How to create a Therapy Agreement for Your Private Practice (Without the Overwhelm)
Resource - Free template for paid members
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Let’s start with the basics: what is a therapy agreement in your private practice.
A therapy agreement is the understanding between you and your client. Whether written or verbal, some form of contract always exists once you begin working together. But in private practice, it’s best to have a clear, written therapy agreement that supports trust, respect, and clarity for both you and your clients.
Having a GDPR-compliant therapy agreement not only sets the foundation for a strong therapeutic relationship, it’s also your client’s right to understand the terms and conditions of the work you're undertaking together.
Learn more about GDPR here……….
Creating a therapy agreement from scratch can feel daunting. Where do you even start?
In this post, I’ll walk you through the essentials of what needs to be included in a therapy agreement — and if you’d like to skip straight to a ready-made solution, you can grab a fully GDPR-compliant, therapist-specific ‘done for you’ Therapy Agreement template from Pocketsite.
If you have taken the Getting Started in Private Practice course, First step to Fully booked, there is a copy on the course platform for you.
What is a Therapy Agreement Continued ……..
A Therapy Agreement is a clear contract between therapist and client, outlining the rights and responsibilities of both parties. It lays the groundwork for informed consent and a strong therapeutic alliance.
Having a Therapy Agreement in place:
Minimises misunderstandings and miscommunications
Clarifies session structure, confidentiality, payment terms, cancellations, and therapeutic methods
Protects therapists by clearly setting out professional boundaries and the scope of the work
Without a written agreement, confusion can easily arise, which can affect the trust between you and your client. A good agreement serves as a reference point throughout therapy, supporting both clarity and confidence.
What Should a Therapy Agreement Include?
Although it doesn’t have to be a lengthy document, your Therapy Agreement needs to cover the essentials:
Session details: length, location (in-person or online), fees, and cancellation policy.
Use of personal information: explain what information you collect (e.g., GP details, medications) and how it will be stored securely, in line with GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Record keeping: inform clients that you may take brief notes, and outline how they are securely stored.
Communication: set clear boundaries for contact between sessions and your response times.
Emergency procedures: explain what clients should do if they are in crisis, including useful contact details.
Supervision: clarify that therapists attend supervision regularly, but client identities are protected and supervision is confidential.
Complaints process: provide information about your professional body and how clients can raise a concern.
Confidentiality limits: make clear when confidentiality may need to be broken, such as legal obligations or serious risk situations.
Prefer Not to Start From Scratch?
As you can see, there's quite a lot to think about!
If writing your own Therapy Agreement feels overwhelming or time-consuming, you might prefer using a pre-prepared, GDPR-compliant template. Pocketsite offers a ‘done for you’ Therapy Agreement that’s been professionally designed for therapists in private practice.
It includes:
Full template with clear guidance and notes
Advice on gaining consent via email
Guidance on obtaining consent for working with children
A template for third-party consent (sharing information with GPs, schools, etc.)
You can find it here:
👉 Done For You Therapy Agreement – Pocketsite
It’s a simple, stress-free way to ensure you’re covered — so you can focus on what really matters: supporting your clients.
Below is a free template for paid members
Join a network of therapists focused on building fully booked, self-sustaining practices with consistent £5K months. A paid membership gives you access to resources like this Therapy Agreement Template, as well as community Q&A support and guidance.