Why is Private Therapy So Expensive?

Why is Private Therapy So Expensive?

Private therapy can often come with a hefty price tag, leaving many wondering why such essential services are so costly. The answer lies in the numerous requirements and overheads therapists must fulfil to provide high-quality care, especially in the context of rising living costs.

Qualifications and Training

Therapists undergo extensive education and training. A typical path can includes a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and often a doctorate particularly for Psychologists. This academic journey can take four to six years, accruing significant debt. Additionally, therapists must complete hundreds of hours of supervised clinical practice to gain hands-on experience before obtaining their qualifications, followed by hundreds more hours of supervised practice to gain accreditation.

Registration and Certification

Therapists must be registered with professional bodies like the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), the British Association of Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP), or the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). These associations ensure that therapists adhere to strict ethical standards and continually update their skills through Continuing Professional Development (CPD). CPD involves attending workshops, seminars, and additional courses every year to maintain accreditation and registration, all of which add to their costs.

Registration fees are billed yearly, with re-accreditation fees every 2-3 years.

Insurance and Overheads

Private practitioners need liability insurance to protect against potential lawsuits. They also have overheads such as renting office space, purchasing supplies, and investing in technology for virtual sessions. Marketing, administrative support, and maintaining a professional website further contribute to their expenses. It probably goes without saying that insurances are required annually or monthly with other overheads such as gas, eclectic, water & room hire fees featuring as part of cost for delivering every session that they deliver.

Monthly Supervision & Personal Therapy

It is part of the requirement of Therapist governing bodies that they require regular supervision, and for some personal therapy to support them in he work that they do with you.

believe in the importance of ongoing clinical supervision for our therapists. This process involves regular, supportive meetings with experienced supervisors to discuss cases, reflect on therapeutic techniques, and receive valuable feedback. Through clinical supervision, our therapists maintain the highest standards of care, stay current with the latest developments in the field, and continue to grow professionally. It also provides a nurturing space for therapists to explore their own emotional responses and challenges, ensuring they can offer the most effective and empathetic support to our clients. By prioritizing ongoing supervision, we ensure that our team is always equipped to provide the best possible care for your mental health and wellbeing.

Specialist Training & SCOPED

Therapists often pursue additional training to specialize in areas like trauma, addiction, or child psychology. These certifications require further investment in both time and money but are crucial to providing specialized care.

The recent SCOPED initiative (Scope of Practice and Education), due to be finalized in 2026, is designed to help clients easily identify the levels of training and experience of their therapists. By creating a standardized framework, SCOPED categorizes therapists based on their qualifications and professional experience. This transparency allows clients to make informed decisions when selecting a therapist and can also influence pricing structures.

Therapists with more advanced training, experience, or specialisms may charge higher fees, reflecting their expertise and the value they bring to their practice.

Therapy is Never Truly Free

Even in the charitable sector or through the NHS, therapy is never truly free. Therapists working in these settings are compensated for their expertise and time. Charities rely on donations and grants to cover these costs, while the NHS allocates budget to ensure therapists are paid fairly. This compensation supports the high level of professional care provided, highlighting the intrinsic value and necessity of their services.

An Investment in self

I like to view private therapy as an investment in your personal self and will often have discussion with my client in regard to the financial implications of therapy and the reasons, mentioned above, that the fees associated with these sessions can feel high. Private therapy is one option for client , however there are many others should private fee’s fee too high. Ultimately, in my mind access to private therapy exist to expediate access to psychological support, and to provide a different level of support where the client can dictate their own needs and numbers of sessions and modality (approach) with a more personalised level of care that is afforded with in other services.

In summary I understand that discussing fees can be a sensitive topic, and I do not wish to come across as defensive. However, it is important to recognize that the fees charged by private therapists are essential for them to earn a livable wage. These fees also enable therapists to meet the professional requirements of their practice, such as ongoing education, supervision, and maintaining a suitable practice environment. Ultimately, these factors contribute to providing high-quality care to clients.