No, you can book an assessment directly with us without a referral. We also welcome referrals and recommendations from GPs, Consultants, other health professionals, lawyers, and employers.
The initial assessment is normally carried out by video link, but can be done in person in North London.
Initial Consultation Fees
A face-to-face or video link consultation lasts 50 minutes and costs £200. This fee includes us finding a therapist for you and writing a summary account for them.
These are agreed with the individual therapist. Typically, fees for individual therapy fall in the range of £80 to £150 for a 50 minute session. Couple and Family sessions and specialists in premium locations may be more expensive.
We ask that you pay for the initial consultation yourself, however you should be able to use your insurance to fund your therapy sessions. Some therapists are not fee-assured and may request a top-up fee.
If you have medical insurance, please mention this at the initial enquiry. Some IPS therapists are registered service providers with Medical Insurance Companies. Medical Insurers have different criteria and different procedures for deciding whether they will pay for your psychological treatment and for how many sessions. Payment will also depend on the level of cover of your insurance contract.
You should be able to find an available appointment time in our calendar within a few days. Following the assessment, we will then refer you to a suitable therapist who will normally be able to see you within a week or two. We do not have waiting lists.
IPS is not an emergency psychiatric service. If you are seriously concerned about your own or someone else’s mental health status (for example, if you feel, or think someone else may be feeling suicidal, or is psychotic , in physical danger, or may be a danger to others), you should contact the GP, A&E or your local Mental Health Crisis line (24/7).
IPS therapists are based across the London area. We try to look for the most conveniently located therapist, however you may still need to account for some travel time to attend your sessions. Many therapists now work online or will offer a mix of face to face and online work.. Our aim is to recommend the therapist who we believe will be the best overall fit, and we cannot always guarantee that this person will be within easy reach geographically.
Many IPS therapists offer early morning or evening appointments. There tends to be more pressure on out of hours appointments and you may have a wider choice of therapists if you are able to attend daytime sessions.
All types of therapy can be shorter or longer-term.
We are obligated to maintain high standards of confidentiality in the holding and communication of any personal information. We would not contact anyone, including your GP, without your express agreement. The only situation where this would not be the case, would be if we were seriously concerned about your wellbeing or the wellbeing of others. Under these circumstances, we are legally obliged to inform others. Please see our privacy notice.
There are over 60 therapists in the IPS network, who are highly trained and experienced specialists in a wide range of problems and approaches. By offering an initial assessment consultation, we help you through the difficult process of finding a therapeutic approach and a therapist who will suit both you and your problems. We do not just give you a name from a list but try to match you with someone you feel able to work with, at a time and place that fits in with your life. There are no waiting lists.