The 5 best psychologists in Leeds who make talking feel easy
By now, we all know life loves to throw curveballs, and sometimes it feels like you’re stuck at rock bottom. But you don’t have to face it alone!
There are trained professionals who actually know how to help you sort through the mental chaos.
In Leeds, there’s no shortage of psychologists you can reach out to. But having many options isn’t enough. We know it’s important that when you open up, they actually know the right words to guide you.
That’s why our team decided to dig a little deeper and find the ones whom you can really trust. Here’s our list of the best psychologists in Leeds that you can consider.
How much do psychologists in Leeds charge for their services?
Psychologists in Leeds typically charge around £50–£60 per session with smaller or less experienced practitioners, while private practices sit closer to £70–£110.
1. Leeds Anxiety Psychologist by Dr. Aneesa Psychology
Address: 8 Tinshill Ln
Business hours:
- Monday to Sunday: Open 24 hours
Dr Aneesa Shariff brings over 16 years of experience, including National Health Service (NHS) roles.
She mainly treats anxiety, but can also handle attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
The therapies used here are well-established and evidence-based. Some approaches include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and trauma-focused models.
She always tailors her sessions, and that’s what we like most about her. Clients often mention that their anxiety was treated specifically relating to patterns, triggers, and life context.
We also really appreciate the clinic’s flexibility. Alongside regular therapy, there are shorter 30-minute sessions and one-off coaching options.
It works well for anyone who wants focused support without committing to long-term therapy.
Being a solo practitioner does mean the schedule fills up fast, though.
She tailored our sessions to my specific needs
“I was struggling with panic attacks and anxiety. Aneesa was compassionate and easy to talk to. She tailored our sessions to my specific needs, helping me to understand the root cause of my anxiety and providing me with the tools to handle it and other stressful situations effectively. I feel happier, calmer and confident that I can deal with challenges that might arise in future.”
David Owen, Google review
I wholeheartedly recommend her
“Dr Aneesa has been a huge help helping me to navigate life post divorce and given me great tools to manage my depression and anxiety. I was really struggling before our sessions started but now look forward to our sessions and can see the progress I am making. I feel hopeful for my future and am looking forward to continuing moving forward with Dr Aneesa. I wholeheartedly recommend her.”
Mandy Beynon, Google review
2. Dr Kamila Hortynska
Address: The Hollies, Weetwood Ln, Weetwood
Phone: +44 789-696-9242
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 7 AM – 3 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: Closed
Dr Kamila Hortynska’s practice stands out to us for blending traditional psychology with holistic and spiritual approaches.
She focuses on helping people deal with work stress, burnout, and major life changes. She usually uses CBT alongside mindfulness and functional medicine techniques.
From what we learned, this combination makes her good at tackling not just the mental side of stress but the physical side too.
She personally oversees all her sessions. With over 23 years of experience, including 11 in the NHS, she brings a calm and supportive presence.
People who attend her retreats or courses often feel the space is welcoming and transformative.
We also appreciate that she offers a free 15-minute initial consultation. It makes it easy for anyone to see if her approach is the right fit without committing straight away.
However, her holistic and spiritual focus—ranging from Akashic Records guidance to soulful coaching—may not resonate with everyone.
It’s not the best fit for people seeking strictly traditional, evidence-based therapy.
An amazing, life-changing experience with Dr K!
“An amazing, life-changing experience with Dr K! I started my sessions earlier this year at the height of my anxiety and sadness. Dr K has such a calming manner and was able to provide such insightful, positive perspectives on my situation. She also taught me personalised methods of controlling my anxiety, but also how to maintain a calm state in daily life. What I find the most special about Dr K’s approach is how holistic her care is; our sessions also focused on how to optimise my physical health through nutritional changes and this has had a profound impact on my mental health too. I would thoroughly recommend working with Dr K- she’s amazing!”
Liz Wilson, Google review
If you feel called to working with Kamila, trust your instincts!
“Kamila is an incredible therapist and a wonderful facilitator. She has such a soothing, calming presence that as soon as you enter her space you’ll take a deep sigh of relief. I’ve been to her silent retreats and even had an Akashic records reading, and her intuitive way of working is just phenomenal. You’ll feel magical when you step out of the room. Her breadth of knowledge and experience means she’ll be able to handle whatever you bring to her. If you feel called to working with Kamila, trust your instincts! You won’t regret it!”
Becki Sams, Google review
3. Kaleidoscope Psychology and Psychotherapy
Address: Sunny Bank Mills, 10 Sandsgate, 83-85 Town St
Phone: +44 113-328-0120
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: Closed
Kaleidoscope Psychology and Psychotherapy is led by Dr Paul Walton. He has over 17 years of experience across the NHS, charity, and private sector.
His practice approaches emotional struggles as normal responses to life rather than problems to “fix.”
