Therapist Salary Average Explained: A Simple Guide

In 2025, the therapist salary average in the UK isn’t one fixed number — it shifts a lot depending on where you work and the career path you take. For example, private therapists often charge £35 to £70 per session (roughly £25–£40 an hour), while NHS roles usually fall between £28,000 and £45,000 a year, most often in Bands 5–7.

Location adds another layer: London and the South East generally pay more to match higher living costs, while other regions may give you a better balance between income and expenses. And if you’ve trained in specialist areas like child therapy or trauma work, you can often set higher rates.

In this blog, we’ll break down these numbers in detail — comparing NHS pay bands, private practice earnings, and online therapy options — so you get a clear picture of what therapists can expect to earn in 2025.

What Is Therapist Salary Average in 2025

Therapists’ pay in the UK varies a lot depending on where you work and how you practise. The main differences come from private practice therapy rates UK, NHS pay scales, and online platforms. Here’s the 2025 snapshot.

NHS Salaries at a Glance

• Band 5: £31,049 – £37,796
• Band 6: £35,392–£42,618
• Band 7: £47,810 – £54,710
• Band 8a: £55,690 – £62,682

London Weighting / High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS)

The London weighting allowance is now referred to as the High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS). The rates are based on zones and are a percentage of your basic salary, subject to a minimum and maximum payment. For the 2025/2026 financial year, the rates are:

• Inner London: 20% of basic salary, with a minimum of £5,609 and a maximum of £8,466.
• Outer London: 15% of basic salary, with a minimum of £4,714 and a maximum of £5,941.
• Fringe Zone: 5% of basic salary, with a minimum of £1,303 and a maximum of £2,198.

Main driver: Bands and experience.

Online Therapy Pay

• Per session/hour: £40–£80 (varies by platform)..
• Hourly: £40-£80.
• Commission: Varies by platform, but can be substantial (sometimes up to ~50%)
• Main Driver: Platform’s payment model, therapist credentials, and client volume.

Salary by Role & Credential (UK Pathways)

How much you earn as a therapist in the UK depends on your role, qualification, and workplace. Here’s an easy breakdown of common career paths.

1. Counsellor/Psychotherapist

What they do: Help people with emotional or mental health issues through talk therapy.
Where they work: Private practice, charities, schools, NHS IAPT.

Pay:

• Private: £50–£70 per session
• NHS: Band 5–6 (£31k–£42,500k a year)
• Typical range: £25k–£50k+ depending on hours and experience

2. CBT Therapist

What they do: Use structured therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma.
Where they work: Mainly NHS IAPT, plus private practice.

Pay:

• NHS: Band 6–7 (£38.7k–£54.7k a year)
• Private: £60–£100 per session
• Typical range: £40k–£60k

3. Counselling Psychologist

What they do:

• Talk therapy for emotional and mental health issues
• Assessments to understand client needs
• Leadership in services

Where they work: NHS, universities, private practice.

Pay:

• NHS: Band 7–8a (£47.8k–£62.7k a year)
• Private: £100–£180 per session

4. Clinical Psychologist

What they do:

• Assess and treat complex mental health problems
• Supervise other therapists and mental health staff
• Lead services

Where they work: NHS hospitals, clinics, private practice.

Pay:

• NHS: Band 7–8b, £47.8k–£74.9k a year
• Private: £100–£180 per session

5. Psychiatrist (medical doctors)

What they do: Diagnose and treat mental health, prescribe medication.
Where they work: NHS, private clinics, community teams.

Pay:

• NHS: from junior grades ~£55k rising to £120k+ at consultant level (varies by scale and supplements).
• Private: £150+ per session

Key Takeaway

In 2025, the therapist’s salary UK 2025 varies widely.

• Private practice often pays more per session.
• The NHS offers security and career growth through NHS therapist salary bands.

NHS Pay Made Simple (Agenda for Change)

The Therapist Salary Averages in the NHS are set by the Agenda for Change pay scales. Most mental health roles, including counsellors, psychotherapists, and CBT practitioners, fall between NHS therapist salary bands 5–8a.

Your progression depends on experience, extra duties, and whether you work in services like IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies).

What the bands mean

• Band 5: For newly qualified staff — £31,049 to £37,796.
• Band 6: Mid-level roles (common in IAPT) — £38,682 to £46,580.
• Band 7: Senior or specialist therapists — £47,810 to £54,710.
• Band 8a: Team leaders or advanced specialists — £55,690 to £62,682.

These bands create a clear progression ladder compared to self-employed therapist earnings, which vary much more.

Progression & leadership

Therapists climb bands through experience, handling complex caseloads, or taking on supervision. Many Band 7 and 8 roles include cover supervision costs for juniors or lead responsibilities—hence the higher pay.

Extra supplements: London & high-cost areas

Working in London or surrounding areas adds a supplement called London weighting therapy pay.

• Inner London staff earn up to 20% more (capped at £8,466).
• Outer London and fringe areas add 15% and 5%, respectively.

Why the NHS bands matter

Compared with private practice, NHS pay is often steadier and rises more consistently each year. With extra qualifications—or by moving into CBT—therapists can reach higher salary bands faster than they would in private practice alone.

Private Practice Earnings Model (what they don’t show)

Many therapists think about moving into private practice for higher pay, but the therapist salary UK 2025 in self-employed settings looks very different once you subtract costs. Headline figures can be misleading, so it helps to look at what therapists actually take home.

