Psychology Kent
Most people looking into therapy in the UK run into the same two questions fairly quickly. How do you actually get referred, and how long is any of this going to take before it costs you anything.
This guide answers both directly, starting with the route in.
You don’t need to see a GP before starting NHS Talking Therapies. Self-referral is open to anyone registered with a GP practice, aged 18 or over (16 or over in some areas), and the form itself usually takes about ten minutes online or by phone.
Going through your GP still has its place. It tends to help when your situation is more complex, or when you’re not sure which service actually fits what you’re dealing with.
A GP can also refer you into secondary mental health services for things Talking Therapies doesn’t cover, such as bipolar disorder, psychosis, or an eating disorder.
Fewer people know about the NHS Right to Choose. Under this, you can usually pick which provider you’re referred to, including one outside your local area if it has a shorter waiting list. Your referrer is expected to offer several options rather than defaulting to the nearest one.
Private therapy skips referral entirely. You book directly with a practitioner, such as through Psychology Kent’s services, and nobody needs to approve that first.
The national standard for NHS Talking Therapies is for 75% of people to start treatment within 6 weeks of referral, and 95% within 18 weeks.
Plenty of services land close to that, though local waits stretch longer in some areas, and lighter-touch support like guided self-help generally moves faster than one-to-one CBT.
Private therapy mostly removes the wait. Because you’re booking a specific practitioner rather than joining a triage queue, a first session within a few days to a couple of weeks is fairly typical.
NHS Talking Therapies costs nothing at the point of use if you’re eligible and registered with a GP.
Private fees shift depending on who you see and where.
Usually £40 to £100 per 50-minute session. More than half of BACP-listed therapists charge somewhere in the £40 to £60 range.
Runs higher, often £100 to £180, reflecting extra training and, for practitioner psychologists, statutory HCPC regulation.
London and other major cities typically add 15 to 25% on top of the wider UK average. Online sessions tend to run 20 to 40% cheaper than in-person ones.
A short course of six to twelve sessions commonly totals somewhere between £250 and £1,500, depending on who you see and where.
A fair number of people start on the NHS Talking Therapies list while they weigh up whether private feels worth it, then switch if the wait starts to wear on them.
Others go private straight away, often because they want a specific practitioner, a particular therapeutic approach, or simply don’t want to wait. If that’s closer to where you’re at, a free introductory consultation is a low-commitment way to start that conversation.
Registration is worth checking regardless of which route you take. Look for BACP, UKCP, or BABCP membership for counsellors and psychotherapists, or HCPC registration specifically for psychologists, the only legally regulated title among them.
This article is intended for general information and isn’t a substitute for professional advice. If you’re finding it difficult to cope, speaking to your GP or a registered mental health professional is a good first step.
If you need urgent support, you can call NHS 111 and select the mental health option, or contact the Samaritans on 116 123.
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Yulia Craine
Counselling Psychologist, PhD in Counselling Psychology
Dr. Yulia Craine is a Counselling Psychologist with experience supporting individuals, couples and families through a range of psychological approaches, including CBT, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Systemic Therapy, Gestalt, Compassion Focused Therapy and Mindfulness-based approaches. She works from an evidence-based, client-centred approach, offering a confidential and non-judgemental space for clients navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties and other life challenges.