That mindset carries through all their services, from individual therapy to work with families and children.
They’re especially strong with relationship issues, family conflicts, and child behavioural challenges. They also support ADHD, parenting challenges, and developmental concerns.
Their approach is very tailored. They use techniques like systemic family therapy, CBT, ACT, and more.
They even offer free initial 15–30 minute phone consultations. It’s longer than what most other services provide for free.
The main downside is cost. At £95–£110 per 50-minute session, it’s pricier than NHS or lower-cost community options. It could make ongoing therapy harder for some families, especially if multiple members need support.
I am grateful for their help
“Was needing some help with a bereavement and work stress and therapy helped much more than I expected. Great value can be found in the professional, kind and understanding reception I got. Therapy helped me unblock myself from grief and move on. It helped me untangle the yarn of the many work issues and view my situation from another point of view. I gained greater understanding of my ways and I was able to express my mind visually many times. To make sense of things that don’t make sense. I was able to be honest with myself and about the situations I had to deal with. I am grateful for the help and I can now continue with life in a more hopeful way. Thank you very much. For those seeking this kind of help I would definitely recommend this service.”
Nikos Vasileiadis, Google review
Friendly and chatty while keeping a clear plan for my goals
“My experience of Kaleidoscope has been transformative. As someone who had never received therapy before, it exceeded everything I could’ve hoped to learn about myself and about the way I think and how this leads to behaviours. I had Marina and she was excellent, always extremely welcoming and chatty whilst also having a clear plan to achieve what I wanted to achieve with my sessions. Thank you!”
Esther, Google review
4. Counselling/Psychotherapy Service- Ursula
Address: 562 Scott Hall Rd, Chapel Allerton
Phone: +44 113-519-0006
Business hours:
- Monday: 8 AM – 5 PM
- Tuesday: 8 AM – 7 PM
- Wednesday to Thursday: 8 AM – 5 PM
- Friday: 8 AM – 7 PM
- Saturday: 9 AM – 5 PM
- Sunday: Closed
Ursula Balikowaska-Nori works with adults, children, and couples. We loved that she covers everything from play therapy and parental support to autism assessments, stress management, and family conflicts.
Her approach isn’t rigid. She blends CBT with humanistic, psychodynamic, and relational methods. She usually adapts them depending on what each client needs.
From what our research found, she’s strong with children and families. She seems to have a knack for helping kids navigate anxiety, emotional struggles, or even speech difficulties.
We also loved that she works closely with parents to make sure progress carries over at home.
A lot of her clients we spoke with were neurodiverse, so that spoke a lot. Her sessions can even run in both English and Polish, which makes her more accessible.
We just wish her pricing could be more transparent. It’s not listed online, so people who want upfront costs might find it frustrating.
I truly appreciate her insight, her kindness, and the way she listened
“I wanted to thank you sincerely for your support. From the very first sessions, you immediately understood my daughter’s neurodiversity, and that made such a difference for us. I truly appreciate your insight, your kindness, and the way you listened. I would highly recommend you to any family looking for thoughtful and compassionate care.”
Sara Dijda, Google review
We feel more hopeful and connected moving forward
“We are truly grateful for the support and guidance we’ve received through our sessions. Your ability to create a safe, nonjudgmental space has helped us open up and communicate more honestly and effectively. You’ve offered thoughtful insights and practical tools that we’ve started to apply in our daily lives, and we already see positive changes in our relationship. Thank you for your professionalism, empathy, and the care you put into each session. We feel more hopeful and connected moving forward.”
Sabina, Google review
5. Dr Lucy Rigley
Contact: [email protected]
Business hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday to Wednesday: 9 AM – 5 PM
- Thursday: 9 AM – 1 PM
- Friday to Sunday: Closed
Dr Lucy Rigley is a skilled psychologist, especially when it comes to kids, families, and neurodiversity.
She has over 10 years of experience across the NHS and private practice. It shows in how she handles assessments and therapy for autism, ADHD, trauma, and maternal mental health.
People noticed that she picks up on things others might miss. She gives clear and thoughtful insights that make sense in context.
She blends different evidence-based therapies like ACT, compassion-focused therapy (CFT), and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR).
With these, she can tailor her approach to the person rather than doing the same thing for everyone.
That said, we noticed that she’s only available four days a week. It can be difficult to catch her for those with busy schedules.
However, her free initial chat and online options make up for it.
Dr Lucy is a passionate and professional person
“Dr Lucy is a passionate and professional person. From start to finish our experience has been efficient calm and helpful. I dont often give 5 stars however I cannot think of a reason not to.”
Katherine Naisbitt, Google review
I would definitely recommend her to anyone
“I was really impressed with the service I received from Dr Lucy. I would recommend her to anyone seeking a cognitive assessment for their child.”
Sarah Murphy, Google review