Most Aviva policies include up to £2,000 per year for outpatient mental health treatment. At typical session rates, this covers approximately 10–20 sessions depending on your therapist’s fee.

Your exact allowance depends on your specific policy. To check your cover:

• Log into the MyAviva app or online portal
• Call Aviva Health Claims on 0800 068 5821

We recommend checking your remaining allowance before starting therapy so you know exactly what’s available.

Yes. Aviva health insurance policies typically include cover for psychological therapies including CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), counselling, EMDR, and other evidence-based treatments.

Several Therapy Central therapists are registered Aviva providers, meaning:

• These therapists are pre-approved by Aviva
• We bill Aviva directly — no upfront costs for you
• Sessions can be in-person (London clinics) or online

Most comprehensive UK health insurance policies include mental health cover as standard. This typically covers:

• Talking therapies — CBT, counselling, psychotherapy
• Psychological assessments — for conditions like ADHD, autism
• Psychiatric consultations — if medication review is needed

Coverage limits vary by policy and insurer. Aviva, AXA Health, Bupa, WPA, and Cigna all offer mental health benefits — though the amount covered and referral process differs.

At Therapy Central, our therapists are registered providers with all major UK health insurers, making it easy to use your policy for therapy.

Yes — counselling is typically covered under the mental health or outpatient benefits of most UK private health insurance policies, including Aviva.

To access counselling through your insurance, you’ll usually need:

• An open referral from your GP (or self-referral via Mental Health Pathway if eligible)
• An authorisation code from your insurer
• To see a therapist who is registered with your insurer

Most of our counsellors and psychologists at Therapy Central are registered with Aviva and other major insurers.

Standard therapy sessions at Therapy Central last 50 minutes. This is the industry standard and what Aviva (and other insurers) typically cover per session.

Sessions usually take place weekly, at the same time each week, to maintain momentum and build a strong therapeutic relationship.

The number of sessions varies depending on your situation, goals, and the type of therapy:

• Brief interventions: 6–8 sessions for specific, focused issues
• Standard (e.g., with CBT): 12–16 sessions for anxiety, depression, or phobias
• Complex presentations: 20+ sessions for trauma, long-standing difficulties, or multiple concerns

Your therapist will discuss recommended treatment length during your initial sessions. Aviva’s typical £2,000 allowance covers 10–20 sessions — sufficient for most common presentations.

Many clients notice improvements within the first few sessions, even if the full course is longer.

For most Aviva policyholders, yes — you’ll need an open referral from your GP before Aviva will authorise therapy sessions.

Getting a GP referral is straightforward:

• Book a GP appointment (in-person or online)
• Explain you’d like to access therapy through your Aviva policy
• Ask for an open referral to a psychologist or counsellor

Exception — Mental Health Pathway: If you have a corporate Aviva policy with Mental Health Pathway, you can self-refer without a GP. Check your policy documents or call Aviva to confirm eligibility.

Aviva Exclusive Feature — The Mental Health Pathway is a unique service available to eligible corporate policyholders.

The Aviva Mental Health Pathway offers:

• Self-referral — No GP appointment required
• Fast-track access — Get matched with a therapist quickly
• 24/7 Stress Counselling Helpline — Immediate phone support included
• Online or phone access — Via the MyAviva app or by calling Aviva

This pathway is typically available through employer-sponsored corporate policies. If you have an individual Aviva policy, you’ll usually need a GP referral instead.

To check if you’re eligible, log into MyAviva or call 0800 068 5821.

No. At Therapy Central, we bill Aviva directly using your authorisation code. You don’t need to pay upfront and claim back.

Here’s how it works:

• You provide us with your Aviva authorisation code
• We verify your cover and book your sessions
• After each session, we invoice Aviva directly
• Aviva pays us — you pay nothing (within your policy limits)

Note: While you do not have to pay anything upfront, you may be required to make payments in some instances, for example, if your policy has an excess or you exceed your annual limit and you want to continue working with your therapist.

Aviva covers therapy for a wide range of mental health conditions, including:

• Depression & Low Mood
• Anxiety Disorders — generalised anxiety, social anxiety, health anxiety
• Panic Disorder
• Phobias — specific phobias, agoraphobia
• OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)
• PTSD & Trauma
• Work Stress & Burnout
• Relationship Issues
• Grief & Bereavement
• Sleep Problems

ADHD & Autism Assessments: Aviva’s Neurodevelopmental Pathway may cover diagnostic assessments for ADHD and autism. Check your policy or call Aviva for details.

Yes. Aviva covers online therapy sessions just like in-person appointments. At Therapy Central, you can choose:

• Online video sessions — from home or anywhere private
• In-person sessions — at our London clinics
• Hybrid approach — mix of online and in-person

Online therapy is considered to be just as effective as in-person for most conditions and offers greater flexibility. Many clients appreciate being able to attend sessions without travel time.

To get your Aviva authorisation code:

1. Get a GP referral — Ask your GP for an open referral to a psychologist or counsellor (skip this step if you have Mental Health Pathway access)
2. Contact Aviva — Call 0800 068 5821 or use the MyAviva app
3. Request authorisation — Have your policy number and GP referral details ready
4. Receive your code — Aviva will provide an authorisation code, usually within 24–48 hours

Once you have your code, share it with us and we’ll handle the rest. You can book your first session while waiting for the code if you’d like to secure your preferred time slot.

You’ve already found us! Several of our practitioners at Therapy Central are registered, Aviva-approved providers ready to help.

When you contact us, and tell us you would like to use your Aviva cover, we’ll:

• Match you with an Aviva-approved therapist suited to your needs
• Offer a free 15-minute consultation to confirm fit
• Handle all Aviva billing and paperwork

Our therapists hold various qualifications recognised by Aviva, such as HCPC registration, BPS chartership, BABCP accreditation and more.

If you reach your Aviva policy limit but want to continue therapy, you have options:

• Self-fund remaining sessions — Continue at our standard, competitive private rates
• Wait for policy renewal — Your allowance typically resets on your policy anniversary
• Request a policy review — In some cases, Aviva may authorise additional sessions for complex cases
• Reduce session frequency — Move to fortnightly sessions to extend your remaining cover

We’ll always keep you informed about how many sessions remain so you can plan ahead. Your therapist can also help you develop self-help strategies to maintain progress between or after sessions.

In case Aviva requires a report from your therapists in order to make a decision on authorising further sessions, we’ll be happy to provide that. Just let your therapist know.