Private Counselling or NHS Therapy: Which Is Right for You?
You finally did the hard thing. You sat in your GP’s office, found the words, and asked for help. They were
kind, they listened, and then they told you you’d been added to a waiting list. That was weeks ago. Maybe
months. And in the meantime, life hasn’t paused to wait with you.
This gap between asking for help and actually receiving it is one of the cruellest parts of struggling with
your mental health in the UK right now. Anxiety doesn’t politely stand down while a referral makes its way
through the system. Low mood doesn’t take a break because the admin is backed up. And yet here you
are, waiting, managing as best you can, and quietly wondering whether it’s worth going private for therapy
instead of waiting for the NHS.
This article gives you the real picture: actual NHS waiting time figures for 2026, honest breakdowns of
what private therapy costs, and a clear framework to help you decide which path makes sense for your
specific situation. Some people researching this question find local private practices, such as mine, Rebecca
Wilkinson Counselling, a Plymouth-based counsellor offering both in-person and online sessions across
the UK, because they’re looking for accessible, specialist support that sits between the NHS and the
premium end of private care. We’ll cover all of that below.
Why NHS mental health waiting times are harder than the headlines suggest
The headline figure most frequently cited is stark. According to a YoungMinds analysis of NHS data, some people were waiting more than a year for mental health treatment, with an average wait of 392 days reported in 2023/24. That’s not a typo. NHS England’s Mental Health Services Monthly Statistics reported that 2.24 million people were in contact with NHS-funded mental health services in England at the end of January 2026, highlighting the level of demand mental health services are currently managing.
What makes planning even harder is that there is no single, clean national average you can use to benchmark your own situation. Waiting times vary by local trust, service type, and referral category. Someone in one postcode might wait weeks; someone in another might wait the better part of a year for the same type of support.
NHS England’s Referral to Treatment statistics reported a median waiting time of 11.3 weeks across general elective treatment pathways in March 2026, although mental health services operate through separate pathways and waiting times can vary significantly depending on location and service type. NHS Talking Therapies, formerly known as IAPT, is often the first NHS treatment option for people experiencing anxiety or depression and mainly provides evidence-based approaches such as CBT. National waiting-time standards state that 75% of patients should begin treatment within six weeks of referral and 95% within 18 weeks. However, these figures measure waiting times within the Talking Therapies pathway itself and do not necessarily reflect the time from first approaching a GP to receiving ongoing support.
For some people, particularly those who are neurodivergent, dealing with long-standing anxiety rooted
in masking and identity, or navigating something more complex than a recent low mood, standard short-term CBT may not always be the right fit, even after waiting months to access it. That mismatch matters, and it’s a big part of why people start asking whether going private for therapy is worth it
Is it worth going private for therapy instead of waiting for the NHS?
Before weighing costs, it helps to understand what you’d actually be choosing between. NHS Talking Therapies publishes outcomes data showing that many people experience meaningful improvements in symptoms of anxiety and depression following treatment. Those are real numbers based on large-scale routine data, and they represent meaningful help for a significant number of people.
Direct head-to-head comparisons between NHS and private therapy outcomes are scarce in the published literature. Research suggests that outcomes are influenced by factors such as the quality of the therapeutic relationship, the treatment approach being used, and how well the service fits the person’s needs. Where private therapy often has a practical edge comes down to structure and fit rather than clinical superiority. In most cases, you choose your therapist and continue working with the same person throughout the process, which matters enormously when trust is the foundation of the work. Private therapy is often more flexible, allowing sessions to continue for as long as they remain useful, so the pace is led by what you actually need rather than what a commissioning model allows. And specialist private practitioners can focus on areas that NHS pathways aren’t designed to address in depth, whether that’s neurodivergent support, complex grief, or self-esteem work that doesn’t fit neatly into a 6 or 12-session protocol.
Where the NHS genuinely has the advantage is equally important to acknowledge. It’s free at the point of use, which removes a barrier that matters for many people. NHS pathways also include access to psychiatry, medication, and shared care arrangements that a private counsellor alone cannot provide. If medication management or psychiatric assessment is part of what you need, the NHS route, even with its delays, offers something private counselling cannot replicate. It’s also worth knowing about the Right to Choose scheme. In England, eligible patients can ask their GP to refer them to an NHS-commissioned independent provider for certain mental health services, which can speed up access while remaining NHS-funded. Ask your GP whether this applies to your referral.
What private therapy actually costs
Cost is often the biggest factor when deciding whether private therapy is realistic. The good news is that fees vary more than many people expect.
Across much of the UK, private counselling typically costs somewhere between £40 and £90 per session, although fees can be higher in some areas and lower in others. Many therapists also offer reduced-fee spaces for people on lower incomes, so it’s always worth asking rather than assuming support is out of reach.
At the more affordable end of the spectrum, trainee therapists working in placements may charge reduced fees, or in certain placements, no fee at all. Charity counselling services can also provide lower-cost support, although waiting times may apply.
A typical course of therapy might involve anywhere from 12 to 20 sessions, depending on what brings you to counselling and how you prefer to work. At a fee of £55 to £70 per session, that works out at roughly £660 to £1,400 spread over several months. That’s a significant investment, but it’s also a finite one rather than an open-ended commitment.
The most important thing is finding support that feels sustainable. Whether that’s private counselling, a lower-cost service, or NHS support, the right option is the one that you can realistically access and continue with.
