For Professionals
Referring someone for psychological therapy
Everything a referring professional usually needs, in one place — who you'd be referring to, what's offered, how the referral process works, and how fees, communication and governance are handled. If something isn't covered here, just ask.
Who you'd be referring to
A Clinical Psychologist, not a general therapy service
BAM Therapy is the independent practice of Dr Kayleigh Darch, a Clinical Psychologist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC reference PYL30133). "Clinical Psychologist" is a legally protected title: it means doctoral-level training (DClinPsy) in psychological assessment, formulation and therapy, and statutory regulation of standards and conduct.
Referred clients are seen by Kayleigh herself throughout — there is no triage team, no allocation to an associate, and no change of clinician partway through a piece of work.
Psychological therapy is delivered online, so clients can be referred from anywhere in the UK. Clinically-informed yoga and breathwork are also available where a body-based approach would sit well alongside, or instead of, talking therapy.
Registration can be checked independently on the HCPC public register before you refer.
Who refers
Referrals are welcome from
Referral routes differ a little depending on who is funding and coordinating the work, so it helps to say at the outset which of these you are.
GPs & healthcare colleagues
Where a patient is looking for private psychological therapy, or is waiting for NHS input and would like support in the meantime.
Case managers & rehabilitation teams
Including personal injury and vocational rehabilitation cases, where psychological input forms part of a wider care plan.
Insurers & EAPs
Kayleigh is a recognised provider for Bupa, Aviva and WPA, and can work with employee assistance programmes on an agreed basis.
HR & occupational health
Where an employee would benefit from individual psychological support alongside, or following, an occupational health assessment.
Solicitors & intermediaries
Treatment-focused referrals for clients whose funding is being arranged through a third party.
Charities & community services
For individual work, or for group and organisational programmes delivered to the people your service supports.
Scope of practice
Difficulties commonly referred
This isn't an exhaustive list, and a referral doesn't need a diagnosis attached. If you're unsure whether something falls within scope, a short conversation before you refer usually settles it faster than paperwork.
- Anxiety, worry & panic
- Depression & low mood
- Trauma, PTSD & complex PTSD
- Burnout, work-related stress & overwhelm
- OCD
- Chronic pain & long-term health conditions
- Grief, loss & bereavement
- Self-esteem, shame & self-criticism
- Adjustment to life transitions
- Sleep difficulties & insomnia
- Neurodiversity-informed support, including autism & ADHD
- Complex emotional needs & personality patterns
The process
How a referral works
Four straightforward steps, usually completed within a couple of weeks depending on availability.
1
Get in touch
Send an enquiry outlining what's being referred and who is funding it. Please don't include identifiable clinical detail in a first email — that can follow securely once the referral is taken forward.
2
Check of fit & availability
Kayleigh will confirm whether the referral sits within her scope of practice and when she could start — or suggest a more appropriate route if it doesn't.
3
Introductory call
A free 15-minute call with the client, so they can ask questions and decide for themselves. Consent for any contact with you is agreed at this point.
4
Assessment & plan
An initial assessment session leads to a shared understanding of the difficulties, agreed goals and a proposed approach, with review points built in.
Clients are also welcome to refer themselves — no GP letter or formal referral form is needed.
Working together
Communication, consent and reporting
Clients hold their own information. Anything shared back with a referrer — confirmation of attendance, a progress update, or a written summary — happens with the client's explicit, informed consent, and they know what is being shared and with whom.
Where a referral is funded or coordinated by a third party, it helps to agree at the outset what reporting is expected, in what form and at what intervals, so it can be discussed openly with the client from the first session. Any reporting beyond routine correspondence is quoted before it is undertaken.
Record keeping, information handling and the limits of confidentiality are set out in the confidentiality statement and the privacy notice, and are explained to every client before therapy begins.
Practice is governed by HCPC standards of conduct, performance and ethics, and supported by regular clinical supervision. Professional indemnity insurance is in place, and documents can be provided on request for your onboarding or supplier checks.
