Online / Remote Therapy Treatment

We believe that mental health is more important now than ever before, and we can provide you with online access to a range of different psychotherapies (psychological talking therapies).

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We understand the need for flexibility and confidentiality when you’re seeking professional support, so we have a range of options for accessing online counselling and psychotherapy services to suit your preferences.

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Online therapy provides you with confidential and secure access to a psychologist or therapist of your choice, and appointments can include:

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An official psychological assessment. In collaboration with you, your therapist will carry out a case formulation, which will help you and your therapist understand the origin of the problem and the factors that are maintaining it or making it worse. This formulations are revised and further developed in subsequent therapy sessions.
Online psychological talking therapy (psychotherapy).
Psychoeducation (support and information) about your condition or symptoms to help you manage and understand them better. This often involves talking about your thoughts and emotions, and discuss ways for you to understand and deal with them.
A personalised treatment plan with evidence-based interventions which can include other treatments such as lifestyle interventions that focus on improving sleep, exercise, social support, diet and nutrition, or supplements.

What is online therapy?

Online therapy takes place over a video call with a qualified clinical psychologist or therapist, and sessions are similar to in-person appointments that take place in a clinic or consultation room. The key difference is that online therapy allows you to access face-to-face therapy whenever and wherever is convenient for you, without the hassle of having to travel to a clinic.

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For more information about booking therapy appointments, such as waiting times, fees, cancellations or confidentiality, you can look at our private therapy appointments page.

How does online therapy work?

Your therapist can conduct a psychological assessment and psychotherapy (talking therapy) via a remote video consultation, as it involves responses to questions and clinical observation, which are both possible online. You can also have psychiatric consultations online with a qualified consultant psychiatrist (link to /services/online-psychiatry).

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You can use your phone, computer or a tablet for your consultation. We have a range of different video platforms available to suit your preferences, including Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet. If your preferred platform of choice isn’t listed, please contact us and we’ll do our best to accommodate your preferences (subject to the platform meeting the required safety features).

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How can I find an online therapist?

You can choose a psychologist or therapist who specialises in treating a specific condition or uses a particular therapy approach from our large team of highly qualified psychologists & therapists (link to /specialist-type/therapists). We can also arrange a brief courtesy call directly with one of our therapists so you can decide for yourself if you feel comfortable talking to them before booking an appointment.

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If you’re not sure which specialist you would like to talk to, our friendly team of medical secretaries can guide you through some questions to determine which therapist is the best match for your needs. We can also help you if you are calling on behalf of a loved one or want to find out how you can help someone close to you.

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If you prefer to browse through our team of therapists online, you can access all of our therapist profiles here:

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What are the benefits of online therapy?

Online therapy can be just as beneficial as in-person therapy. Some people prefer to have online therapy in the comfort of their own homes because it removes the hassle of travelling to appointments in person. Some people also feel more comfortable having an online discussion with a psychotherapist rather than in person.

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are unable to travel or would prefer not to. However, mental health is an important priority and online therapy enables people to receive the benefits of professional support without increasing any risks of infection or transmission associated with the virus.

Do I need a referral to see an online therapist?

You don’t need a referral to set up a consultation, whether it’s for an online or in-person appointment. However, if you have a referral letter from your GP or other professional, you are welcome to share it with us.

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To set up a consultation, you can simply contact our friendly team of medical secretaries who can guide you through some questions to determine which therapist is the best match for your needs. We can also arrange a brief courtesy call directly with one of our therapists so you can decide for yourself if you feel comfortable talking to them before booking an appointment.

Can I receive treatment from a therapist online?

You can receive online counselling and therapy for any mental health condition or symptoms that concern you. After an initial consultation and assessment, your therapist will develop a personalised treatment plan based on your symptoms and diagnosis, depending on the type of talking therapy and your specific needs and circumstances. Once your treatment has commenced, your therapist will set up sessions to monitor your improvement and adjust the treatment based on feedback.

