Therapy that works wherever you are

I offer online psychotherapy to adults across Scotland and the rest of the UK. Sessions take place by secure video call, at a regular weekly time, and follow exactly the same structure as my in-person work at Drumsheugh Gardens in Edinburgh’s New Town.

You might choose online therapy because you live outside Edinburgh, because your schedule makes a weekly commute impractical, or because you simply prefer the privacy and comfort of your own space in which to talk. Some people start with in-person sessions then move online once they feel we’ve developed a working relationship. Others make the opposite journey, preferring to become comfortable with me from afar before meeting. Many people combine the two: keeping in-person sessions as a default, but supplementing these with online sessions on those weeks when travel, minor illnesses, or busy schedules make it impractical to meet in person. The choice is yours, and we can adjust to accommodate your circumstances as they change.

Whatever has brought you here, online therapy is not a lesser version of the real thing. It is the real thing — the same careful attention, the same therapeutic relationship, the same commitment to understanding what’s happening beneath the surface.

Does online therapy really work?

This is a question many people ask, and it’s a fair one. If therapy depends on the quality of the relationship between two people, can that relationship really develop through a screen? Before the COVID-19 pandemic many practitioners would have answered no, just as many of us would have doubted the efficacy of video calls to maintain close relationships with family and friends over many weeks or months. However, as the pandemic temporarily forced all therapeutic work to move online, many clients and therapists found that the same presence and care that they valued in their in-person work translated effectively to online video work.

This finding is backed up by a body of research. For example, a 2023 meta-analysis published in World Psychiatry examined 31 randomised controlled trials across 16 clinical conditions and found no meaningful difference in outcomes between online and in-person therapy. It seems that what matters most in therapy is not the medium but the relationship between therapist and client — whether you feel heard, understood, and safe enough to be open and honest. These qualities can develop just as fully online as they can in a consulting room. Indeed, working online with someone you trust and feel deeply connected to will likely be far more effective than working in person with someone for whom you don’t feel these things.

This finding aligns with what we know more broadly about how therapy works. Decades of research into therapeutic outcomes — across all modalities, not just online work — consistently show that the single strongest predictor of whether therapy will be effective is the quality of the relationship between therapist and client. Not the type of therapy, or the setting, or the specific techniques used, but the relationship. This is sometimes called the ‘therapeutic alliance,’ and it develops through trust, honesty, and the experience of being understood. None of these things necessarily require a shared physical space.

I draw on psychodynamic and person-centred approaches in my work. Both traditions place the therapeutic relationship at the centre of the work. This approach translates well to video. I can still listen closely to what you say and how you say it online. I can still notice when something shifts in you. And you can still experience what it feels like to be genuinely attended to by another person — which, for many people, is where the most important work begins.

For some, but not all, people this work may even be enhanced by working online. If you feel particularly anxious about the prospect of meeting me in my office, or find leaving the house difficult, meeting within the safety of your room might be a natural place to start. Some clients find that the comfort of being in their own space can allow them to more quickly relax into the intimacy and trust that a therapeutic dialogue requires. Others value having the time and space to process our sessions after they’re complete without having to physically move or interact with others.

How online sessions work

We meet weekly for 50 minutes on a secure, professionally encrypted video platform. You’ll receive a private link before each session. There’s nothing to download — it works in any modern browser on a laptop, tablet, or phone.

All you need is:

A private, quiet space where you won’t be overheard or interrupted
A stable internet connection — Wi-Fi is usually fine
A device with a camera and microphone — a larger screen is more comfortable but not essential

If your connection drops during a session, we simply reconnect. It happens occasionally and isn’t a problem. If you’d prefer a different platform for accessibility or practical reasons, we can discuss that.

Online therapy works well for most people, but it isn’t right for everyone. If you don’t have access to a private space where you can speak freely without being overheard, the work will be limited — and it’s important that you can be fully honest in sessions without worrying about who might hear. If your internet connection is consistently unreliable, the repeated disruption can break the flow of a session in ways that become frustrating over time. And some people simply feel more present and more able to go deep when they’re physically in the same room as their therapist. If that’s you, that’s fine — I see clients in person at my consulting room in Edinburgh’s New Town, and we can always revisit the question of format as we go.

