Psychotherapist: A practitioner trained to work with emotional, psychological, and relational difficulties, typically over a longer-term course of sessions. In the UK, look for registration with a body such as UKCP or BACP.

Counsellor: Often used interchangeably with psychotherapist, though counselling can sometimes refer to shorter-term, more focused support (e.g. bereavement, crisis, or specific issues). BACP is the main regulatory body for counsellors in the UK.

Coach: Works with clients on goals, performance, confidence, or specific challenges. Accreditation through a recognised coaching body (e.g. ICF, EMCC) is a useful marker of training and standards.

Neurodiversity (ND) Expert : A specialist (who may be a coach, therapist, trainer, or consultant) with specific training and/or lived experience in supporting neurodivergent individuals. For example autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, or AuDHD professionals — with diagnosis pathways, workplace adjustments, or coaching.

Mental Health Trainer: Delivers structured training (often bespoke to the screen industry) on topics such as stress, burnout, trauma awareness and mental fitness. Distinct from a clinical role, trainers educate and raise awareness rather than provide treatment.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Trainer: Delivers accredited Mental Health First Aid courses (licensed through MHFA England), teaching participants to recognise signs of mental health difficulty and signpost appropriately. Instructors complete MHFA England's own licensed training programme, accredited by the Royal Society for Public Health, and the underlying MHFA framework is internationally recognised. 

• Relevant registration or accreditation for their specific role

• Insurance: professional indemnity and, where relevant, public liability insurance.

• Experience in the screen industry specifically: understanding of freelance working patterns, set culture, NDAs, unsociable hours, and the particular pressures of production work is a significant advantage.

• Clear scope of practice: they should be able to explain clearly what they do and don't offer, and refer you elsewhere if a request falls outside their expertise.

• Supervision: clinical practitioners (psychotherapists, counsellors) should be in regular clinical supervision; this is a requirement of professional registration.

• References or testimonials: particularly from productions or individuals in similar roles to yours.

• A clear, transparent contracting process: fees, confidentiality, cancellation policy, and (for production-commissioned work) reporting lines should be agreed up front.

What you can expect:

• A confidential, professional working relationship within the bounds of their training.

• Clarity about their role, their limits, and when they would refer you on.

• Adherence to a professional code of ethics and conduct (where they are registered with a governing body).

What they are not:

• Not a substitute for emergency or crisis services. If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact emergency services on 111 or 999 or a crisis line directly such as Samaritans on 116 123.

• Not necessarily clinically trained. Coaches, mental health trainers, and MHFA instructors are trained to build skills, offer support, and signpost onward, not to diagnose or provide clinical treatment. That sits with clinically trained practitioners: psychiatrists and clinical psychologists for diagnosis, counsellors and psychotherapists for ongoing therapeutic support. 

• Not interchangeable. Each role is trained for a distinct purpose. A coach supports goals, performance, and confidence; a mental health trainer teaches skills to help prevent harm and respond early; a counsellor or psychotherapist provides one-to-one, ongoing psychological support. Match the role to the need. 

• Not vetted or endorsed by SPACES. As above, inclusion in this directory is not a guarantee of quality, safety, or fit. That responsibility sits with the person or production engaging them.

• UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy) — psychotherapists

• BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) — counsellors and psychotherapists

• HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) — for practitioner psychologists and some other regulated health roles

• BPS (British Psychological Society) — psychologists

• ICF (International Coaching Federation) / EMCC (European Mentoring and Coaching Council) — coaching accreditation

• MHFA England — Mental Health First Aid training and accredited by the Royal Society for Public Health

Note: with the exception of HCPC-protected psychologist titles, none of the roles above are legally/statutorily regulated in the UK. Registration with a recognised body like BACP, UKCP, ICF, or EMCC is voluntary, but it's a genuine, externally-checked marker of training and accountability. Where no professional body exists at all, look instead for a recognised training provider, CPD records, and professional indemnity insurance.