworking address instead of your home address.

6. Accessibility Statement

An accessibility statement is not a strict legal requirement for private practice counsellors, but it is strongly recommended. It shows that your therapy website is designed to be inclusive and usable for people with additional needs. It also supports your SEO and helps improve your user experience.

A simple accessibility statement outlines:

Your commitment to accessibility

What you have done to make your website usable

How someone can contact you if they need adjustments

This is an important part of creating a welcoming and thoughtful online space

7. Emergency Information and Crisis Support

UK counselling websites should make it clear that you cannot provide immediate crisis support. This is both good practice and a way to manage client expectations.

Include a short notice directing people to urgent support if they are in crisis, for example:

Samaritans

NHS 111

Local crisis teams

This protects both you and your visitors

8. Client Agreement and Therapy Contract

Your client agreement does not need to be publicly available, but you should mention that you have one and that clients will receive it before sessions begin. This shows professionalism and helps people understand what to expect when they work with you.

Final Thoughts

A strong and legally compliant counsellor website not only keeps you safe, it also helps potential clients feel reassured and supported as they make an important decision about their mental health. When your website includes the right legal information, clear policies and transparent guidance, it communicates professionalism and care from the very first click.

Making these updates is a simple but powerful way to elevate your online presence and help people trust you even before they reach out.