Research Study — Scotland 2026

You didn't train to run
an admin department.
But here you are.

When someone finally works up the courage to reach out on a Friday evening, during your holiday, at 11pm on a Sunday, what happens to that enquiry? Therapy practice owners across Scotland are losing potential clients not because they're bad at their job, but because no one's there when that message lands. This research is about understanding where the gaps are and what can actually be done about them.

No sales pitch · Confidential · You receive the full findings

Early findings — Spring 2026

What I'm already hearing from Scottish practice owners

Based on initial conversations with therapy practice owners across central Scotland.

3 in 4

Practice owners we spoke to check emails on holiday

Not because they want to — because the thought of someone reaching out and not being met feels unbearable. As one therapist put it: "It still feels hard to feel switched off... I hate the idea of someone building up the courage to reach out and not feeling met."

3+ weeks

Average wait between enquiry and first available session when a practice is full

By the time a slot opens, many clients have found someone else — or quietly decided not to follow up at all. One practice owner had 11 people on a waiting list and still went weeks with an empty slot.

£3900 p/yr

Lost revenue from waiting list gaps, delayed responses, and no-shows

Based on conversations with Scottish practice owners. Not because clients don't want therapy — because the gap between reaching out and being seen is too long, and the follow-up falls through the cracks.

8–12hrs

per week spent on admin — not clinical work

Responding to enquiries, following up waiting lists, tracking who's paid, logging every out-of-session interaction for BACP compliance. These tasks eat into evenings, erode boundaries, and pull focus from the work that actually matters.

"Trainee therapists are taught how to be therapists, but no one really prepares them to be operating a small business effectively."

Practice Owner - Glasgow

What's involved

A 15-minute conversation. That's all.

This isn't a sales call. It's a research interview. Here's exactly what you give — and what you get back.

What you give

15–20 minutes of your time on Zoom
Honest answers about how your practice actually runs day to day
A willingness to share what's frustrating — not just what's working

What you get back

Full anonymised research findings once the study is complete
Insight into how Scottish practices compare on admin load, enquiry handling, and no-shows
Practical perspective from other practice owners — without having to network to get it
Early access to any tools or resources developed from the research

Ready to take part?

I'm speaking with practice owners across Scotland, solo practitioners, small group practices, and anyone in between. If you've ever felt like the admin side of your practice is quietly getting away from you, this conversation is for you.

Pick a time that suits you.
Zoom. Confidential. No preparation needed.

or email directly

[email protected]

What this is...

Primary research into how therapy practices operate behind the scenes
A genuine attempt to understand where the admin burden actually comes from
Practical, operational — not clinical
Confidential, with findings shared anonymously

**What this isn’t...**

A sales pitch dressed up as a research call
Anything to do with your clinical work or sessions
A generic platform trying to replace how you work
A tool that requires you to change everything at once

Why I'm running this research

Stephen McLaughlin | East Kilbride, Scotland

I ran my own service business for over ten years. On the surface it looked fine — clients, bookings, steady demand. But behind the scenes the admin load was quietly expanding. Missed enquiries. Manual reminders. Hours of catch-up every evening.

In recent conversations with therapists across Scotland, I keep hearing the same thing. Evenings spent on admin instead of switching off. Enquiries that came in while they were in session and never quite got followed up. Systems that technically work — but only because the therapist is holding everything together personally.

Therapists didn't train to run an admin department. This research is about understanding where that pressure really comes from — and whether small, practical changes could make things feel lighter without disrupting what already works.

Nothing is being rushed. Nothing is being sold. This is about listening first.