Online CBT therapy: cost and how to find a CBT therapist
Among the 16 UK providers we checked, a private CBT session cost £68 to £230, with a middle price of £105. CBT is also available on the NHS through NHS Talking Therapies, which can be done by video or phone[2]. On Bliss Therapy, online sessions with psychologists who list CBT start from £25 (€30).
By the Bliss Therapy editorial team · Reviewed by the Bliss Therapy clinical team · Facts checked on
What does CBT cost in the UK?
| 16 UK providers we checked | |
|---|---|
| Lowest fee | £68 |
| Middle fee | £105 |
| Highest fee | £230 |
| For comparison: Bliss Therapy, not counted above | |
| Bliss Therapy (online, 50 min) | From £25 (€30); middle price £42 (€50) |
These are the session fees on 16 UK providers’ own websites on 14 October 2026: individual therapists, clinics and online services, for sessions of 45 to 60 minutes where the length was stated. The Royal College of Psychiatrists says costs “are often between £40 and £100 per session”[8]; half of the fees we found (8 of 16) were higher than £100. The Bliss Therapy row comes from our own directory when this page loads, and is not part of the 16 UK providers.
What is CBT?
The NHS describes CBT as “a type of talking therapy where a therapist helps you to change how you think and act”[1]. It lists CBT as a recommended treatment for problems including depression, anxiety (including social anxiety, phobias and OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, bipolar disorder and personality disorders[1]. You will usually be asked to practise what you learn between sessions[1].
How many CBT sessions will I need?
The NHS says: “You’ll usually have between 5 and 15 sessions of CBT, depending on what you’re having it for”[1]. BABCP, the professional body for CBT, says usually between 5 and 20, each lasting around an hour[9]. For adults, NICE’s guidance gives these typical courses:
| Problem | Typical course of individual CBT |
|---|---|
| Less severe depression | Usually 8 regular sessions[3] |
| More severe depression | Usually 16 regular sessions[3] |
| Generalised anxiety disorder | Usually 12 to 15 weekly sessions, each lasting 1 hour (fewer if you recover sooner, more if needed)[4] |
| PTSD (trauma-focused CBT) | Typically 8 to 12 sessions[5] |
| Social anxiety disorder | Up to 14 sessions of 90 minutes, or 15 of 60 minutes and one of 90, over about 4 months, depending on the model[6] |
More sessions may be needed, for example when someone has other health problems[3]. NICE says the plan should be a shared decision between you and your therapist[3].
What does a course of CBT cost?
At the middle price of £105, the NHS’s usual 5 to 15 sessions would come to about £525 to £1,575. This is our own sum: your total depends on how many sessions you need and what your therapist charges.
Can I do CBT online?
Yes. The NHS says “CBT can be done in person, online, or on the phone”[1], and NICE says people with depression should be offered a choice of having therapy “in person or remotely”[3]. We found no NHS or NICE page comparing video with in-person CBT. The Royal College of Psychiatrists says “face-to-face is usually the most effective method of receiving CBT”, and that people are more likely to stop CBT early if it is not delivered face to face[8]. If you choose online sessions, find a private, quiet space for your sessions, and agree with your therapist what happens if the connection drops.
Every session on Bliss Therapy is online: a 50-minute video call with a psychologist who lists CBT, from £25 (€30), so you can ask in a first session how they adapt the between-session practice to working by video.
Can I get CBT free on the NHS?
Yes. In England you can refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies if you are registered with a GP and aged 18 or over (16 or over in some areas)[2]. Sessions can be in person, by video or phone, or as an online course[2]. For eating disorders, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, psychosis, or drug and alcohol problems, you will usually need a GP to refer you[2]. Waiting times vary depending on where you live[1]; if the wait is long and you can pay, private online CBT is another route, for example on Bliss Therapy. For Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, see how to find a therapist in the UK.
How do I check a CBT therapist?
BABCP says “the title ‘CBT therapist’ isn’t legally protected”[9], so people who are not accredited or registered with BABCP can still practise as CBT therapists. The CBT Register UK lists therapists accredited or registered with BABCP, and is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority[10][11]. Anyone can join BABCP, but only accredited members have met its standards[9], so look the therapist up on the register rather than relying on a logo.
What does CBT cost on Bliss Therapy?
As of 28 October 2026, 43 English-speaking psychologists on Bliss Therapy list CBT. Their 50-minute online sessions start from £25 (€30), the middle price is £42 (€50), 9 charge £33 (€40) or less, and 20 offer a free first session. Each therapist sets their own price, and you pay per session.
See psychologists who list CBT
Our therapists are based outside the UK, so they are unlikely to be on the CBT Register UK. Ask any therapist about their CBT training and their registration in the country where they practise.
Questions people ask
Is online CBT as good as face to face?
The NHS offers CBT online and by phone as well as in person[1]. The Royal College of Psychiatrists says face-to-face is usually the most effective way to have CBT[8]. If you choose online sessions, ask the therapist how they work online, or try a free first session.
Do I need a GP referral for private CBT?
Not usually. You can contact a private therapist yourself. The NHS says you may choose to pay for CBT privately and find an accredited therapist on the UK CBT register[1]. If health insurance is paying, check whether your insurer needs a GP referral.
Can I do CBT with an app?
NICE says one online CBT programme for depression, Space from Depression, can be used in NHS Talking Therapies with support from a trained practitioner or therapist, after an assessment, while more evidence is gathered[7]. It says three other apps should only be used in research studies[7]. NICE has not recommended using a CBT app on your own instead of a therapist.
Related pages
- How much does online therapy cost?
- How much does EMDR therapy cost in the UK?
- Low-cost and free therapy options in the UK
- Psychologist, psychiatrist, counsellor or therapist: what’s the difference?
How we checked
On 14 October 2026 we read the published CBT session fees of 16 UK providers, individual therapists, clinics and online services, found through search results, and used one standard adult fee per provider. 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 when this page loads from the profiles of English-speaking psychologists who list CBT; coaches are left out. Pound amounts are converted from euros at the day’s rate.
Sources
- NHS, “Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)” (page last reviewed 28 March 2025)
- NHS, “How to get talking therapies” (page last reviewed 5 November 2025)
- NICE, “Depression in adults” (NG222), recommendations (published 29 June 2022)
- NICE, “Generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults” (CG113) (last updated 15 June 2020)
- NICE, “Post-traumatic stress disorder” (NG116), recommendations (published 5 December 2018)
- NICE, “Social anxiety disorder” (CG159), recommendations (published 22 May 2013)
- NICE, digital technologies for depression in adults (HTG675) (last updated 14 January 2025)
- Royal College of Psychiatrists, “Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)” (opened 14 October 2026)
- BABCP, “What is CBT?” (opened 14 October 2026)
- BABCP, CBT Register UK (opened 14 October 2026)
- Professional Standards Authority, CBT Register UK (opened 14 October 2026)