Get Your Counselling & Therapy Referral Letter
Most private counselling and therapy providers require a formal GP referral letter before accepting you or processing insurance. Our registered UK GPs issue that referral online without the wait for an NHS appointment.
Each letter follows a clinical assessment by a licensed UK doctor, giving your provider the signed documentation needed to begin your care.
✔ Issued by a registered UK GP following clinical assessment
✔ Suitable for private counselling, therapy, and mental health programmes
✔ Most requests reviewed same day, from £39
GET MY SICK NOTE
Dr Maria Knobel
Medical Director · GMC 7495073
Consistently voted 5 stars
How It Works
Complete a short online questionnaire
No appointment required. Complete a short medical questionnaire and upload any supporting evidence.
Doctor reviews your evidence
A GMC-registered doctor reviews your submission individually. No automated approvals.
✔ Full refund if the GP cannot issue.
Receive your certificate
Certificates arrive most same day, all by 9AM next morning, delivered as a signed PDF direct to your inbox.
Very happy, I ordered my Medical Certificate in the early morning hours and before noon time of same day I had it on my inbox. Speedy service and they present the health condition precisely, get to the point.
They meet the incredibly fast turnaround stated (certificate/letter sent before 9am the following morning if the doctor feels that a letter/certificate is appropriate) which is incredibly quick and I am really grateful for the help provided!
Very easy and quick to get my certificate. And the certificate was approved from the specific company to travel with my dog. I will use them again. Well done.
Second time using this company and they are fabulous! Always great, fast, friendly service. Highly recommend!
This was my second time using Medical Cert, and once again the service was exceptionally quick and professional. Everything was handled efficiently, with clear communication throughout.
I found the service very straight forward and quick. Exactly what I needed to get my Padi medical form signed before our holiday. Thank you very much.
Second year running where requested Sports Certificate has been produced promptly in advised timescales.
Process was easy and responses were quick. I would recommend their service.
Fast efficient service for medical certificates. I used the not fit to fly service and was provided with a certificate the next day, the price is very reasonable and enabled a flight credit refund with my airline. Would recommend and would use again if needed.
A fast and efficient service. It wasn't complicated and the Fit-to-fly note was accepted by the Airport without any further questions. Thank you.
Ideal for me, I am looking to get a certificate for some medical issues I have. So this is the perfect solution for me, uploading docs was easy and the forms very straightforward to fill in. Will definitely use them again. Many thanks.
Excellent service. Easy to use and certificate issued in less than 24 hours. £39 as opposed to the £150 my GP charges. Highly recommended.
Quick and reasonably pain-free. Received their standard certificate as well as my requested bespoke certificate, by email, by 9am the following morning. Both completed properly, signed and stamped as required. More expensive than my GP, but infinitely quicker and easier.
One of the best experiences. It's easy to get a GP note.
Excellent. My GP refuses to issue DWP MED 3 Fit Notes to students. MedicalCert were excellent and extremely helpful in providing a necessary certificate. Highly recommended.
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Great service, pretty straight forward and easy to use the website.
I was recommended Medical Cert by a friend and was so impressed with the service received. I would recommend using a laptop rather than a phone. Overall a fantastic and fast service.
A counselling and therapy referral letter is a doctor-signed document recommending that you receive psychological therapy or counselling — required by private therapy providers, employee assistance programmes (EAPs), insurers, and some specialist mental health services. This guide explains when a referral letter is needed, what it should contain, and how to obtain one quickly online, subject to clinical review by a GMC-registered doctor.
Accessing therapy or counselling can sometimes require a formal letter of referral — particularly when seeking private psychological support through a health insurer, an occupational health referral, or a therapist who requests GP confirmation of your clinical need. Waiting times for NHS IAPT (Talking Therapies) services have increased significantly, making timely private referral letters an important part of accessing care.
When Is a Counselling or Therapy Referral Letter Required?
