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October 2025 - Health

Private psychologist prices have increased by more than a third since 2022, new research shows: The report has found that 12 sessions of private therapy now cost in the region of £1,550 – almost £400 (34%) more than it did in 2022 (£1,152). In addition to rising costs, many psychologists are unable to take on new patients straight away, as they are already working at full capacity, leading to much extended wait times. 

Healthcare insurance specialists myTribe Insurance conducted a survey of 349 private psychologists from around the UK throughout September 2025 to monitor the cost and waiting times of private mental health support. The organisation prides itself on providing consumers with detailed information about UK health insurance and private healthcare. 

The average cost of a single consultation now well exceeds the sub £100 average of 2022 (£96), sitting at £129 in 2025. Regional variations in price can be seen across the country, with Leicester and London topping the price rankings as residents are paying fees of £164 and £160 respectively. Gross median weekly full-time employee salaries in Leicester are about a third less than in inner London (according to provisional data for 2024 in the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings from the Office for National Statistics), yet their fees are higher. This further demonstrates the decreasing affordability of private psychologists. However, some regions still benefit from cheap prices, with Colchester and Bath recording averages of £85 and £99.

With nearly three in ten (29%) psychologists so busy they are having to turn down patients, wait times are increasing significantly. As of September 2025, the average time between requesting and obtaining a private appointment with a psychologist in the UK is 20.8 days, but again, like prices, this also varies across the country. In the West Midlands wait times are reported to be far shorter, at just 11 days, however, psychologists in the East and South West of England have wait periods of c.33 days. Interestingly, towns like Bath - that have some of the cheapest fees - also have the longest wait times, with residents having to wait over 6 weeks (44 days) for a consultation. 

The report also outlines how psychologists are increasingly embracing online appointments, with a clear shift away from face-to-face only session. Nearly nine in ten (87%) respondents said they offer online consultations, with 16% operating online exclusively. 

With rising costs, mounting wait times and fewer in-person appointments, patients may well start to question the benefits of private mental health care over free NHS service provision in the future. 

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