How Much Should I Charge as a Therapist?

It's one of the questions I'm asked most often by therapists who are setting up in private practice:

"How much should I charge?"

The answer people are often hoping for is a number. A figure that will reassure them they're not charging too much or too little. But the truth is, there isn't one right answer.

The right fee for one therapist may be completely unrealistic for another. It depends on your experience, your location, your costs, the type of work you do, the number of clients you want to see each week, and the kind of life you're trying to build.

What I think is far more useful than asking "What should I charge?" is asking:

"What fee allows me to build a practice that is both ethical and sustainable?"

The story many therapists have been told

Many of us entered this profession because we care deeply about people. We want to help and we want therapy to be accessible. We know that, financially, times are really tough for people at the moment, and we also know that waiting list for free therapy (like on the NHS) can be painfully long. So money plays on our minds a lot.

Somewhere along the way, though, many therapists absorb another message:

If you're a good therapist, money shouldn't matter.

Or perhaps:

"It's greedy to earn too much, you're taking advantage"

It's a narrative that can leave therapists feeling guilty for charging fees that reflect the reality of running a business. I've spoken to countless therapists who worry they'll appear greedy, uncaring or "not in it for the right reasons" if they charge more than the lowest fee they can imagine.

(alternatively, I've heard from therapists who are very happy and secure offering lower fees being called out for "cheapening the profession" - you can't win!)

Wanting financial security isn't greed.

Most therapists aren't dreaming of luxury cars or private jets.

We're hoping to pay our mortgage or rent. To take a holiday without losing all of our income. To put money into a pension. To enjoy dinner with friends, hobbies, weekends away or time with family.

These aren't extravagant ambitions. They're ordinary parts of a balanced life.

Your client's fee is not your salary

One of the biggest misconceptions about therapy fees is that whatever the client pays goes straight into the therapist's pocket.

It doesn't.

When someone pays £X for a therapy session, that fee has to cover far more than the 50 minutes spent in the therapy room.

It contributes towards:

• Income tax

• National Insurance

• Pension contributions

• Holiday pay

• Sick pay

• Clinical supervision

• Professional indemnity insurance

• Professional memberships

• Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

• Practice software

• Website hosting

• Room hire or online platforms

• Accounting costs

• Marketing

• Administrative time

• Preparation and note writing

• Unpaid enquiries and consultations

• Cancellations and quieter periods

  
  

Unlike employed roles, private practitioners are responsible for funding all of these themselves.

When you look at your fee through that lens, it becomes much clearer why it isn't simply "what you earn."

Sustainability benefits everyone

An exhausted therapist isn't necessarily providing their best work.

If your fees mean you have to see a large number of clients every day just to cover your bills, that's likely to have an impact on your wellbeing over time.

Many therapists intentionally choose to see fewer clients so they can remain emotionally present, continue learning, maintain good boundaries and have a life outside of work.

It's about creating the conditions to offer high-quality therapy over many years rather than burning out after a few.

A sustainable practice supports the therapist, which in turn supports the clients they work with.

Accessibility isn't one-size-fits-all

Thinking carefully about your fees doesn't mean ignoring accessibility.

Some therapists offer concession spaces and work within a sliding scale format.

Some work for charities alongside private practice.

Some offer workshops or groups.

Others volunteer their time elsewhere.

It's okay if your entire private practice isn't built around charging the lowest possible fee.

You don't have to carry the responsibility for fixing systemic inequalities on your own.

Give yourself permission to think like both a therapist and a business owner

For many therapists, becoming self-employed requires a shift in mindset.

You're still a therapist (which you had training for)..But you're also running a business (which you probably had zero training for!).

Businesses need to be financially viable if they're going to survive. It's about creating a practice that allows you to continue helping people for years to come.

The goal is to build a business that supports your life, your wellbeing and your work.

And that's something therapists deserve too.

Want support in building your private practice?

If you're thinking about private practice, or you've recently started and are trying to navigate questions like fees, marketing, finding clients and creating a sustainable business, my Building an Ethical and Sustainable Private Practice workshop is designed for you.

Rather than offering rigid rules or telling you what you "should" charge, we'll explore the practical and ethical considerations that help you make confident decisions for your own circumstances.

The workshop is intentionally kept small, so it feels more like sitting down for a coffee with fellow therapists than attending a formal training day. There'll be plenty of opportunity to ask questions, discuss real-life scenarios and leave with practical steps you can take in your own practice.

If you're ready to build a private practice that works for both you and your clients, I'd love to welcome you.

Any questions about the workshop or fees in general, send me an email at laura@laurawoodtherapy.co.uk

Take care,

Laura