Michaela McCarthy MBACP | Counsellor & Psychotherapist

“I believe that somewhere inside us all we know what we need and how to get it. We all possess an inner life force, urging us to develop and grow. To be alive is to move and change, it is an ongoing process.” Michaela McCarthy

Michaela McCarthy is the Managing Director of The Awareness Centre. She is a qualified Counsellor, Psychotherapist, Psychosexual and Relationship Therapist, Addictions Specialist, Trainer and Clinical Supervisor.

She is MBACP Snr. Accred. (British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists), FDAP Accredited (Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals) and UKRCP Registered (United Kingdom Register of Counsellors & Psychotherapists).

Michaela is a Member of COSRT (College of Sex and Relationship Therapy), an Associate Member of the Royal Society of Medicine, a Member of the British Associate of Sexual Educators, a Member of AHPP Association for Humanistic Psychology.

Michaela was born in the UK and her heritage is second generation Irish. Before training as a therapist she worked extensively in business and describes herself as an entrepreneur who enjoys the challenge of corporate enterprise. Michaela also has a real passion for comedy and hopes to embark on a journey of comedy writing when the time feels right.

About 18 years ago Michaela found herself unsatisfied with life and realised that she had somehow lost her direction and passion. Her response was to enter therapy to explore her issues and embark upon a journey of self discovery. As her values, feelings and frame of reference slowly changed she became more interested in therapeutic work and enrolled on a course to train in counselling and psychotherapy.

'I’ve been seeing Michaela for over a year and my interactions with her and the process of therapy has helped me immensely. I was blown away by the positive and profound effects from the very first session – it was as if a light had been turned on and suddenly I could see everything so much more clearly. While the Awareness Centre came highly recommended, this was my first experience with therapy and I really wasn’t expecting such a constructive and life-changing effect. I would recommend Michaela wholeheartedly to anyone and my weekly sessions are a real highlight – a bit like a tune-up that sets me up for the week.' Kylie, London

Michaela is a registered provider of all Healthcare Insurance companies including Aviva, AXA PPP, BUPA, Cigna, Pru Health, Simply Health and WPA.

To use your private medical healthcare, you will need a referral from your GP. If you require a psychiatric assessment and medication management then please contact Roger Howells.

Michaela McCarthy and Kelly Garrett have developed the clinical services at The Awareness Centre and both work in private practice. However if Michaela and/or Kelly’s private practice is full then they can refer you to see one of the therapists who work in private practice at The Awareness Centre.

We also have a Low Cost Counselling Service at The Awareness Centre. Fee structure £30 - £45 or £10 - £15 for people in receipt of benefits, registered disabled, students, receiving working tax credit or state pension. TAC is also a private healthcare provider for BUPA, AXA PPP, Aviva, Pru Health, Cigna, Simply Health and WPA.

Training

Michaela trained as a Counsellor and Psychotherapist at The School of Counselling and Psychotherapy at The Whittington Hospital, as a Clinical Supervisor at CPPD School of Counselling and as a Psychosexual and Relationship Therapist at Regents College. During her extensive clinical training she completed many courses on working with addiction, couples, sexual abuse and CBT.

Michaela is an integrative practitioner which means that she has combined many theories of thought and has found her own style of working as a therapist. Her training has been in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Existentialism, Gestalt, Object Relations, Person Centred, Psychodynamic and Transactional Analysis. Michaela’s current interest is in Early Attachments, Object Relations as well as a psychoanalytic approach to therapy.

Above all, she believes that the most important part of therapy is the relationship between client and therapist and that this relational process enables developmental growth and change.

Work

Michaela has worked extensively within the private, voluntary and NHS sector. She has worked in private practice with individuals and couples in Harley Street and Clapham and has run many therapy and training groups over the years with different colleagues as well as managing counselling services throughout London.

One of those counselling services is Faces in Focus, an organisation that works with young people between the ages of 13 and 25. She developed both the individual and group supervision structure within the organisation to clinically support the counsellors and psychotherapists as well as running workshops and courses to support staff members. Michaela has also managed a twelve-step treatment day programme and worked alongside care managers from many local authorities throughout London who support clients with drug and alcohol problems.