Private Therapists & Psychologists
- Some private therapists request a GP letter confirming your mental health history or diagnosis before beginning treatment
- Clinical psychologists may require a formal referral for specialist assessments (e.g. autism, ADHD, trauma-focused therapy)
- Couples or family therapists for access through funded schemes
Health Insurers & PMI
- Private medical insurance (PMI) typically requires a GP referral before authorising funded therapy sessions
- Many insurers require a doctor’s letter confirming the clinical indication before a therapy claim is processed
- Employee assistance programmes (EAPs) may require GP documentation for extended sessions
Workplace & Occupational Health
- Occupational health referrals for work-related stress, burnout, or mental health absence
- Supporting a reasonable adjustments request where ongoing therapy is part of your management plan
- Documentation of therapeutic need for statutory sick pay or income protection purposes
What Conditions a Therapy Referral Letter Covers
A counselling and therapy referral letter can be issued across a wide range of mental health conditions and psychological presentations, where clinically appropriate. Common presentations include:
Anxiety & Mood
- Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Panic disorder
- Depression — mild to moderate
- Low mood, persistent sadness, anhedonia
- Adjustment disorder following bereavement, job loss, or relationship breakdown
- Health anxiety or illness-related psychological distress
Trauma & Specialist Conditions
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) — including complex PTSD
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Phobias — social anxiety, specific phobias
- Burnout and chronic work-related stress
- Eating disorder support (therapy alongside clinical treatment)
- Grief and bereavement counselling
What a Counselling Referral Letter Contains
A referral letter for counselling or therapy from a GMC-registered doctor will typically include:
- Your full name and date of birth
- A brief clinical description of the presenting condition or mental health concerns
- A recommendation for psychological therapy or counselling
- The type of therapy recommended, where appropriate (e.g. CBT, person-centred counselling, trauma-focused therapy)
- A statement that the referral is clinically appropriate given the information provided
- The doctor’s GMC registration number, signature, and contact details
The letter is written with the appropriate level of clinical detail for its purpose — a letter for a private therapist will differ in tone from one intended for an insurer’s claims department. Specify the intended recipient or purpose when completing the consultation form to ensure the letter is appropriately framed.
How to Get a Counselling Referral Letter Online
Check what the recipient requires
Confirm whether your therapist, insurer, or employer requires a specific form or a general GP letter. Some insurers have their own referral form — download it before applying so it can be uploaded for the doctor to complete.
Complete the online consultation form
Provide details of your mental health history, current symptoms, their impact on daily life and work, and any previous therapy or treatment you have received. Upload any existing documentation such as previous GP letters or diagnosis confirmations.
GMC-registered doctor review
A GMC-registered doctor reviews your submission. Where clinically appropriate, a signed referral letter or completed insurer form is issued.
Receive your letter by email
Your referral letter is delivered as a PDF — same day or by 9AM the following morning with the express service.
Get a Counselling & Therapy Referral Letter Online
GMC-registered doctors. No appointment needed. Suitable for private therapists, insurers, and occupational health referrals.
Apply for Your Referral Letter →Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a GP referral to see a private therapist?
Not always — many private therapists in the UK accept self-referrals and do not require a GP letter. However, if you are funding therapy through private medical insurance (PMI) or an employee assistance programme (EAP), a GP referral letter is typically required before sessions are authorised. Always check with your insurer or EAP provider before booking.
Can I get a referral letter for CBT or trauma-focused therapy?
Yes. A referral letter can specify a recommended therapy modality — such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), EMDR for trauma, or person-centred counselling — where clinically appropriate. The reviewing doctor will assess whether the clinical information you provide supports the therapy recommendation requested.
How is a therapy referral letter different from a GP referral letter?
A GP referral letter is typically used to refer someone to a specialist within the NHS or private medical system — for example, to a consultant psychiatrist or cardiologist. A therapy referral letter is a supporting document recommending psychological therapy or counselling, which does not involve the formal NHS referral pathways but provides clinical justification for accessing private therapeutic support. The process for both through MedicalCert is similar. For GP referral letters, see our GP referral letter service.
Can I access NHS therapy without a GP referral?
Yes. NHS Talking Therapies (formerly IAPT) services in England allow self-referral — you do not need a GP letter to access CBT or counselling through the NHS. However, NHS waiting times vary significantly by area and can be lengthy. A private referral letter is primarily relevant when accessing funded private therapy through insurance or occupational health routes.
What if my insurer requires a specific referral form?
If your insurer provides a specific form for a GP to complete, you can upload it during the MedicalCert consultation process. The reviewing doctor will complete the form to the required standard where the clinical information supports doing so.