Online therapy in the UK compared: NHS, free and private services, BetterHelp, directories and Wobble

What are the options for online therapy in the UK?

The options for online therapy and support in the UK fall into seven groups: NHS Talking Therapies, which is free in England; free online services that need no referral, such as Togetherall, Qwell and the Shout text line; private online therapy services such as Harley Therapy, Mindler, The Online Psychologists, My Online Therapy and MySafeTherapy, which charge per session; subscription platforms such as BetterHelp; a private therapist you find through a directory; support through your employer or private medical insurance; and Wobble, which is a different shape: one personal video from a qualified UK therapist about one thing, usually within hours, with no appointment.

There is no single best route. The right one depends on what you can pay, how soon you need support, whether you want to work with one therapist over time, and whether you would rather type or talk. Whichever you choose, check the person is on a professional register; the last section of this page shows how.

Can I get online therapy free on the NHS?

Yes, in England NHS Talking Therapies is free, and you can refer yourself without seeing a GP. You need to live in England and be 18 or over, or 16 or 17 in some areas, and you do not need a diagnosis. Therapy can be in person, by video or phone call, or as an online course. You may be offered guided self-help first, with CBT, counselling and other talking therapies also available. When you refer yourself, the service contacts you and, if it can help, tells you how long you may wait for your first appointment; waits vary and can be long.

In some areas, NHS therapy is delivered online by Mindler, formerly ieso: one-to-one CBT with a therapist by typed messages, free to NHS patients where it is offered, including parts of Scotland. Mindler says the first appointment is usually within 10 working days of signing up. Outside England, speak to your GP about what is available locally. The NHS also notes that talking therapies are sometimes free through an employer, a university or a local charity.

Can I get free online mental health support without a referral?

Yes, several free online services need no referral, though Togetherall and Qwell are free only where an organisation or area pays for them. Togetherall is an anonymous online community where people aged 16 and over share what is going on and support each other, with wellbeing tools and resources. Trained mental health professionals moderate it around the clock, and it is free if your employer, university, college, NHS provider or local council partners with it. Qwell, which says it is NHS-funded, offers adults anonymous typed chat with counsellors and emotional wellbeing practitioners, one chat a week of up to an hour, plus moderated forums. When you sign up you choose your area or organisation from Qwell's list. Chat is open from noon to 10pm on weekdays and 6pm to 10pm at weekends.

Shout is different: a free, confidential text service, 24 hours a day, for anyone in the UK who is struggling to cope. Text SHOUT to 85258 and a trained volunteer, overseen by a clinical supervisor, replies, aiming to do so within five minutes. Shout says it is not therapy and not regular ongoing support; it is there for the moment you are in.

Which private online therapy services are there in the UK?

Private online therapy services in the UK include Harley Therapy, Mindler, The Online Psychologists, My Online Therapy and MySafeTherapy. All five charge per session rather than by subscription, and each works a little differently.

• The Harley Therapy Platform lists over 1,000 independently practising therapists, each required to be qualified, registered with a recognised UK professional or regulatory body, and insured. You choose one and book from their live calendar, by video or messaging, phone or in person, depending on the therapist. Harley Therapy's London clinic also offers video counselling.
• Mindler offers 50-minute video sessions in its app with psychologists and CBT therapists you choose yourself, alongside self-help CBT programmes, for adults living in the UK.
• The Online Psychologists works with clinical psychologists who hold a doctorate and are registered with the HCPC. Its clinical director reads each enquiry and matches you; sessions are by video, with no GP referral needed.
• My Online Therapy matches you with a qualified psychologist or psychotherapist after a free online assessment, with sessions by video or live chat, starting with a 30-minute introductory session.
• MySafeTherapy offers video, audio, encrypted chat or anonymous avatar sessions with BACP, UKCP or HCPC registered therapists, a free 15-minute introduction, and self-help tools between sessions.

How much does private online therapy cost in the UK?

Private online therapy in the UK is paid per session, and the prices the services showed on their own sites on 13 October 2026 ran from £49 to £280 a session. Mindler charges £135 for a 50-minute video session if you pay yourself, and The Online Psychologists £130. My Online Therapy charges £99 for 50 minutes by video, or £49 for 30 minutes by video or live chat where its assessment recommends it. On the Harley Therapy Platform each therapist sets their own fee, and the first page of listings ran from £60 to £280; Harley Therapy's London clinic charges from £230 for individual video counselling. MySafeTherapy's therapists set fees in tiers from £50 to £200 or more, and the sessions its pricing page showed as available that day were £150.

On timing, The Online Psychologists says it replies within 3 working days and most clients start within a week or two; MySafeTherapy says it matches you within two days; My Online Therapy says you can meet your new therapist today; Harley Therapy and Mindler let you book from the times therapists show. For comparison, more than half of the listings in BACP's directory advertise £40 to £60 a session.

How does BetterHelp work in the UK?

BetterHelp works in the UK as a subscription: you sign up online and are matched with an available therapist based on your goals and preferences, which BetterHelp says takes a few hours or a few days, depending on therapist availability. You can message your therapist at any time without booking, and book live chat, phone or video appointments too, using whichever suits you. As shown to a UK visitor on betterhelp.com on 13 October 2026, the cost is £35 to £75 a week, billed every four weeks, depending on factors including your location, preferences and therapist availability, and you can cancel at any time.

