The people and purpose behind Choose Therapy
Affordable counselling in the UK, with real choice and a team behind every counsellor.
Choose Therapy is a UK online counselling service for adults. We make it easier to find a counsellor you feel comfortable with, understand the costs before you begin and access regular support from home or face to face in Victoria, London.
More people should be able to access counselling that feels right for them, at a price they can keep up with.
Built with clients and counsellors in mind.
Madeleine and James founded Choose Therapy in 2020 to make regular counselling more accessible while creating a supportive place for counsellors to develop. The service grew from Madeleine's experience of training and the wish for a placement with clear guidance and strong clinical support.
Since then, we have grown into a nationwide affordable online counselling service, with a UK-based team supporting the practical and clinical sides of the work. We select counsellors individually, provide regular supervision and invite clients to choose who they speak with after an initial assessment.
We want getting started to feel understandable and human. You can see the people behind the service, read counsellor profiles and know what sessions cost before you commit.
Meet the team
Meet the people behind our UK online counselling service. Together, we help clients access affordable counselling and give counsellors the support they need to do thoughtful work.
Madeleine Uitz
Madeleine co-founded Choose Therapy while training as a therapist. She wanted to help create the kind of placement she would have valued herself, where counsellors feel supported as they grow and clients can access affordable, thoughtful care.
She studied Business Psychology at Birkbeck, Social and Cultural Psychology at LSE, and Humanistic Integrative Counselling at CPPD. She is a member of the BACP.
James Kightley
As co-founder and Head of Clinical Services, James helps shape the clinical direction of Choose Therapy. He believes affordable counselling should offer clients thoughtful, high-quality care while giving counsellors clear guidance and support to develop their skills.
He holds a bachelor's degree in Biology from Imperial College London and a Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling from CPTA. He is a member of the BACP.
Graeme Lynch
Graeme is a BACP-accredited psychotherapist and clinical supervisor with over a decade of experience and more than 15,000 clinical hours. He supports our counsellors with clinical guidance and supervision, helping them provide thoughtful, safe care.
His experience spans NHS services and specialist trauma work, with interests in sexual trauma, existential issues and LGBTQI+ experiences.
Alka Peters
Alka has been part of Choose Therapy since 2022 and is often one of the first people clients and counsellors speak to. She helps with bookings and questions, and supports new placement counsellors through onboarding, DBS checks and supervision group allocations.
Her care and attention to the practical details help people feel supported throughout their time with us.
A regular space to talk, online or in person.
Choose your counsellor and pay a clear fee for each session, with no subscription required.
Online counselling
Weekly 50-minute sessions from a private space that works for you, with a counsellor you choose after your initial assessment.
Face-to-face counselling
A regular, in-person space to talk at our Victoria location, subject to available appointments.
A limited number of 50-minute weekly sessions are available at this rate for people on a low income or experiencing financial difficulty.
First step: a £20 initial assessment. A 25-minute conversation to check whether Choose Therapy is the right support for you.
Book your initial assessmentClinically supported counselling, with your choice at the centre.
We want you to know how our affordable counselling service works, especially if you are new to therapy.
Honest about training
Our affordable service includes trainee counsellors who have completed substantial training in counselling theory and skills. Before seeing clients, their university or training organisation must confirm that they are ready for client work. Their profiles help you get to know their approach before you choose.
Selected and supported
We interview counsellors before they join. They work within an approved placement, receive regular clinical supervision and complete additional training for online counselling. Our clinical team is available when guidance or a concern needs attention.
Choice throughout
After a short initial assessment confirms the service is suitable, you choose your counsellor from the available profiles. If the first session does not feel like the right fit, we can help you switch without an extra charge.
Time for clients. Support for counsellors.
We care about the conditions in which therapy takes place, for both clients and counsellors.
Ready for client work, with ongoing supervision.
Our placement counsellors have been approved by their university or training organisation as ready for supervised client work before they see clients with us. We select counsellors individually, and they receive regular clinical supervision and support from our clinical team throughout their placement.
Full-length sessions
Ongoing one-to-one counselling sessions last 50 minutes, giving you a consistent space to talk each week. The separate initial assessment lasts 25 minutes and helps us check whether the service is right for you.
Reflective practice
Counsellors receive regular clinical supervision and can turn to our clinical team for guidance. This helps them reflect on their work, recognise their limits and respond thoughtfully to clients' needs.
Manageable caseloads
We aim to keep counsellors' workloads manageable and treat them with respect. Supporting them to work sustainably helps them bring attention and care to each session.
A UK service, accountable for your information.
Choose Therapy Ltd is registered in England. We handle sensitive information as part of providing counselling, and our privacy policy explains how we use it, who may process it for us, and the rights you have under UK data protection law.
We do not sell or rent your personal data. Some service providers may process information outside the UK; our policy explains the safeguards used for international transfers.
Read our privacy policyStarting with us, step by step.
You can take time to understand the service and ask questions before you begin.
Book your assessment
A 25-minute video conversation for £20 helps us understand what you are looking for and whether the service is suitable.
Choose your counsellor
Browse counsellor profiles and availability, then choose someone you feel comfortable speaking with. Your assessment may be with a different team member.
Begin regular sessions
Meet for a 50-minute session at a regular time each week. If the fit does not feel right, our team can help you change counsellors.
Find support that feels right for you.
Browse the counsellors or begin with a short initial assessment. Our team is here if you have a question along the way.
Things you may be wondering.
We want you to feel informed before you begin. If you have another question, get in touch with our team.
Are placement counsellors ready to see clients?
Yes. Their university or training organisation has approved them as ready for supervised client work. We select counsellors individually, and they receive regular clinical supervision while working with clients.
What if my first counsellor does not feel like the right fit?
You can choose another counsellor without an additional fee for changing. Our team can help you look at other available counsellors.
Is Choose Therapy a UK service?
Yes. Choose Therapy Ltd is registered in England. Our affordable online counselling is for adults across the UK, and we also offer face-to-face sessions in Victoria, London.
