IPRS Health CBT Psychologist in London and Online

IPRS Health is not a personal insurance policy

It is worth being clear about this, because it causes confusion. IPRS Health is not private medical insurance you buy for yourself in the way AXA, Aviva, Vitality, WPA or Allianz policies are. It is an occupational health and rehabilitation provider, and access usually comes through an employer, an occupational health team or an insurer that has commissioned them.

If you are trying to work out how to fund therapy and you do not have an employer route, IPRS is probably not the answer. The insurer pages on this site, or paying directly, will be more relevant.

What your employer does and does not see

This is the question people actually want answered, and it deserves a straight response. Employers who commission psychological support are generally told administrative facts: that sessions were attended, and sometimes a broad view of fitness for work where that was the explicit reason for the referral.

What you discuss in the room is not passed to your employer. Where a report is part of the referral, I will tell you before it is written and you will know what it says. If the boundaries of a particular referral are unclear, ask before the first session rather than after it, and I will find out.

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 IPRS Health

Is IPRS Health the same as private health insurance?

No. IPRS Health is an occupational health and rehabilitation provider rather than a personal medical insurance policy. Access normally comes through an employer, an occupational health team or an insurer that has commissioned them.

Can I refer myself to IPRS Health?

Usually not directly. The referral generally comes from your employer, occupational health provider or insurer. Your HR or occupational health contact is the right place to ask whether the route is open to you.

Will my employer know what I talk about?

No. Employers receive administrative confirmation that sessions took place and, where the referral was explicitly about fitness for work, a report on that question. The content of your sessions is confidential, and you will know in advance what any report says.

How many sessions does an IPRS referral cover?

The number is agreed as part of the referral rather than claimed afterwards, and it varies by the commissioning organisation. It is confirmed before the first appointment so you know where you stand from the start.

What if my IPRS sessions run out and I want to continue?

You can continue privately by paying directly, with no employer involvement at all. Some people prefer this once the work-related part is dealt with, and the change can be made without a break in continuity.