The title and how it is regulated
In the United Kingdom anyone may call themselves a sex therapist, psychosexual therapist or sexologist: none of these titles is protected, and neither are “counsellor” or “psychotherapist”. What is protected are the titles around them — doctor (General Medical Council), nurse (Nursing and Midwifery Council) and practitioner psychologist, clinical psychologist and counselling psychologist (Health and Care Professions Council). Successive governments have relied on voluntary registers accredited by the Professional Standards Authority rather than statutory regulation of talking therapies.
The reference body is the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT), which accredits postgraduate training courses in psychosexual and relationship therapy — typically two years, with supervised clinical hours — and keeps a public register of therapists who meet its standards. For doctors and nurses, the Institute of Psychosexual Medicine has trained clinicians in brief psychosexual medicine since the 1970s; sexual-medicine specialists in urology, gynaecology and genitourinary medicine may also hold the European FECSM certification.
The NHS does provide psychosexual therapy, but unevenly. In many areas it sits within sexual health services and is reached by GP referral — sometimes by self-referral through the sexual health clinic — with an assessment followed by a limited course, often six sessions. Waiting lists of several months are common and some areas have no service at all. Erectile dysfunction, pain and hormonal problems are seen by GPs, urology, gynaecology or endocrinology on the usual NHS pathways.
Privately, a session with a COSRT-registered therapist costs roughly £60 to £120, more in London; the charity Relate offers sex therapy with fees adjusted to income. Private medical insurance rarely covers psychosexual therapy unless it is delivered by a psychologist or psychiatrist for a recognised mental-health diagnosis.
Key points
| Title | Not protected; nor are counsellor or psychotherapist |
|---|---|
| Protected titles nearby | Doctor, nurse, practitioner / clinical / counselling psychologist |
| Reference register | COSRT register of psychosexual and relationship therapists |
| Training for doctors and nurses | Institute of Psychosexual Medicine; FECSM for sexual-medicine specialists |
| NHS | Psychosexual therapy in some sexual health services, GP or self-referral, often limited to six sessions |
| Private cost | About £60–£120 a session; Relate charges according to income |
| Private insurance | Rarely covers psychosexual therapy as such |
In practice
- Check the COSRT register, which shows training and accreditation status; ask any therapist which accredited course they completed.
- Ask your GP or local sexual health clinic whether a psychosexual service exists in your area and how to be referred.
- For a physical symptom — erection, pain, bleeding, low desire with fatigue — start with the GP: investigations and treatment stay free on the NHS.
- If the wait is long, Relate and some university training clinics offer reduced-fee therapy.
Cost and reimbursement
NHS: free, where a service exists, after a wait. Private: £60–£120 a session, usually six to fifteen sessions. Relate: sliding scale. Most private insurers exclude psychosexual therapy.
What has changed recently
COSRT has announced its intention to seek regulatory status, which could one day make “psychosexual therapist” a protected title; nothing has changed in law so far. Several NHS psychosexual services have been cut or absorbed into sexual health contracts since 2020.
Where to go
- COSRT — College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists: public register and complaints.
- Institute of Psychosexual Medicine: doctors and nurses trained in psychosexual medicine.
- Your GP or local sexual health clinic: referral to NHS psychosexual therapy.
- Relate: sex therapy with fees adjusted to income.
- HCPC register: psychologists' protected titles.
Worth knowing
Because no title is protected, the register matters more than the name on the door. A “sex coach” or “intimacy therapist” with an online certificate answers to nobody; a COSRT-registered therapist answers to a complaints procedure.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a GP referral?
Not to see a private therapist. For most NHS psychosexual services, yes, though some sexual health clinics accept self-referral.
Does the NHS offer sex therapy?
In some areas, within sexual health services, usually for a limited number of sessions after assessment. Availability and waiting times vary widely.
How do I check a therapist?
Look them up on the COSRT register, and ask which accredited course they completed and whether they are supervised. A doctor or psychologist should also appear on the GMC or HCPC register.
Official sources and links
- COSRT — College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists — public register, accredited courses, complaints
- Institute of Psychosexual Medicine — doctors and nurses trained in psychosexual medicine
- NHS — sexual health services — find local services and psychosexual therapy pathways
- GOV.UK — official portal for public services and rights
- legislation.gov.uk — the statute book as enacted and revised