AXA Health CBT and EMDR Therapist in London and Online

What AXA Health covers for mental health

AXA Health policies commonly include cover for talking therapies alongside physical treatment, though the level depends on the plan you or your employer chose. Some corporate schemes include mental health cover in full, while some individual plans limit it or exclude it entirely.

The practical point is that two people can both hold AXA Health and have very different entitlements. The only reliable answer comes from AXA themselves, and asking takes one phone call.

• Ask whether talking therapy is included on your specific plan
• Ask how many sessions are authorised in the first block
• Ask what excess applies and whether it is per claim or per policy year
• Ask whether online sessions are covered at the same rate as in-person

Is a GP referral needed for AXA therapy?

For most AXA Health members, no. AXA operates a direct route into mental health support that lets you self-refer by phone, which removes the wait for a GP appointment just to obtain a letter.

Some corporate and older individual policies still require a GP or specialist referral before authorising treatment. AXA will tell you which applies to you when you call. Where a referral is required, I am happy to work with the referring clinician on documentation and continuity of care.

Why brief therapy makes your cover go further

Most private policies authorise a block of sessions and then ask the therapist for a report before approving any more. That structure suits how I work anyway. My training is in brief, focused models: Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, CBT, Brief Strategic Therapy, EMDR and Single Session Therapy.

The aim is not to fill the sessions your policy allows. It is to make the earliest ones count, so that you leave with something usable whether or not you come back. Some people get what they came for in one or two appointments. Others use the full authorised block. Both are normal outcomes, and neither is treated as a failure.

In practice this means a policy authorising a short initial block is rarely a problem. If more work is genuinely needed, I write the review report your insurer asks for.

If you would rather not involve your insurer

You do not have to use your policy. Some people prefer not to, because a claim creates a record with their insurer, because the excess is close to the cost of a session anyway, or because they want to keep the work entirely separate from anything an employer scheme can see.

Paying directly is straightforward and needs no authorisation, no referral letter and no diagnosis. You can see current fees on the pricing page, and a free introductory call is available either way.

Frequently asked questions about AXA Health

Does AXA cover therapy sessions?

Many AXA Health plans include cover for talking therapies, but the amount and whether it applies at all depends on your specific policy. Call AXA with your membership number before booking and ask what is authorised. They will give you a code that confirms it.

Can I have AXA-covered sessions online?

Online sessions are usually covered on the same terms as in-person ones, and I work with clients across the UK this way. Confirm it with AXA when you call, since a small number of schemes still treat remote appointments differently.

Can I self-refer to an AXA therapist?

For most policies, yes. AXA Health lets members phone their mental health team directly rather than obtaining a GP referral first. Some corporate schemes still ask for a referral letter, and AXA will confirm which applies when you call.

What happens if my AXA authorisation runs out?

If the authorised sessions are used and more work would help, I write the review report AXA asks for so they can consider extending. Because the therapy is brief and focused by design, many people finish within the initial block.

What if AXA does not cover the full session fee?

Some policies reimburse up to a set rate, leaving a shortfall you pay yourself, and most carry an excess. Ask AXA for the reimbursement rate and the excess when you call, so the cost is clear before your first appointment rather than after it.