Cost of private psychology soars in UK as practitioners turn away clients | Mental health

The cost of the search for private psychologists soars and many are so busy that they divert new customers, revealed that research has revealed.

The prices that psychologists invoice have increased by 34% since 2022 and 12 sessions have now cost an average of £ 1,550, against £ 1,152 only three years ago, according to a survey of mytrib insurance, which follows the cost of private medical care.

Almost three out of 10 psychologists (29%) already treat so many patients that they do not take new ones, according to a survey of the UK practitioners.

Sometimes the months of the months who are confronted in their efforts to access NHS mental health care and the record number of people looking for help, generally for anxiety or depression, seem to underlie dual-rope patients and closed waiting lists.

Chris Steele, the founder of Mytribe Insurance, said: “What we have seen in the past three years is a market that has become much more expensive for patients. A 34% increase in consultation fees is not only a statistic. This shows how private therapies move further for many people who need it. ”

While many people are looking for help from a private psychologist, the 349 practitioner survey has revealed that this can involve high prices, long expectations and online care only. The results include:

• The average cost of consultation in the United Kingdom increased from £ 96 in 2022 to £ 129.20 in 2025.

• Psychologists in England also charge (£ 131) per session and those in Scotland the least (£ 124).

• People in Scotland have the shortest waiting times (16.9 days) and the longest Wales (23.8 days).

Leicester -based psychologists invoice an average of £ 164 for a session, with London second out of £ 160. Colchester, Bath and Coventry charge £ 85, £ 99 and £ 100 respectively.

Steele advised people looking for help to go around and be ready to accept online support provided far from their house in order to beat the delays and pay less.

The British Psychological Society, which represents 19,000 of the 27,774 psychologists in the United Kingdom, said that they had increased their charges to help cover the cost of living increases.

A spokesperson said: “With the continuous lottery of the postal code to access NHS mental health support, increasing figures are looking for private treatment. [be] Unable to take new customers. Demand exceeds supply on all fronts. »»

One in three people waiting for mental health care of the NHS ends up becoming deprived due to delays, according to research last year by rethinking mental illness. The increase in the cost of private psychology is “disturbing”, and the trend towards private care could lead to a “two-level system,” he said.

Jeremy Bernhaut, head of politics and influence of the charitable organization, said: “There are about 1.8 million people waiting [NHS] mental health care [in England] And the consequences are severe: attempts at suicide, lost use and hospitalization, which puts pressure on the broader NHS. »»

The number of people on the waiting list for the support of the NHS to community mental health and learning disability services in England increased from 1.56 million last year to 1.79 million.

The NHS England said that more than one million people a year received help from its speaking therapy services. A spokesperson said: “We plan to extend the service more, increasing the therapist’s workforce and reducing waiting times.”