Fees & funding
What it costs, and how it's paid
Introductory call
Free
15 minutes · video or phone
No obligation on either side, and no charge whether or not the referral goes ahead.
Therapy sessions
£120
per session · up to 60 minutes · online
Typically weekly or fortnightly. Extended 90-minute sessions are £180 where more room to work is useful.
Programmes & reports
On enquiry
quoted before work begins
Group programmes, organisational work, and written reporting beyond routine correspondence, are quoted in advance.
See full feesSelf-funding clients pay per session. Third-party funded referrals can be invoiced directly to the payer where that is agreed before therapy starts. For insured clients, see how insurance-funded therapy works.
Insurer recognition
Recognised by Bupa, Aviva and WPA
Clients using private medical insurance will usually need an authorisation code from their insurer before the first session. Recognition can be verified independently where the insurer publishes a directory.
Bupa
Recognised & fee assured
Kayleigh is a Bupa-recognised, fee-assured Clinical Psychologist. Bupa is the only one of these insurers with a public consultant directory, so you can check her listing yourself before you book.
Aviva
Recognised provider
Kayleigh is a recognised provider for Aviva. Aviva does not publish a public directory of recognised practitioners, so her listing cannot be linked from here — Aviva members can confirm her recognition and their own cover by signing in to MyAviva or calling the number on their policy documents.
WPA
Recognised provider
Kayleigh is a recognised provider for WPA. WPA does not publish a public directory of recognised practitioners either, so her listing cannot be linked from here — WPA members can confirm her recognition and their own cover through the My WPA customer portal or their policy helpline.
Please note
This is a planned, appointment-based private practice rather than a crisis or emergency service, and it cannot monitor clients between sessions. If someone is at immediate risk, please follow your own organisation's risk procedures and direct them to their GP, NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.
Questions
Questions referrers often ask
- How quickly can you take a new referral?
- It depends on current availability, which changes through the year. Clinical availability is Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Get in touch and you'll get an honest answer about waiting times — including if the right answer is that someone else could see your client sooner.
- Do you need a formal referral letter?
- No. A short summary of the difficulties, what the client is hoping for, any relevant history and the funding arrangement is plenty. Please share clinical detail securely rather than in an initial email.
- Can you invoice our organisation or the insurer directly?
- Yes, where that is agreed in writing before therapy begins — including the number of sessions authorised and any reporting expected. For insured clients, the insurer's authorisation code is needed before the first session.
- Will you keep us updated on progress?
- With the client's explicit consent, yes — the form and frequency of updates are agreed at the start, so everyone knows what will be shared. Without that consent, confidentiality holds, and this is explained to referrers and clients alike from the outset.
- Do you provide medico-legal or expert witness reports?
- Treatment is the focus of this practice, and treatment referrals are always welcome. Medico-legal instruction is a distinct piece of work with its own requirements, so please ask before instructing — it is only accepted where it is appropriate and within scope.
- Can you see our client in person?
- Psychological therapy is delivered online, across the UK. Yoga and breathwork can be delivered in person in Exeter and Devon, and online elsewhere, for individuals, groups and organisations.
- Can you offer something for a whole team or client group?
- Yes. Wellbeing, resilience and burnout programmes, reflective practice and yoga sessions are delivered to staff teams, charities and community groups — see wellbeing for organisations and yoga for organisations.
- What if the referral isn't a good fit?
- You'll be told promptly and clearly, with a suggested alternative route where there's an obvious one. Nobody is taken on simply because they have been referred.
From a colleague
“Kayleigh brings so much warmth, understanding, and compassion to her work. As a highly experienced, trauma informed clinical psychologist, she is able to draw on a range of therapeutic models, thoughtfully adapting them to meet you where you are.”
Referrals
Someone in mind?
Send a brief outline and you'll get a straight answer on fit, availability and next steps — usually within a couple of working days.