I take confidentiality as seriously in my online work as in the therapy room. All sessions are encrypted in transit and at rest, meeting industry security standards. Sessions are not recorded, and no clinical information is stored on the platform. For full details on how I handle your data, see my privacy notice.

What online therapy can help with

I work online with the same range of concerns as I do in person. These include but are not limited to:

You don’t need to fit neatly into any of these categories for us to work together. Many people come to therapy with something they can’t easily name — a general sense that something isn’t right, or a feeling that the way they’re living has become unsustainable. This is a fine place to start.

Fees and getting started

Online sessions are the same fee as in-person: £70 for 50 minutes. Payment is by bank transfer, on the day of the session. I also offer a limited number of reduced-fee spaces for those in financial need — please ask when you get in touch if you are interested in these.

I offer a free 20-minute online consultation. This is an informal call — you can tell me a little about what’s brought you to therapy, ask any questions you have about how I work, and get a sense of whether I feel like someone you could talk to. I’ll be honest with you about whether I think I can help, and if I’m not the right fit, I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction. The consultation itself takes place by video call, so you’ll get a sense of what the format feels like before committing to anything. There’s no obligation.

Common questions

Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

For the majority of people and concerns, yes. A substantial body of research shows that online therapy produces outcomes comparable to in-person work. For example, a 2023 meta-analysis published in World Psychiatry examined 31 randomised controlled trials across 16 clinical conditions and found no meaningful difference in outcomes. What primarily determines whether therapy is effective is not the medium but the quality of the therapeutic relationship — whether you feel understood, safe, and able to be honest with your therapist. These qualities can develop just as fully through a screen.
Is online therapy confidential?

Yes. I use a secure, professionally encrypted video platform. Sessions are not recorded, and no clinical information is stored on the platform. The same ethical and legal framework that governs in-person therapy — including BACP and COSCA guidelines and UK data protection law — applies in full to online work.
Do I need to download any special software?

No. The platform works in any modern web browser. You’ll receive a private link before each session — you just click it and we’re connected. It works on laptops, tablets, and phones. A larger screen tends to be more comfortable for longer sessions, but it’s not essential.
Can I switch between online and in-person sessions?

Yes. Many of my clients use a combination of both. You might keep in-person sessions as your default and switch to online on weeks when travel or scheduling makes it impractical to attend in person. Or you might start online and move to in-person once you feel ready. There’s no penalty for switching, and we can adjust the arrangement as your circumstances change.
What happens if my internet connection drops during a session?

We simply reconnect. It happens occasionally and isn’t a problem. If the connection becomes persistently unreliable, we’ll discuss alternatives — whether that’s trying a different device, moving to a more stable connection, or switching to in-person sessions. A brief disruption doesn’t derail the work. What matters is the continuity of the relationship, not the perfection of the technology.
I live outside Scotland. Can I still work with you online?

Yes, if you’re based in the UK. I’m registered with BACP and COSCA, which allows me to work with clients anywhere in the United Kingdom. If you’re based outside the UK, I’d need to check whether I can ethically and legally offer therapy in your jurisdiction, as regulations vary by country. Feel free to ask about this when you get in touch.
Is online therapy suitable for more serious or complex issues?

For most people, yes. Online therapy can address the same range and depth of concerns as in-person work, including long-standing anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, grief, and the emotional impact of neurodivergence. That said, if you’re in acute crisis or require immediate psychiatric support, I may recommend that you also engage with your GP or local crisis services.

About this page

Written by Tom Wells, MBACP, COSCA. Last reviewed April 2026.

Trained at the University of Edinburgh (PGDip Counselling and Psychotherapy). Registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (profile on the BACP register) and with Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland (COSCA).

Scope of practice: adults aged 18 and over; individual therapy only. I do not offer couples therapy, EMDR, formal diagnosis, or medication; where any of these would serve you better, I am glad to point you towards them.

Online Therapy in Edinburgh & Across the UK