BetterHelp says every therapist on the platform holds a relevant degree, has at least three years of experience and holds credentials from their professional body, and that you can ask to be matched with a different therapist. It also says it is not the right service for anyone under 18 or in a crisis, and that its therapists cannot make an official diagnosis.

How do I find a private online therapist through a directory?

You find a private online therapist through a directory by searching for someone who works online, such as in the BACP Therapist Directory, Counselling Directory or Psychology Today, and contacting the therapist directly. Every therapist listed in BACP's directory is a registered BACP member, and many counsellors work through online platforms or by phone as well as in person. You choose who you see, and BACP says you should be able to start quickly, but you pay for each appointment.

More than half of the listings in BACP's directory advertise £40 to £60 a session, and BACP says many therapists offer a free introductory meeting and reduced rates for people on low incomes, so it is worth asking. Psychology Today's UK directory lets you filter by online therapy and by fee, marks therapists whose membership or main credential it has checked as Verified, and shows an average of £67 a session for counsellors in England. Private therapy is usually a run of appointments, so plan around the monthly cost, not the single one, and speaking to two or three therapists before you choose is normal.

Can I get online therapy through my employer or insurer?

Often, yes: your employer may offer a confidential employee assistance programme, or EAP, and private medical insurance may cover some or all of your therapy sessions. BACP says an EAP is designed to help with personal or work-related problems, and that an employer may also refer you through occupational health. Support through work is often free, though BACP notes you may have little choice of therapist and a limited number of sessions. Some programmes are online: Spill, for example, provides an employee assistance programme to startups, charities and small businesses, giving their staff messaging and video sessions with a counsellor through Slack, Microsoft Teams or email. Ask HR or check your staff benefits to see what you have.

If you have private medical insurance, Psychology Today notes that your plan may cover some if not all of your sessions, and that your insurer may ask for a GP referral first, so check with them before you book. Several online services say they work with insurers: The Online Psychologists lists Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Cigna, Vitality, WPA and Healix; Mindler takes Vitality members; MySafeTherapy's therapists are recognised by Healix, Vitality, WPA and Alliance Health Corporate; and My Online Therapy says insurance is accepted.

Is Wobble online therapy?

No, Wobble is not therapy, but it is mental health support from qualified therapists. You answer seven short questions about what is going on, add more in writing or as a voice note if you like, and a qualified, registered UK therapist records you a personal video, usually within hours: what they understood, practical guidance and one clear next step. There is no appointment, no live call and no course to sign up to. Wobble sits before therapy for people who would never book it, or alongside it, including while you wait for NHS Talking Therapies to start. Many people use it regularly, a Wobble a week or a fortnight, and the plans are priced for that: £19.99 a month for two, or £34.99 for four. Wobble is a paid service, on the web and in the Wobble app for iPhone and Android. It is not the right format for people who need to sit with a therapist for an hour at a time.

Which kind of online therapy is right for me?

The right kind of online therapy depends on what you can pay, how soon you need support, whether you want to work with one therapist over time, and whether you would rather type or talk.

• If cost is the barrier and you live in England, refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies. It is free, and you can get on the list today even if the wait is long. Check too whether Togetherall or Qwell is free through your employer, university or area.
• If you want to talk to someone anonymously in your own time, Togetherall's community is open at any time, and Qwell's practitioners chat in the afternoons and evenings where it is funded. If you are struggling to cope right now, text SHOUT to 85258.
• If you want to choose your therapist and see them regularly, a private service such as Harley Therapy, Mindler, The Online Psychologists, My Online Therapy or MySafeTherapy lets you do that, as does a directory such as BACP's, Counselling Directory or Psychology Today.
• If you would rather message a therapist at any time, with booked live appointments as well, on a subscription, BetterHelp is built for that.
• If your employer has an employee assistance programme, or you have private medical insurance, check what it covers before you pay.
• If you want a qualified therapist's view on one thing without a course, or support while you wait for therapy to start, a Wobble is the shorter route.

These routes are not either-or. You can refer yourself to the NHS today and use another route while you wait.

How do I check an online therapist is registered?

Checking a therapist is registered means finding their name on the public register of the body they say they belong to, which matters because, as BACP points out, anyone in the UK can call themselves a counsellor and set up in private practice. Services and directories help, but the check on the individual still takes only a minute, whichever route you use.

1. Ask which body they are registered with, and for their membership or registration number.
2. Search that body's public register: the BACP Register, the NCPS Accredited Register, the UKCP register, or, for practitioner psychologists such as clinical psychologists, and for arts therapists, the HCPC Register.
3. Check the register is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority, as the NHS advises; the BACP, NCPS and UKCP registers all are. The PSA's website explains how to check a practitioner on each register it oversees.
4. If you cannot find the name, ask why before you book. Student members, for example, do not appear on BACP's register.

Wobble does this check before a therapist sees any Wobble: every Wobble therapist is registered with BACP, NCPS, UKCP or BABCP, or a statutory regulator such as the HCPC, insured and UK-based, and Wobble's clinical lead reviews live Wobbles and responses on an ongoing basis.