Family Therapist in London

This directory brings together therapists in London who work with families and family difficulties. You can search by approach, availability and session type to find someone suited to your situation.

What is family therapy?

Family therapy, sometimes called systemic therapy, works with the relationships between people rather than treating one person as the problem. Sessions might involve parents and children, adult siblings, a couple and their grown children, or any combination that makes sense. The premise is that difficulties usually live in the patterns between people, so changing the pattern helps everyone in it.

It is often useful where the same argument keeps repeating, where a family is adjusting to something significant such as a separation, a bereavement, illness or a child leaving home, or where one member is struggling and the effects have spread. Not everyone has to attend for it to help. Some therapists work with one or two family members on the wider system.

Family therapists in London at a glance

Based on the therapist profiles listed on The Therapist Finder. Fees were last reviewed in July 2026.

• The median fee is £80 a session, with most charging between £70 and £105.
• Fees run from £42.5 to £245, so it is worth comparing a few profiles rather than assuming a single going rate.
• Most of the therapists listed here are currently accepting new clients, though this changes as people fill up.

What to expect from family therapy

Early sessions tend to focus on how each person sees the situation, which is often the first time some of those views have been heard directly. A family therapist will usually be careful not to side with anyone, and will pay attention to who speaks, who stays quiet, and what happens when a difficult subject comes up.

Sessions are often longer than individual therapy, sometimes 90 minutes, and may be spaced further apart to give changes time to settle. There is frequently more structure than people expect. A therapist might interrupt a familiar argument deliberately, or ask one person to listen while another speaks, precisely because the usual pattern is what needs interrupting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does family therapy cost in London?

Across the therapists on the directory who work with family difficulties, the median fee is £80 a session and most charge between £70 and £105. Family sessions often run longer than individual ones, so check the session length as well as the fee.

Does the whole family have to attend?

No. Some sessions involve everyone, others a smaller group, and some therapists work with one person on the family patterns. What works best is usually decided together in the first session or two.

Can family therapy help if one person refuses to come?

Yes. Change in one part of a family tends to shift the others, so useful work often happens even when a key person will not attend. It is common for a reluctant family member to join later once they see nothing punitive is happening.

Is family therapy suitable for teenagers?

It is frequently used with teenagers and their parents, particularly around conflict, school refusal, eating difficulties and the shift towards independence. Some therapists will also see the young person separately for part of the time.

Do we need a GP referral for family therapy?

No referral is needed for private family therapy. You contact a therapist directly. NHS family therapy exists through CAMHS and some adult services, though waiting lists are usually long.

Does online family therapy work?

It can, and it solves the practical problem of getting several people into one room at one time. Where possible it helps for those attending together to be in the same physical space rather than joining from separate screens.