Eight years ago Michaela set up The Awareness Centre - the realisation of her desire to create an organisation which would incorporate most of her personal and professional experiences. Her vision is to share her knowledge and make it accessible to all who want to embark on a journey of self discovery and change. With the support of a very experienced and robust team Michaela has been able to develop each department within The Awareness Centre to a very high standard who carefully nurture the development of each department and clinic. Michaela believes in the clinical, medical and complementary approaches of health to support an individual's wellbeing.

Michaela works in private practice with individuals, couples and groups in Clapham, South London and will see clients/patients who will benefit from the following support; Counselling and Psychotherapy, Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy and Addiction Aftercare. Michaela also provides Clinical Supervision for therapists.

Counselling and Psychotherapy

Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy

Initially Michaela meets clients for an assessment and if both agree to work together then she will offer the client a further 5 sessions. After the initial 6 sessions, there is a discussion to review the process of the work and to decide if therapy will continue into longer-term work. Michaela tends to specialise more in longer-term therapy however only tends to work up to one year with couples. Michaela also works more than once a week with clients/patients and will offer up to three sessions per week.

Addiction Aftercare Therapy
Michaela offers aftercare to clients who have completed a twelve step residential or day treatment programme either within the UK or overseas. During these sessions clients will work on relapse prevention, twelve steps, relationships, family, inner child issues and structured goals. Clients will be encouraged to attend at least three twelve step meetings per week which will also support their recovery.

Michaela also works with dual diagnosis and will refer clients to see a psychiatrist for assessment and medication management. In addition Michaela works with clients who have been in recovery for some time and who wants to explore deeper issues.

Private Health Care
Michaela is a registered provider of all Healthcare Insurance companies including Aviva, AXA PPP, BUPA, Cigna, Pru Health, Simply Health and WPA. Michaela also offers sessions via Skype. However, should Michaela’s private practice be full, Michaela will refer you to see one of the therapists who work in private practice at The Awareness Centre.

Clinical Working Hours

Clapham - 36 Broadhinton Road, London SW4 0LT
Tuesday	7am -12pm
Thursday	7am - 1pm
Friday	7am - 2pm

Forthcoming CPD Seminars:

How To Get More Clients And Develop Your Private Practice, Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th October 2013, 10am - 5pm

Fees

Therapy
Individuals and couples, 50 minute session - £90

Private Health Care
£130

Clinical Supervision
£90

Training
Daily rate £700

Workshops
Fees variable

The Awareness Centre also offers an NHS Counselling Service in Lambeth, a Low Cost Counselling and Psychotherapy Service. Fee structure £30-£45 or £10-£15. For further details, please click here

Contracts

To download the Client Contract please click here

To download the Supervision Contract please click here

'When I first went to see Michaela I was in such a state of anxiety and depression that I needed to be carefully looked after otherwise I would have been sectioned, fact. If someone had told me that two years into therapy I would be engaged and doing what I love best, I would never have believed it. I think it is pretty clear how much I have benefited from therapy however therapy is not a quick fix. I have only managed to change because I wanted to.

I still suffer from anxiety occasionally but with Michaela's help I am able to manage it. So rather my anxiety lasting months and being so acute that I cannot leave my house, I have a few weeks of displeasure and am still able to function at drama school (which I never would have had the confidence to audition for let alone attend if I had not been through therapy).

I find it interesting that Michaela states she "believes that somewhere inside us all we know what we need and how to get it" and that is exactly what Michaela has done for me. She has enabled me to really establish who I am and what my goals are. She doesn't allow me to constantly deny myself and my feelings which lead me to implode and become acutely anxious.

I think everyone can benefit from therapy but it really depends on the therapist. For me Michaela is perfect and I hope to be seeing her for at least another ten years. All my illusions verified by silly films of therapists asking you "how does that make you feel?" could not be further from the truth with Michaela because she is straight talking, caring and for me, a life saver' Lydia