How much does EMDR therapy cost in the UK?
Among the UK providers we checked, a private EMDR session of 50 to 60 minutes cost £50 to £180, with a middle price of £92.50; 90-minute sessions had a middle price of £143.75. You may be able to get EMDR on the NHS without paying: it is one of the NHS talking therapies, and a treatment for PTSD, depending on what is available in your area[2][3]. On Bliss Therapy, online EMDR sessions start from £33 (€40).
By the Bliss Therapy editorial team · Reviewed by the Bliss Therapy clinical team · Facts checked on
EMDR prices in the UK at a glance
| Session | Providers | Lowest | Middle | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 to 60 minutes | 14 | £50 | £92.50 | £180 |
| 90 minutes | 10 | £75 | £143.75 | £270 |
| For comparison: Bliss Therapy, not counted in the UK figures above | ||||
| Bliss Therapy (online, 50 min) | From £33 (€40), middle price £46 (€55), across 6 therapists who list EMDR | |||
These are the fees on each provider’s own website on 14 October 2026: individual therapists and clinics, online and in person, across the UK. The middle price is the one with as many providers charging less as charging more. Prices change, so check with the therapist. The Bliss Therapy row is read from our directory when this page loads and is kept out of the UK figures.
What does a course of EMDR cost?
NICE, which writes guidance for the NHS, says EMDR for adults should “typically be provided over 8 to 12 sessions, but more if clinically indicated, for example if they have experienced multiple traumas”[1]. At the middle price of £92.50, 8 to 12 sessions would come to about £740 to £1,110. This is our own sum: your total depends on how many sessions you need and how long they are.
Why are some EMDR sessions 90 minutes?
10 of the 16 providers we checked also list a price for a 90-minute session. Anxiety UK says EMDR sessions are usually longer than standard sessions, typically 60 to 90 minutes, and charges 1.5 times its usual rate for a 90-minute session[6]. Ask the therapist which length they suggest, and why.
Can I get EMDR free on the NHS?
Possibly, depending on where you live. The NHS lists EMDR as a treatment for PTSD and as one of its talking therapies for anxiety and depression[2][3]. In England you can refer yourself to an NHS talking therapies service if you are registered with a GP and aged 18 or over (16 or over in some areas), or ask your GP[3]. The type of therapy you get depends on what you need it for and what is available in your area[3]. For Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, see how to find a therapist in the UK.
Who is EMDR recommended for?
NICE recommends:
- offering EMDR to adults with PTSD, or clinically important symptoms of PTSD, who seek help more than 3 months after a trauma that was not combat-related[1]
- considering EMDR for those adults between 1 and 3 months after the trauma, if they would prefer it[1]
- for children and young people aged 7 to 17 who have PTSD more than 3 months after a trauma, considering EMDR only if they do not respond to or engage with trauma-focused CBT[1]
NICE also says EMDR for adults should be “delivered by trained practitioners with ongoing supervision”[1]. A GP or therapist can help you decide whether it suits you.
Does health insurance cover EMDR?
It depends on your policy. Of the four large insurers whose pages we read, only Aviva names EMDR, in the mental health network for its business customers[8]. For personal policies:
- Aviva covers out-patient therapy up to a limit that depends on your plan[9].
- AXA Health offers mental health cover as an option, with talking therapies on GP referral[10].
- Bupa says your membership certificate shows whether you have mental health cover[11].
- Vitality’s core cover includes up to 8 talking therapy sessions[12].
Ask your insurer whether EMDR is covered, whether you need a GP referral, and whether the therapist must be one they recognise.
How do I find a properly trained EMDR therapist?
Through the EMDR Association UK, therapists can be accredited by EMDR Europe at three levels: Practitioner, Consultant and Trainer[4]. Its register lists only accredited therapists[5]. If a therapist is not on it, the association suggests checking that they did EMDR Europe-authorised training and are registered with a professional body such as the BACP or the HCPC, and warns: “Unaccredited courses will not give the therapist competence in this approach and could leave you at risk”[5].
The same questions apply on Bliss Therapy: profiles show each therapist’s methods, languages and price, and 1 of the therapists who list EMDR offer a free first session, a chance to ask where they trained in EMDR before you pay.
Can EMDR be done online?
Some therapists offer it. The EMDR Association UK register lets you search for therapists who offer online sessions[5], and the association offers free webinars on delivering EMDR therapy online[13]. Ask the therapist how they work over video. On Bliss Therapy every session is a 50-minute video call; 6 therapists there list EMDR, from £33 (€40).
What does EMDR cost on Bliss Therapy?
As of 28 October 2026, 6 English-speaking therapists on Bliss Therapy list EMDR. Their 50-minute online sessions start from £33 (€40), the middle price is £46 (€55), and 1 offer a free first session. Each therapist sets their own price, and you pay per session.
Our therapists are based outside the UK, so most will not be on a UK register. Ask any therapist about their EMDR training, whether it was EMDR Europe-authorised training, and their registration in the country where they practise.
Questions people ask
How many EMDR sessions will I need?
NICE says EMDR for adults typically takes 8 to 12 sessions, and more for people who have experienced several traumas[1]. The BACP says some people need around six sessions, and people with more complex issues need more[7].
Is a 90-minute session better than 60 minutes?
The sources we checked do not say one length works better, and NICE does not set a length in minutes[1]. Ask the therapist why they suggest the length they do.
Do I need a referral for private EMDR?
No, you can pay a private therapist directly[3]. If you are claiming on insurance, some insurers, such as AXA Health and Aviva, ask for a GP referral for talking therapies, while Vitality says its core sessions need none[9][10][12].
Related pages
- How much does online therapy cost?
- Low-cost and free therapy options in the UK
- How to find a therapist in the UK
- Online CBT therapy: cost and how to find a CBT therapist
How we checked
On 14 October 2026 we read the published EMDR fees of 16 UK providers, individual therapists and clinics, found through the BACP directory and search results, and used one fee per provider for each session length. We left out providers whose page did not state the session length. Other facts are from the organisations’ own pages, opened on 14 October 2026 or on the date shown in the sources. Bliss Therapy figures are read from the profiles of English-speaking therapists who list EMDR when this page loads; pound amounts are converted from euros at the day’s rate.
Sources
- NICE, “Post-traumatic stress disorder” (NG116), recommendations (published 5 December 2018)
- NHS, “Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)” (page last reviewed 8 April 2026)
- NHS, “How to get talking therapies” (page last reviewed 5 November 2025)
- EMDR Association UK, accreditation (opened 14 October 2026)
- EMDR Association UK, “Find a therapist” (opened 14 October 2026)
- Anxiety UK, “Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing” (opened 14 October 2026)
- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, “EMDR” (opened 14 October 2026)
- Aviva, Mental Health Pathway (page for advisers, business cover) (opened 14 October 2026)
- Aviva, mental health cover (opened 14 October 2026)
- AXA Health, “Mental health insurance” (opened 14 October 2026)
- Bupa, health insurance policy guide (policies starting after 1 May 2024)
- Vitality, mental health cover (adviser page) (opened 14 October 2026)
- EMDR Association UK, webinars (opened 14 October 2026)