Why My Therapy Fee Is £85 per Session

One of the most common reasons for clients not starting therapy sooner (or maybe not starting at all... but I'll never know!) is due to fearing it's not worth the money.

We're very used to spending money on things that give us something immediately like food, a haircut, a beauty treatment or a thing (like clothing, a car or phone). We see the worth straight away and so the investment is quickly justified.

Therapy is different. It's unlikely (but not impossible!), that you'll leave the first session feeling completely transformed. Therapeutic change happens over time with patience, consistency and commitment.

But this "slower return" can be difficult to financially invest in and all too easy to talk ourselves out of. This is especially true when you're used to taking care of everyone else and your needs getting left to one side.

So instead of simply telling you what therapy costs, I want to share what therapy gives you.

What you’re really investing in:

1. Clarity about what you need (instead of guessing or hoping others will notice)

Most of my clients arrive feeling unseen, overstretched, or confused about what they’re allowed to ask for. Therapy gives you clear language, emotional insight, and tools to understand your needs. That clarity alone changes how you relate to everyone in your life.

2. The ability to communicate your needs clearly and confidently

If you’ve spent years saying “It’s fine,” “Don’t worry,” or waiting for someone to offer help, therapy teaches you a new way of relating. You’ll learn practical communication skills and scripts designed for real-life relationships that reduce resentment and create genuine connection.

3. Feeling supported instead of carrying everything alone

When you’re the one who keeps things running, it can feel like everyone leans on you… and you lean on no one. Therapy offers a space where you are held, supported, and understood. For many clients, this is the first time they’ve experienced that and they feel the benefit and relief very early on in their therapy journey.

4. Long-term relief, not temporary coping

We’re not just talking through problems, we’re shifting patterns. Patterns like over-functioning, emotional caretaking, people-pleasing, conflict avoidance, and mental load burnout. These shifts don’t just make you feel temporarily better or give you a 'quick boost', they change your everyday life, your relationships, and your internal world.

What my fee covers

This is where I get transparent and honest about why I charge £85 per session...

...which is different to the therapist down the road from me.

...And different to my own therapist.

...And different to a therapist I trained with.

We all have different fees for differing reasons, but this can make it very confusing for you if you're trying to decide on a therapist to work with. While the value you receive is the main point, it also helps to know what your £85 supports behind the scenes:

1. Specialist expertise

I’ve trained extensively in the areas I now specialise in:

• mental and emotional load

• relationship imbalance

• communication skills

• expressing needs

• reducing resentment

• strengthening emotional connection

This is not general therapy. It’s focused, deep work with people who carry too much.

2. Essential professional support

Your fee contributes to:

• regular supervision which is necessary as a registered psychotherapist under the NCPS.

• professional insurance

• ongoing training

• secure, ethical practice

These are all non-negotiables in offering safe, high-quality therapy.

3. Preparation and reflection time

Therapy isn’t just the 50 minutes we spend together. I review your themes, monitor progress, reflect on patterns emerging, and plan how best to support you. This ensures your therapy feels progressive and right for you. I don't follow schemes of work or booklets, your sessions are unique to you.

4. A sustainable practice (which benefits you)

I keep my caseload small so I can show up rested, present, and fully engaged. This means you receive high-quality therapeutic attention, not rushed or overstretched care. Your investment makes that sustainable. It also offers you an example of using boundaries to look after yourself. This is a way that I take care of me!

Why £85 can feel like a big decision

People who carry the mental or emotional load are often the first to invest in others and the last to invest in themselves.

You might be used to:

• minimising your needs

• avoiding “being a burden”

• prioritising everyone else

• telling yourself “I can cope”

  
  

Therapy challenges that belief gently but powerfully: you are allowed to spend money on your wellbeing. Not after burnout… but now. Taking that first step and investing in yourself is already personal progress. You are communicating to yourself that you matter too, which is maybe something you don't communicate to yourself currently...?

Because therapy is a big decision for many reasons alongside the financial aspect, if you ever want to talk through whether working together would be a good fit, I’m always happy to answer questions.

You’re not meant to do everything alone.

Warmly,

Laura