From Fee to Take-Home

Typical private practice therapy rates UK range from £45–£70 per session nationally, rising to £80–£120 in London (based on the BACP fee survey 2024). Multiply that by weekly sessions and 48 working weeks, and the gross income can look high. But actual self-employed therapist earnings depend on attendance rates — cancellations and holidays reduce the real total.

Expense Stack

Running a practice has unavoidable costs:

• Room hire: £10–£30 per session.
• Supervision costs: usually £50–£80 a month.
• CPD courses: £300–£600 per year, sometimes more.
• Professional indemnity insurance: £100–£150 a year.
• Marketing and directories: £30–£50 a month.
• Accountancy & taxes: 20%–30% of profit set aside.

These expenses quickly cut into the apparent fee.

Worked Example

A counsellor charging £60 a session, seeing 15 clients a week for 48 weeks, grosses £43,200. After costs (room hire, insurance, supervision, CPD, taxes), the real take-home might be closer to £28,000–£32,000. For comparison, that’s similar to an NHS counselling psychologist salary UK at Band 6.

Pricing Ethics

Private therapists often use sliding scales or offer a few pro bono sessions for those on low incomes. Many review their fees annually to keep pace with inflation while staying accessible. This balance is part of the profession’s ethical framework under BACP, UKCP, or BABCP guidance.

Online Therapy Pay: Platforms or Going Solo?

Online work is a big part of the therapist salary UK 2025 picture. It offers flexible hours and national reach, but your income depends on whether you use platforms or build your own client base.

If you use platforms

• Big providers (e.g., BetterHelp, Talkspace) bring steady referrals but take 20–40% in commission.
• A £40 session can drop to £18–£25 after fees.
• Upside: less effort finding clients. Downside: less pay per session.

How platforms pay

• Most pay per live video session. Some include text-based therapy where clients can message anytime.
• That flexibility can become a time drain—hours answering short messages for little extra pay.

If you go independent

• You set your own private practice therapy rates UK. Many charge £45–£70 per online session, close to in-person fees.
• Earnings can be stronger, but you’ll cover marketing, admin, and tech yourself. The control over hours and pricing often balances this.

Costs to plan for

• You’ll save on office rent and travel, but budget for a website, secure video platform, and supervision.
• Still usually cheaper than renting a clinic—just plan it into your numbers.

Hybrid works well

• Many therapists mix online with in-person sessions. This steadies income, allows higher face-to-face pricing, and protects you if demand shifts.
• Platform work can be a pipeline, but a well-run independent practice can match—or beat—clinic rates.

What Really Affects Your Pay (and how to boost it)

A few things move the needle on earnings. Knowing them helps you grow therapist salary UK 2025 while keeping balance.

1) Where you work & living costs

• Fees are highest in London and the South East, thanks to London weighting and strong demand.
• A £50 session in the North might be £80 in London.
• Remember: higher rent and travel can eat into take-home pay.

2) Accreditation & specialist skills

• Extra skills usually mean higher rates: EMDR, trauma, perinatal care, ADHD/ASD, and couples work.
• A CBT therapist’s salary in the UK often rises with BABCP accreditation.
• A counselling psychologist’s salary in the UK typically reflects HCPC status.
• More training → more trust → better fees.
  

3) Business choices that add up

• Group sessions increase hourly value.
• A clear cancellation policy protects income.
• EAP contracts and medico-legal reports can add steady or premium streams to self-employed therapist earnings.

4) Marketing levers that actually work

• Keep your diary full with directories, GP referrals, IAPT networks, and strong reviews.
• Track outcomes and use SEO—therapists who do this often charge more and rely less on low-fee platforms.

5) The real driver

• Income isn’t just your fee; it’s utilisation—how many sessions happen after cancellations, holidays, and supervision costs.
• Winning mix: specialist skills + solid business habits + visible marketing.

Set Your Fee the Smart Way 

Setting your rate is both practical and ethical.

Start by seeing what others charge. Check local directories (e.g., Counselling Directory, Psychology Today) to benchmark fees.

Next, work out a sustainable minimum. Factor in room hire, indemnity insurance, supervision costs, CPD, marketing, and tax. Many self-employed therapists undercut themselves if they don’t include these costs.

Publish your fee clearly and stick to a cancellation policy—this is a key business lever. Review your rates every year; the BACP fee survey shows fees usually rise over time.

FAQs

1. How much do NHS Band 6 therapists earn?
In 2025, around £35,392–£42,618, with IAPT salaries often falling in this band.

2. How much do private therapists charge per session UK?
Typically £50–£90 outside London, £70–£120 in the capital.

3. Can trainees charge?
Yes, but often at reduced rates (£20–£40). Many list on Counselling Directory under “low-cost therapy.”

4. Are therapy services VAT-exempt?
Yes, when delivered by practitioners registered with bodies like HCPC, BACP, or UKCP.

5. How many clients a week is realistic?
Many therapists manage 15–20 clients/week to balance clinical work and admin.

6. Is online therapy cheaper for clients?
Often slightly lower due to overheads, but it varies by practitioner and location.

Ready to Unlock Higher Earnings?

Boost your career and earning potential — enrol in our Therapist Training Course today and take the next step forward.