Online Therapy for Teachers: Which Type Suits You?

You finish your last lesson and finally get a moment to sit down. You open your laptop, hoping to find some support. The GP can’t see you for weeks, and fitting in another face-to-face appointment just isn’t possible with your busy schedule. Online therapy could be a way to get help that actually fits your schedule.

According to the Teacher Well-being Index (2024), more than a third of education staff (35%) felt burnt out last year. Even so, many teachers aren’t sure what online therapy options are out there. Here, psychologist Britt Slief from OpenUp breaks down the main types and helps you figure out which one might work best for you.

In short

• There are four main types of online therapy: video sessions, chat therapy, online self-help programmes, and coaching. Each one fits different needs and routines.
• With so many teachers feeling burnt out, online therapy can offer support that actually fits around your marking and busy days.
• You can get started through the NHS, your employer (like OpenUp), or even on your own without needing a referral.

What types of online therapy are there?

There are four main ways you can access online therapy.

1. Video sessions with a psychologist. This is a live conversation over a screen, ideal if you want to talk through things like stress, early signs of burnout, or anxiety. Sessions usually last 25-50 minutes, so you can fit them in after dinner or during a free period. You can access these through the NHS (with a referral) or sometimes through your employer.

2. Chat therapy. Here, you exchange messages with a psychologist whenever it suits you, with no need to book a set time. This can work well if your schedule is unpredictable, but you still want someone to talk to. You might find yourself messaging during a marking session, a quick break, or even over the weekend. Availability depends on the platform and what your employer offers.

3. Online self-help programmes. These are structured modules you can work through at your own pace, maybe in the evening or during a quieter week. If you prefer to tackle stress management on your own, this could be a good fit. NICE (NG222) recommends computerised CBT for mild to moderate depression and anxiety. These programmes are often included in your employer’s well-being support.

4. Online coaching. These are short, 25-minute conversations focused on work-related challenges. If you want to get on top of workload before it starts to feel overwhelming, this might help. Sessions usually happen before or after school and are often part of your employer’s well-being offer.

Which type suits your situation as a teacher?

The right type depends on four things:

Here are four common situations teachers face.

Scenario 1: your day-to-day functioning is under pressure

If you find yourself getting frustrated more easily at school and struggling to unwind at home, try a video session. These 25-minute sessions can fit in after dinner or during a break at work.

Scenario 2: you want to address work stress before it gets worse

Online coaching is a good place to start. These are short, focused conversations that help you make changes right away.

Psychologist Britt Slief at OpenUp: “You don’t need to have a burnout to work on your mental resilience.”

From our course First aid for burnout (Lesson 2): “Burnout does not happen overnight. It is a gradual process that begins before the word burnout even crosses your mind.” Acting early makes a measurable difference. Research from the House of Commons Library (2026) shows that between 30% and 33% of teachers leave the profession within five years of qualifying. Preventive support helps teachers stay.

Scenario 3: you have no regular free time but still want to talk

Chat therapy lets you write whenever it works for you. The psychologist will reply within the time you agree on, so you don’t have to schedule anything.

Scenario 4: you want to work on things independently

Online self-help programmes let you work at your own pace, maybe in the evening or during a break. If you need extra support, you can always add a guided session.

Psychologist Britt Slief emphasises: “There is no right or wrong choice. The most important thing is that you pick a format that fits your life and energy right now. Support works best when it actually feels manageable.”

If you’re a teacher thinking about online therapy, here’s how you can get started.

There are three main ways teachers usually begin.

Route 1: Through the NHS

NHS Talking Therapies (previously called IAPT) is a free service for issues like stress, anxiety, or depression. In many places, you can sign up for yourself without needing to see your GP. There’s nothing to pay. The only catch is that wait times can be long, and it sometimes takes more than six weeks to get your first appointment.

Psychologist Britt Slief: “In my sessions, I often see that people don’t stand still during a waiting period. They push on until things really break down. That tends to make recovery harder.”

Route 2: Through your employer or school

Some schools and colleges pay for mental health support through their well-being or absence policies. It’s worth asking your HR team if this is available to you. With OpenUp, for example, you can book a confidential session with a psychologist and usually get an appointment within a day.

Route 3: Directly without a referral

You can also go straight to an online platform without needing a referral. With OpenUp, you can book 25-minute sessions in the evenings or at weekends, and your family can use the service too. Most people say their concerns are sorted after just three sessions.

When is online therapy not enough?

Online therapy can really help with stress, early signs of burnout, and work worries. But if your symptoms are making it hard to get through your day, it might be time to look at more specialist support.

If you haven’t been able to manage school for a couple of weeks, if things aren’t getting better after sessions, or if you think you might be dealing with depression or anxiety, it’s worth looking into more intensive help.

If you’re not sure what you need, talking things through with a psychologist can help you figure it out. You don’t have to wait until things feel really bad to ask for support. If you need it, a psychologist can help you move on to NHS Talking Therapies or other specialist services.

How school leaders and HR can provide online therapy for staff

Schools usually pay for online therapy using their well-being budget, absence policy, or staff retention plan. The DfE’s Education Staff Well-being Charter gives some guidance, but each school or trust decides how to fund it.

Well-being support only works if staff use it. Look for a provider that is easy to access, has clear pricing, and helps your team get started.

With OpenUp, teachers get direct, unlimited access to psychologists for a fixed fee per employee. Implementation takes days, not months. A dedicated Customer Success team works with HR to maintain high engagement. Everything is confidential, available in the evenings and at weekends, and family members can use the service too. Adoption is tracked through a real-time dashboard without personal data.

In the first year, 20% of staff used the service, which is higher than average. 84% of users report feeling better equipped for future challenges, and 82% recover faster from personal setbacks (OpenUp Impact Report, 2024).

David Hulsenbek, CHRO at Salta Group: “OpenUp is a practical and easy way to help our employees take that first step when something’s off. I’ve never seen another platform do this.”