Research Study — Scotland 2026

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

Therapy practice owners across Scotland are spending 8–12 hours a week on admin, missing enquiries they never knew arrived, and losing clients before a single session begins. I'm researching exactly where this happens — and whether there's a better way.

No sales pitch · Confidential · You receive the full findings

Early findings — February 2026

What I'm already hearing from Scottish practice owners

Based on initial conversations with therapy practice owners across Glasgow and surrounding areas.

30–40%

of enquiries may be lost before a response is sent

Research shows 60% of people contact 2–3 therapists simultaneously. The first to respond typically wins the client. Most practices respond in 24–48 hours. By then, it's often too late.

60hrs

Weekend enquiry gap — Friday evening to Monday morning

When someone finally works up the courage to reach out, they're often met with silence over the weekend. That window of courage doesn't last. Someone else answers first.

£000s

in lost revenue from no-shows each month

Each missed appointment is £50–120 in lost revenue. With typical no-show rates of 10–15%, most practices are losing thousands annually that better reminder systems could recover.

8–12hrs

per week spent on admin — not clinical work

Reminders, cancellations, rescheduling, chasing payments. These tasks eat into evenings, erode boundaries, and quietly prevent practices from growing — or even staying sustainable.

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.