Using your health insurance for counselling
I'm registered to accept referrals from Bupa and Aviva. If your policy covers counselling, your insurer may pay for some or all of your sessions. You need to speak to them before your first session.
1. Check your policy
Not every policy includes counselling, and some limit the number of sessions. Check your policy documents, or call your insurer, and ask:
- Does my policy cover counselling with a private counsellor?
- How many sessions are covered?
- Is there an excess, and how much?
2. Get authorisation
Your insurer will usually need to approve the sessions before you start. When they do, they give you an authorisation or claim reference. Ask them to confirm that I'm one of their recognised practitioners. You don't need a GP referral to see me. You can give them my name, Tracy Simpson, and my BACP registration, 45587.
3. Book with me
Book a first session online, and let me know the name of your insurer and your reference. You can also start with a free 10-minute call if you'd like to check that we're a good fit first.
4. Your sessions
Sessions go ahead for the number your insurer agrees. I bill your insurer directly for those sessions, so you don't pay me and claim it back. If your policy has an excess, your insurer will tell you how to pay it.
Your insurer will ask me for reports on your progress, for example before agreeing further sessions. Sending these is a condition of insurance funding, and the counselling agreement asks for your consent to it. If you'd rather your insurer received no reports, you can pay for your sessions yourself.
Things to know
- If a session isn't covered, for example after the agreed number runs out, the usual fee of £70 applies
- Cancellations with less than 48 hours' notice may not be covered by your insurer, and are charged at the full fee
- Insurance covers individual counselling only. Couples sessions are paid privately at £90
- If your employer offers an Employee Assistance Programme, that's a different route. Ask your HR team
No insurance?
Individual sessions are £70 for 50 minutes and couples sessions are £90. See counselling fees. NHS Talking Therapies offer free counselling and CBT, and you can usually refer yourself.
Reviewed by Tracy Simpson, MBACP, October 2026.