Rachael McLean Therapy and Training is a Glasgow-based business offering private therapy sessions alongside training courses and workshops within the mental health and education sectors.
Since August 2025, Rachael has worked closely with Business Glasgow to turn her self-employment ambitions into a successful business. With one-to-one support from adviser Ian Benson, she developed a business plan, cashflow forecasts and funding applications, receiving guidance and encouragement at every stage of the start-up journey.
Through the Business Start-Up Programme, Rachael secured an initial £500 grant which helped cover essential first-year costs, including professional memberships, trainer accreditation, ICO registration and marketing activity. Following several months of trading, she was also awarded a second-tier grant of £1,500 to support the development of her own therapy space, enabling her to expand capacity and welcome more clients.
Rachael described the support from Business Glasgow as invaluable, helping to simplify the start-up process and build the confidence needed to take the leap into business ownership.
Rachael McLean, Founder, said:
After making the difficult decision to leave my job for health reasons, I knew I needed to take the leap into self-employment. I wasn’t too sure what to expect when I approached business gateway for advice. Through working with Ian to establish a business plan and cashflow projections, I’ve been able to get a good understanding of how everything works and that clarity has been a crucial factor for me in being able to move forward. Ian also encouraged me to apply for the funding offered and helped me through the entire process. He really understood what was important to me and the result of these few months working together has been life changing. I can now set my own hours, working in a lovely building in the city centre with disabled access, and am in the process of creating my own space to share with my clients and other practitioners – this helps to improve my work-life balance and sets me up for success in doing the work I am passionate about. I’m truly grateful for the support and guidance I’ve received.
Contact therapywithrachael@outlook.com to find out more, or click here for your own Business Support tool.
