Directories are, for most private practices in the United Kingdom, by far the largest marketing expense and the one that is most overlooked.
There are two directories that account for the majority of private practice inquiries in the United Kingdom and, combined, they cost approximately £45 per month which isn't a cheap option for therapists looking for referrals.
Counselling Directory
Typical cost:
From £24.50/month rolling, or £245/year paid annually
The default for UK counsellors and psychotherapists. Same group as Happiful and Therapy Directory; membership includes a Happiful profile at no extra cost. Rolling monthly with 30 days' notice
Psychology Today
Typical cost:
£19.95/month (US pricing is $29.95/month)
Good Reach especially psychologists, online practices, and clients searching in English internationally. Verifies credentials before approving a listing. Introductory free periods have been offered.
Best for Psychotherapists. Whether the directory listing is included in the fee is not published on UKCP's fee page it is alwats best to ask before assuming.
Welldoing
Typical cost:
£45 + VAT per quarter, plus a £15 + VAT annual verification fee; annual plan gives 2 months free.
Practitioners who like a matching model rather than a raw search listing. Accepts UKCP, BACP, BABCP (accredited only), BPC, BPS (chartered only) and NCPS members. Card payments via Stripe carry a 3.95% fee (minimum £2.50).
Therapy Directory
Typical cost:
From £19.50/month
Holistic and complementary work. Same group as Counselling Directory. Only relevant if you also offer body-based or complementary therapy.
Therapeia helps therapist rank their websites on Google
Put your website first on the search results for therapy-related keywords in your area.
We help therapists, doctors, and clinics to appear to the people that are already searching for help locally so you don’t have to depend on directory listings or expensive advertising.
Position one gets the clicks
Ranking 1st on Google gets over 30% of the click thorugh rate. This is why being first for a keyword is always beneficial.
Get clients using specific landing pages
Produce content that addresses the needs of people who are searching for it rather than just producing content around the keywords.
Have a well formulated Google Business Profile
Google Business Profile listing is something that can make you visible on Google Maps and local search results for free.
Keep an eye on where you rank on the SERP's
Observe your website's ranking positions on the therapy-related keywords in local search results. Keep an eye out for competitors catching up to you and for any algorithm changes that may have impacted your visibility.