Find the right therapist for you.
A matching specialist will recommend the therapist who fits you best.
It’s free, confidential and fast
In person in Bristol and Oxfordshire, or online across the UK · Every therapist is registered with a UK professional body
Aligned finds you the right therapist, based on your unique needs.
- 01
Tell us what’s going on.
Chat with Ally for about 10 minutes about what’s going on and what you need.
Ally
AI matching agent
What would you most like to feel different in a few months’ time?
I’d like to stop feeling anxious
And when you’ve tried to talk about it before, what tends not to work for you?
- 02
We find you a great match.
A matching specialist reviews your needs and chooses the therapist we think fits best.
Your match
MelanieOxford
Counsellor · BACP registeredHeadington · In person or online · £60/session
Why we chose Melanie
You told us you want someone specialised in anxiety, with a practical approach and who is warm.
- 03
Confirm and begin therapy.
Review your match, see why we chose them, and decide if you’d like an introduction.
Introduction sent
You
AlignedYou’re now connected. We’ve introduced you both by email.
Why does the right therapist make such a difference?
The connection with your therapist matters.
Research shows the connection you feel with your therapist can be one of the biggest predictors of progress.
30,000+
clients, across 295 studies, show the relationship between you and your therapist is one of the most consistent predictors of whether therapy works.
Source: Flückiger et al., 2018, meta-analysis of 295 studies
Finding the right therapist makes it easier to stick with therapy.
Typical therapy
~50%
Aligned
88%
The alliance you form with your therapist is key to getting what you need from therapy. That’s why Aligned takes time to understand you: it lays groundwork for the bond which you build with your therapist.
Finding a therapist shouldn’t feel like browsing a directory.
| Aligned | Platforms and directories | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matching process | Human-reviewed, personalised matching | Algorithm-led or self-serve | ||
| Therapist credentials | Registered with a recognised UK professional body | Checks and credentials vary | ||
| Wait times | Usually matched within 24 hours | Often several days to a week | ||
| Client fees | Free matching; pay therapist directly | Subscription or platform fees may apply | ||
| Availability | Only matched to therapists with current availability | Availability often unclear until you enquire |
With Aligned
- Human-reviewed, personalised matching
- Registered with a recognised UK professional body
- Usually matched within 24 hours
- Free matching; pay therapist directly
- Only matched to therapists with current availability
With platforms and directories
- Algorithm-led or self-serve
- Checks and credentials vary
- Often several days to a week
- Subscription or platform fees may apply
- Availability often unclear until you enquire
Therapy that fits around you.
We match you with independent, registered therapists offering different ways of working, locations and price points.
How
- In person, online or hybrid
- Individual, couples or family therapy
- Exploratory, practical or tools-based
What
- Anxiety & stress
- Depression & low mood
- Relationships & trauma
- Work, burnout & life changes
- And more
Meet some of our therapists
Melanie
Oxford · In person and online · From £60
Melanie’s sessions are warm and curious. She works relationally, helping clients notice patterns and offering reframes where useful, without setting homework. She sees adults with bereavement, anxiety, depression and trauma, and trained in integrative counselling at The Minster Centre.
What our clients say
I’d tried therapy twice in my early 20s and decided it wasn’t for me. Turns out, I hadn’t found a therapist I clicked with. Now that I have, I’m so much happier and more confident than ever before.
I was pleasantly surprised at how smooth the online experience was. Ally was simple to use, the questions it asked felt spot-on, and the answers were encouraging in a way that made me feel acknowledged and understood.
I had been putting off therapy because I just didn’t know where to start. Aligned made the process so simple, and I really feel like I’m making progress with my new therapist.
Questions
Aligned is a free therapist-matching service for adults in the UK. You spend about 10 minutes telling Ally, our AI matching agent, what you need. A matching specialist then chooses one vetted, registered therapist who has space for you, usually within 24 hours. You pay the therapist directly.
Yes. Using Aligned to find your therapist is completely free.
There is a lot of overlap. Counsellors tend to have trained to diploma level and often work in a more focused way on specific issues. Psychotherapists typically have longer training and may work at greater depth with longer-standing difficulties. In practice the lines blur. What matters most is finding someone whose approach and experience fits what you need, which is exactly what we’re here to help with.
Therapists set their own rates based on their level and type of training, years of experience, location, and overheads. Individual sessions usually start from £60, with most between £60 and £80. Couples sessions are typically £80 to £100. We’ll match you with someone whose fees work for your budget.
Not every therapist feels right, and that’s completely normal. The therapeutic relationship is deeply personal.
If your match doesn’t feel like the right fit, just let us know and we’ll find you a better one.
Even with thoughtful matching, sometimes you only discover a therapist isn’t quite right once you’ve started. That’s fine. It happens.
Come back to us at any point and we’ll rematch you for free. There’s no obligation to continue with anyone.
Yes. You can choose in-person, online, or a mix of both, whatever suits your life best.
We currently serve clients in Oxfordshire and Bristol for in-person therapy, and across the UK for online sessions.
That’s very common, and exactly what we’re here for.
Our matching conversation is designed to help us understand what you need even if you can’t fully articulate it yourself. We’ll guide you through it step by step.
Definitely. Many people come to us with a clear sense of the therapeutic style, approach, or specialism they want.
Tell us exactly what you’re after and we’ll find someone who fits.
Therapists typically contact you within 24 hours of your match being confirmed.
Most clients have their first session within two to three weeks of the introduction.
Ready to find your therapist?
It takes 10 minutes, it’s free, and there’s no commitment.