Free: the NHS
NHS Talking Therapies (your borough's service)
Each London borough has its own NHS Talking Therapies service. You can refer yourself without seeing a GP first, and you do not need a diagnosis. The NHS service finder takes the name of your GP surgery and points you to the right one.
- Who it is for
- People living in England aged 18 or over, or 16 and 17 in some areas.
- What it helps with
- Low mood, anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, OCD, PTSD, health worries, and anxiety or depression alongside a long-term condition.
- How to start
- Use the NHS service finder. If you are not registered with a GP, you may still be able to refer yourself.
Checked October 2026 on the service's own website. Fees and waiting times change, so confirm before you book.
Low-fee psychotherapy
Many of London's training organisations run clinics where therapists in the later stages of their training see clients at a reduced fee, under close supervision. These clinics often offer longer, open-ended work that is hard to find on the NHS.
Guild of Psychotherapists Reduced-Fee Clinic
Once-weekly psychotherapy for adults on a low income who live in Lambeth, Lewisham or Southwark.
- Fees
- An initial consultation of £35, then a sliding scale from a minimum of £5 a session.
- Where
- 47 Nelson Square, London SE1 0QA, or online.
- How to start
- Call 020 7401 3260 (option 1) or email clinic@guildofpsychotherapists.org.uk.
Checked October 2026 on the service's own website. Fees and waiting times change, so confirm before you book.
British Psychotherapy Foundation low-fee psychotherapy
Once-weekly psychotherapy with trainee psychotherapists for people whose finances are a barrier. The foundation lists current vacancies by area, with several in London.
- Commitment
- A minimum of one year, one session a week.
- Before you start
- A £30 administration fee, then a consultation with a senior therapist (usually two meetings, £130 in total, paid to the therapist). A place is not guaranteed.
Checked October 2026 on the service's own website. Fees and waiting times change, so confirm before you book.
Free Psychotherapy Network
A network of psychotherapists who offer free or very low-cost therapy to people on low incomes or benefits who cannot get help elsewhere. You choose a therapist from its directory and contact them directly. Places are not guaranteed, so you may need to try several.
Checked October 2026 on the service's own website. Fees and waiting times change, so confirm before you book.
A note on WPF Therapy. Many older lists of low-cost London therapy still include WPF Therapy at London Bridge. It closed in July 2023 and went into liquidation, so it is no longer an option.
Seeing a private therapist in London
Private therapy in London costs more than most of the country, and the range of therapists is huge. The professional registers let you search by postcode and see only therapists who meet their standards. Start with the BACP directory or the UKCP directory, and read our guide to choosing a therapist before you book.
Know a London service we should add? Email hello@best-therapists.uk. We add services once we have checked them against their own website.