Written by Dr Elena Maritan, Consultant Psychiatrist. Last reviewed: 16 September 2026
Therapy pricing in London is opaque, and that is not an accident. A lot of clinics will not put a figure anywhere on their website, which leaves you ringing round to find out something you should have been able to read in thirty seconds.
We cannot publish a single number either, and it is worth explaining why rather than leaving you to guess. Fees at The Blue Tree Clinic depend on the type of therapy, the seniority of the clinician and whether the work is for an adult or a child. Please contact us and we will tell you straight away.
What we can do is explain what actually drives the cost, so you can work out what any quote you are given, from us or from anyone else, really means.
What you are paying for varies more than people expect
Who you see. A consultant psychiatrist, a consultant clinical psychologist and an accredited therapist are three different levels of training and three different price points. That is not a hierarchy of usefulness. For a straightforward phobia, a good accredited CBT therapist is the right person and a consultant psychiatrist is an expensive way to get the same result. For something complicated, undiagnosed, or involving medication, it is the other way round.
Session length. A standard therapy session is fifty minutes. An initial psychiatric assessment is considerably longer, which is why it costs more than the sessions that follow it.
Type of therapy. Some approaches need more preparation between sessions than others. EMDR in particular requires proper preparation work before the processing begins, which is why a course of EMDR is not simply a number of sessions multiplied by a rate.
Adult or child. Work with children and young people usually involves parents or carers, and sometimes school, which takes clinician time outside the room.
How many sessions you should expect
This matters more than the per session rate, and almost nobody talks about it.
Focused CBT for a specific problem such as panic, a phobia or obsessive compulsive difficulties is typically a defined course rather than open ended work. You should be told roughly how long at the start.
EMDR for a single traumatic event can be relatively short. For repeated or prolonged trauma it takes longer, and any clinician who promises you a fixed number before assessing you is guessing.
Longer term psychological therapy for entrenched difficulties is open ended by design, and should be reviewed regularly so you know whether it is working.
A per session fee that looks low but runs for two years costs more than a higher fee over twelve sessions. Ask about the likely course, not just the rate.
Questions worth asking any clinic, including us
What are the total fees, including the initial assessment.
Roughly how many sessions is this likely to take, and when will we review whether it is working.
Who exactly will I be seeing, and what are their qualifications.
Is there a charge for reports, letters or cancellations.
Do you take my insurance, and do I need pre authorisation.
If a clinic will not answer those clearly, that tells you something.
Does insurance cover it
Often, yes, but not automatically. Most policies require a GP referral and pre authorisation before your first appointment, and most cover a set number of sessions rather than unlimited treatment. Some exclude conditions you had before the policy started.
Ring your insurer before you book anything, get the authorisation number, and check whether the clinician you want to see is recognised by them.
What we charge
Please contact us for fees. They depend on the therapy, the clinician and whether the appointment is for an adult or a child, and we would rather give you an accurate figure for your situation than a headline number that turns out not to apply to you.
We will tell you the cost before you book. There are no surprises later.
Book an appointment
South Hampstead, London NW3, or online. We aim to offer an initial appointment within one week.
We operate a callback system. Send us your details through the contact form and we will call you back.
The Coach House, 39 College Crescent, South Hampstead, London NW3 5LB
Frequently asked questions
How much does private therapy cost in London? It depends on the type of therapy, the seniority of the clinician and whether the work is for an adult or a child. Contact us and we will give you an accurate figure for your situation.
How many therapy sessions will I need?Focused CBT for a specific problem is usually a defined course. EMDR for a single incident can be short, and longer for repeated trauma. Ask about the likely course as well as the session rate.
Does insurance cover private therapy? Often, but most policies require a GP referral and pre authorisation before your first appointment, and most cap the number of sessions. Ring your insurer before booking.