What types of therapy do you offer online?

We offer many types of evidence-based psychotherapy (psychological talking therapy) approaches from certified clinical psychologists and therapists. You can learn more about the different kinds of therapy we offer on our psychological talking therapies page (link to /services/psychological-talking-therapies).

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Some of the most common ones that you may have heard of include:

Online cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)
Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)
Online psychoanalytic therapy
Online psychodynamic therapy
Online family therapy
Online couples therapy
Online group therapy

How do I choose an online therapy approach?

If you’re unsure what type of therapy approach would suit you best, our friendly team of medical secretaries can guide you through some questions and arrange a brief courtesy call directly with one of our therapists. During the courtesy call, you can discuss your current situation and needs with the therapist to decide for yourself if you feel comfortable with their approach before booking an appointment.

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How much does online therapy cost?

The cost of your appointment will vary depending on your therapist, the time required and the type of appointment. The fees for appointments are stated on all of our therapist’s individual profile pages (link to /specialist-type/therapists).

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We are completely transparent about all fees associated with appointments, prescriptions or treatments. There is no difference in costs between in-person and remote video consultations, nor between self-funding and insurance patients.

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For new patients, we will confirm your fees in writing. For a detailed quote or more information about our fees, you are welcome to contact our friendly team of medical secretaries, who will be happy to help you.

Will my medical insurance cover an online therapist appointment?

Medical insurance providers typically cover online counselling and therapy just as they would cover therapy appointments that take place in an office or clinic. However, we always recommend checking with your health insurance provider to make sure that they will cover your appointments with a specific psychologist or therapist.

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Each of our therapists has the providers they are insured with listed on their profile pages (link to /specialist-type/therapists). Please contact your insurer before your consultation to check the terms of your policy, particularly the level and type of outpatient cover you have, including any reimbursement limits on individual consultation fees. Generally, your insurance provider will issue a pre-authorisation code to cover your appointment. Please note you are responsible for any fees not covered by your insurer.

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Can I see a therapist without my parent's permission?

If you are under 18 and seeking therapy, we will follow the guidelines set out by the NHS:

Children aged 16 and 17: can seek treatment without the consent of their parents.

Children under the age of 16: are only allowed to seek treatment without the consent of their parents if they're believed to have sufficient capacity (intelligence, competence and understanding) to fully appreciate what's involved in their treatment.

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However, if there is significant evidence to suggest that a child doesn’t have enough capacity (for example, if they have a learning disability) then parental consent may still be required.

Parental consent can be provided by individuals considered to have parental responsibility, including:

The child's mother or father
The child's legally appointed guardian
A person with a residence order concerning the child
A local authority designated to care for the child
A local authority or person with an emergency protection order for the child

Is seeing an online therapist confidential?

All medical professionals, including therapists, are legally bound by a duty of confidentiality toward their patients, so no information will be shared without your consent. Your therapist will always request your consent and document it on the clinical notes before discussing any aspect of your care with any third parties, including your GP, other medical professionals, and even your family relatives and parents.

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For more information about confidentiality, please read through the FAQ on Confidentiality and GP letters for therapy appointments.

Can a therapist break confidentiality?

Therapists are bound by a duty of confidentiality toward their patients, so you can feel completely safe when discussing personal or emotional issues with them. Any information you share will be kept safe and not shared with any third parties without your consent.

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Please bear in mind that your therapist also has a duty of care toward you. This means that in exceptional circumstances, such as if there is a potential risk to your health (for example if you are acutely unwell or have relapsed into severe addiction or have intense suicidal thoughts), your therapist may have to break confidentiality in order tofulfil their duty of care.

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If this is the case, your therapist may require you to provide consent to communicate with your GP (or another third party) to ensure your safety. In these exceptional circumstances, your therapist will endeavour to discuss this with you in detail and aim to reach a mutually acceptable solution that you feel comfortable with before proceeding.

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