Getting started with WebcamTherapy

Choose Create account and enter your name, email address and a password. You need to be 18 or over to use WebcamTherapy.

We will email you a link to confirm your address. Open it on any device, then come back and sign in.

Your account only holds what we need to arrange your sessions. Your therapist sees your first name and the messages you send them, never your email address or phone number.

Because therapy is private, every account uses two-step sign-in. The first time you sign in, you choose one of these:

• An authenticator app such as Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator. Scan the QR code and type in the 6-digit code it shows.
• Text message codes sent to your mobile each time you sign in.

You will also get a set of recovery codes. Keep them somewhere safe: they let you in if you lose your phone.

On your own device you can tick Remember this device so you are only asked for a code every 30 days. Do not tick it on a shared or work computer.

Go to Find a therapist. You can filter by what you would like help with, the type of therapy, professional body, price, and when you are free.

Each profile shows the therapist's registration (BACP, NCPS or UKCP), how they work online, the issues they work with, their price and session length, and their real availability. Every therapist's registration is checked by hand before their profile appears, and re-checked regularly.

Not sure who to choose? Read a few profiles and pick someone whose approach feels right. You can also send a short message from a therapist's profile before booking.

New to the different therapies? Our blog explains CBT, counselling, EMDR and other approaches in plain English.

On the therapist's profile, choose a time (times are shown in UK time), then choose how many sessions to buy: 1, 4, 6. Bundles let you book further sessions with the same therapist without paying again.

Your chosen time is held for 10 minutes while you pay securely by card through Stripe. WebcamTherapy never sees or stores your full card details.

Sessions can be booked up to 12 hours ahead of the start time at the earliest. Once payment goes through you will see the session on your Dashboard and get a confirmation email.

If you already have unused sessions with that therapist, the booking uses one of them and no payment is needed.

We send reminders by email and text 48 hours before your session. A few things help it go smoothly:

• Device: a laptop, tablet or phone with a camera and microphone. Use an up-to-date Chrome, Edge, Safari or Firefox. Nothing to install.
• Connection: a steady Wi-Fi or 4G/5G connection. If your connection is weak, sit closer to the router.
• Privacy: a room where you will not be overheard or interrupted. Headphones help keep the conversation private.
• Comfort: a glass of water, tissues, and somewhere comfortable to sit. Put your phone on silent.

For EMDR sessions, sit so you can see the whole width of your screen. A larger screen, such as a laptop rather than a phone, works best.

The session room opens 10 minutes before the start time. Sign in, go to My sessions and select Join.

Your browser will ask to use your camera and microphone: choose Allow. You will see a preview so you can check how you look and sound, then join the call. Your therapist will join from their side.

During the call you can mute your microphone, turn your camera off, and switch camera or microphone from the settings button. Sessions are private, encrypted, one-to-one video calls and are not recorded.

Can't connect? Refresh the page, check that the camera and microphone are allowed in your browser's address bar, and close other apps that may be using the camera (such as Teams or Zoom). If you still have trouble, message your therapist from your account.

Messages: you can message your therapist securely from your account, for example about practical arrangements. Messages are not monitored around the clock, so do not use them in an emergency.

Moving a session: open the session in My sessions, choose Manage and then Move to another time.

Cancelling: you can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the start time, and the session goes back into your account to use again. If you cancel later than that, or miss the session, the session is used. If your therapist cancels, your session is always returned to you.

Refunds: you can ask for any unused sessions to be refunded to your card from your Dashboard.

What you say in therapy is confidential between you and your therapist, within the limits of their professional body's rules (for example, if someone is at serious risk of harm). Your therapist can explain these limits in your first session.

Your therapist's notes are private to them. We do not record sessions.

WebcamTherapy is not an emergency service. If you are in danger or worried you might act on thoughts of harming yourself, call 999 or go to A&E. For urgent advice call NHS 111, or talk to Samaritans any time, free, on 116 123.