Therapist business cards should carry your name, title and registration, the practice name, one or two contact routes, your website and, optionally, a QR code — and nothing else. In the UK the standard size is 85 x 55 mm, supplied with 3 mm bleed (91 x 61 mm), printed on 350–450 gsm stock, and designed discreetly enough that a client is comfortable carrying it.
What should a therapist business card include?
Less than you think. A card is a prompt to look you up, not a brochure. Aim for this:
- —Your name, as clients would search for it.
- —Your title — 'Counsellor', 'Psychotherapist', 'EMDR Therapist', 'Clinical Psychologist' — using only titles you're entitled to.
- —Professional membership or registration — for example 'MBACP (Accred)', 'UKCP registered' or 'HCPC registered'. Use your body's logo only as its guidelines allow.
- —Practice name and logo.
- —One or two contact routes — usually a phone number and an email address.
- —Your website, written short (fernbanktherapy.co.uk, not https://www.…).
- —Optionally, a location line: 'Bristol and online'.
- —Optionally, a QR code linking to your booking or contact page.
What to leave off: a list of every modality, your full address if you work from home, social media icons for accounts you rarely post on, and any taglines that promise outcomes.
What size is a business card in the UK?
The standard UK business card is 85 x 55 mm. US cards are slightly different (3.5 x 2 inches, roughly 89 x 51 mm), so if you're using a template from an American site, check the dimensions before you upload.
| Spec | Measurement | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Trim size (finished card) | 85 x 55 mm | The size of the card in someone's hand |
| Bleed | 3 mm each side | Background colour or images extend past the trim so there's no white edge after cutting |
| Artwork size with bleed | 91 x 61 mm | The size of the file you send to the printer |
| Safe zone | Keep text at least 3–5 mm inside the trim | Stops names and numbers getting clipped |
| Resolution | 300 dpi for any images | Prevents blurry logos and photos |
| Colour mode | CMYK | Printers use CMYK; RGB colours can shift in print |
| File type | Print-ready PDF | Fonts embedded or outlined, with crop marks if your printer asks |
We keep these and every other common UK print size — leaflets, posters, roller banners — in one place. See the UK print design sizes cheat sheet →
Which paper stock is best for therapist business cards?
Paper weight is measured in gsm (grams per square metre). Heavier usually feels more substantial, but texture and finish matter as much as weight for a therapy practice.
| Stock | Typical weight | Feel | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard silk | 350–400 gsm | Smooth, slight sheen | Budget-friendly, crisp colour |
| Uncoated | 350–400 gsm | Natural, slightly textured, easy to write on | Appointment cards; warm, natural brands |
| Recycled uncoated | 300–400 gsm | Matte, flecked or soft | Practices wanting an environmental signal |
| Matt laminated or soft-touch | 400–450 gsm | Velvety, premium | A considered, high-end feel |
| Extra-thick or duplexed | 600 gsm+ | Very rigid | Statement cards; usually unnecessary for therapy |
One practical point: if you'll write appointment times on the back, choose uncoated stock or an uncoated reverse. Ballpoint pens smudge or skip on laminated and silk finishes.
Should a therapist business card have a QR code?
A QR code is useful if it goes somewhere specific — your booking page, a 'how to start' page or your contact form — rather than just your home page. A few rules make them work:
- —Print it at least 20 x 20 mm, with a clear quiet zone around it.
- —Use dark code on a light background; inverted or low-contrast codes often fail to scan.
- —Use a static QR code pointing to a page on your own domain, so it won't break if a QR subscription lapses.
- —Add a short label: 'Scan to book a free call'.
- —Test it on several phones before you print 500.
- —Don't make the QR code the only way to reach you — always include a typed web address too.
What privacy considerations apply to therapy business cards?
This is where therapist business cards differ from a plumber's. A client might carry your card in a purse, leave it on a kitchen worktop, or have it seen by a partner or colleague. Some will be comfortable with that; some won't.
- —Consider discretion — a practice name like 'Fernbank Therapy' with a small descriptor is easier to carry than 'Trauma & Abuse Recovery Counselling' in large type.
- —Think about a two-version system — a networking card with full details, and a plainer appointment card for clients.
- —Don't print a home address if you work from home. 'Central Bristol and online' plus a phone number is enough; share the address once someone books.
- —Use a business phone number or second line, not your personal mobile.
- —Never write anything clinical on an appointment card — just date and time.
- —If you specialise in domestic abuse or similar areas, a deliberately neutral card can help keep clients safe.
The best therapy business card is one a client could leave on the kitchen table without having to explain it.
Adam Watters, Founder, Psyche Creative
Therapist business card design ideas
- —Full-bleed colour front with a reversed logo, and a plain white back with contact details — simple and confident.
- —A single texture or pattern from your brand on the front only, contact details on the back.
- —Front: name and title. Back: an appointment grid ('Your next session: ____') on uncoated stock.
- —A calm landscape photograph you took yourself, used full-bleed, with contact details on the reverse.
- —Minimal typographic card: your name in a serif, everything else in small sans-serif, lots of space.
- —Rounded corners for a softer feel (usually a small upgrade at most UK printers).
- —A spot foil or blind emboss of your monogram for a premium touch, used sparingly.
- —Vertical (portrait) orientation to stand out in a pile of landscape cards.
Accessibility on a small card
Keep contact details at 8–9 pt minimum, and your name larger. Avoid thin script fonts for anything people need to read. Light grey text on white might look elegant on screen and be unreadable in print, so aim for strong contrast — the same 4.5:1 principle that applies on your website is a good guide.
How much do therapist business cards cost in the UK?
Printing is cheap; design is where the value lies. At the time of writing, 250 standard cards from a UK online printer typically cost somewhere around £15–£40, with premium stocks, laminates and foiling adding more. Order a smaller run first: titles, numbers and addresses change more often than you'd expect in the first year of a practice.
If you're also producing leaflets for GP surgeries and community noticeboards, the same principles apply at a bigger size. Read: counselling leaflet design →
We design print-ready business cards, appointment cards and leaflets for therapists, matched to your brand and supplied with bleed and crop marks ready for any UK printer. See our Graphic Design service →
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard business card size in the UK?
The standard UK business card is 85 x 55 mm. Artwork should be supplied with 3 mm bleed on each side, making the file 91 x 61 mm.
What should I put on my therapist business card?
Your name, title, professional registration, practice name, one or two contact routes and your website. A location line and a QR code to your booking page are useful extras.
What paper weight is best for business cards?
Most good business cards are printed on 350–450 gsm stock. Choose uncoated stock if you'll write appointment times on the back, as pens smudge on laminated finishes.
Should I include my address on a therapy business card?
Only if you work from a separate therapy room you're happy to publish. If you work from home, list your area and 'online' instead, and share the address once a client books.
How big should a QR code be on a business card?
Print it at least 20 x 20 mm with a clear border around it, in dark ink on a light background, and test it on several phones before ordering.
Adam works with UK therapy practices, EMDR trainers and mental health organisations on websites, social media and digital campaigns. He started Psyche Creative to give clinicians a marketing partner who understands the sector — and won't compromise on professional standards to get results.