To find out more about my counselling fees, you can take a look on the How I Work section of my website.
Affordable options if full private fees feel out of reach
If private counselling feels financially out of reach right now, it’s worth knowing that there are alternatives between joining a long NHS waiting list and paying standard private fees.
Many charities and community organisations offer low-cost counselling, often with fees linked to income. Local Mind services and other mental health charities can be a useful place to start, particularly if cost is the main barrier to getting support. Some organisations also offer free or heavily subsidised counselling, although waiting times can vary.
Another option is to work with a trainee counsellor in an accredited, supervised placement. Trainee therapists receive regular supervision and are working towards professional qualification, while often charging significantly lower fees than fully qualified practitioners.
Some private therapists also reserve a limited number of reduced-fee spaces for people experiencing financial difficulty. I off a limited number of lower-cost sessions for trainee therapists and for people who would otherwise struggle to access support because of financial constraints. Availability is limited, but it’s always worth asking rather than assuming therapy is out of reach. If you have any questions about my fees, you are always welcome to contact me and I will do my best to answer any questions that you might have.
For people who feel stuck between NHS waiting times and the cost of private therapy, finding a therapist with experience in the issues they’re facing can make a significant difference. Whether that’s anxiety, low self-esteem, grief, ADHD, or other neurodivergent experiences, the right fit often matters as much as the setting in which therapy takes place.
The goal isn’t necessarily to find the cheapest option. It’s to find support that is both accessible and sustainable enough to give the work a genuine chance to help.
When going private for therapy is worth considering (and when the NHS may be the better option)
Going private often makes sense when the wait for support is starting to have a real impact on everyday life. If anxiety, low mood, stress, or emotional overwhelm are affecting your work, relationships, sleep, or ability to cope day to day, waiting several more months can feel like a significant cost in itself.
Some people also find that they’re looking for something more flexible than a short-term treatment programme. They may want the opportunity to build an ongoing therapeutic relationship, explore longer-standing patterns, or work with someone who has experience of issues such as ADHD, autism, low self-esteem, grief, or relationship difficulties. In these situations, private counselling can offer greater choice and continuity.
For many people, one of the biggest advantages of private therapy is the ability to choose the therapist they work with. Research consistently suggests that the quality of the therapeutic relationship is one of the strongest factors in whether therapy feels helpful, so having the time and freedom to find the right fit can matter. I offer a free initial video call to see if I am the right therapist for you. To see my current availability, or book an video call, please click on the calendar icon below.
At the same time, there are situations where staying with the NHS route may be the better option. If you need psychiatric assessment, medication, or support for more complex mental health difficulties, NHS services can provide resources and clinical pathways that a private counsellor alone cannot offer.
Cost also matters. Therapy should not create financial pressure that makes life more stressful. If paying for private sessions would cause significant anxiety or hardship, it may make more sense to explore NHS support, lower-cost counselling services, or reduced-fee options.
Ultimately, the question isn’t whether private therapy is better than the NHS. It’s whether one route is likely to get you the right support, at the right time, in a way that feels sustainable for your circumstances.
How to make the decision without getting stuck
When you’re already struggling, even choosing where to get support can feel like another thing to manage. It may help to bring the decision back to a few practical questions.
How long have you already been waiting, and what is that wait costing you emotionally, practically, or relationally? If things are becoming harder to manage week by week, that matters.
It’s also worth thinking about the kind of support you’re hoping for. If you want short-term, structured help for anxiety or low mood, NHS Talking Therapies may be a good place to start. If you’re looking for something more flexible, longer-term, or specialist, such as counselling that takes account of ADHD, neurodivergence, self-esteem, grief, or relationship patterns, private therapy may offer more choice.
Cost needs to be part of the decision too. Private counselling is only useful if it feels sustainable. That might mean weekly sessions, fortnightly sessions, a reduced-fee place, or a lower-cost service elsewhere. There is no shame in choosing the option that fits your real life rather than the one you feel you “should” choose.
If you’re considering private therapy, you don’t have to commit straight away. Reading a therapist’s website, checking their professional membership, and booking an initial conversation can help you get a sense of whether they feel like the right fit. If you’re staying with the NHS, ask your GP about your referral timeline, whether self-referral to NHS Talking Therapies is available, and whether Right to Choose applies to your situation.
The aim is not to make the perfect decision. It’s to take one clear next step towards support that you can actually access and continue with.
The right choice depends on what you need
There’s no single answer to whether it’s worth going private for therapy instead of waiting for the NHS. It depends on your circumstances, the kind of support you’re looking for, how long you’re likely to wait, and what feels financially realistic for you.
For some people, NHS Talking Therapies will be the right place to start. For others, private counselling may offer a level of choice, continuity, or specialist understanding that makes it worth the investment. Neither option is inherently better. The question is which one is most likely to meet your needs at this point in your life.
Whatever route you choose, it’s worth remembering that recognising you need support is already a significant step. Whether you decide to stay with an NHS referral, explore lower-cost options, or contact a private counsellor, the important thing is finding a form of support that feels accessible and sustainable.
If you’re considering private counselling and would like to explore whether it feels like the right fit, I offer in-person sessions in Plymouth and online counselling across the UK, with a particular interest in working with anxiety, ADHD, low self-esteem, and life transitions.