Lidia was really helpful with such a complex matter during my time with her. She really quickly came to conclusions on what and how I should see things. She also guided me in the right direction. Highly recommend.
The Awareness Centre
The Awareness Centre (TAC) is one of London’s leading providers of in-person counselling, psychotherapy, and psychosexual and relationship therapy. Our services are BACP accredited. We also offer online appointments. We offer a warm and welcoming environment for clients seeking support for their mental health. With over 300 therapists specialising in a wide range of issues in more than 20 languages, we provide confidential therapy services tailored to adults, adolescents, and children. Whether you are looking for individual counselling or family or couples therapy, we’re here to help you find the right therapist for you – you do not need a GP referral. Call our team on 020 8673 4545 or book an appointment online.
Our Training School offers a complete professional journey from Foundation level through to our BACP Accredited Diploma in Counselling, equivalent to Levels 3–5. Our Diploma includes an in-house counselling placement, where you’ll gain meaningful experience working with real clients in a safe, supervised environment. You’ll build your skills, deepen your confidence, and graduate ready to practise. We also offer Clinical Supervision Training, empowering qualified counsellors and therapists to expand their expertise and enhance their practice. Call us on 020 3051 8235 or email [email protected].
Our Therapy Services
Therapists practicing in our private therapy service are qualified and experienced counsellors and psychotherapists and are registered or accredited. They work in person and online and are specialists in working with many issues.
We also have a team of therapists coming to the end of their training and working towards full qualification and registration who offer low-cost therapy from our Clapham & Tooting centres.
You do not need a GP referral to see a private therapist, unless you are using your private healthcare insurance. We work with adults, children, and adolescents and we have no waiting list for our services. Book an appointment online or call our reception team today on 020 8673 4545 to be referred to see a therapist at a time that works for you.
Our qualified private counsellors and psychotherapists are all either registered or accredited with one or more of the following professional bodies.
We met with Nick for a few sessions during a very testing time in our 15-year marriage. Nick provided a safe space for us to talk and he enabled each of our voices to be heard. Nick was calm, patient and thoughtful, allowing us time to process what was going on which resulted in us finding a way forward together.
Working with Jackie has been an incredibly positive experiences I’ve had for my mental and emotional wellbeing. From our very first session, she created a safe, welcoming space where I felt genuinely heard and understood. Her compassionate approach, combined with thoughtful questions and practical tools, helped me gain clarity and confidence in navigating challenges that had put me in a very difficult place.
I never felt judged – only supported. Over the past few months, I’ve noticed real improvements in how I communicate and importantly care for myself. I’m truly grateful for the guidance and professionalism from Jackie. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a therapist who is skilled, kind, and deeply committed to their job.
I met with Matt, weekly, over the course of a year and we worked through relationship difficulties, family struggles and personal battles of mine. Through open conversation, Matt offered tools and skills to help me understand myself and look at my patterns of behaviour. Almost a year out of therapy I feel I know myself better and continue to draw on these tools.
Dilnia is an incredible therapist and I couldn’t recommend working with her enough. She is highly skilled, empathetic and creates a safe, trusting, non-judgemental space which supports her clients. She is not afraid to challenge you when needed and encourages you to step out of your comfort zone. The work we have done together has truly changed my life.
Marina is a wonderful and caring therapist. She always listens attentively, and has given me so many valuable and encouraging insights to help me let go, develop and feel empowered. She has helped me to connect more with my feelings and express them, as well as make sense of my experiences and how they relate to the present.
I began seeing Sylvia about 2 months ago. From the first session, Sylvia made me feel heard and understood. The environment made me feel extremely safe and very relaxed. I was able to open up to her in a way I’ve never done before and she really helped me put all the pieces back together with regards to my past anxieties. She really took the time to listen to me about past family issues and other personal issues and made me understand myself more. I have truly gained so much more confidence in myself and understand why I was the way I was and she has helped me to use my voice in such a positive way. I would highly recommend Sylvia because she really dedicates her time to listen and is so supportive. Working with Sylvia was one of the best decisions I have made.
My experience with The Awareness Centre, and with my therapist in particular has had a transformatively positive impact on my life. I was provided with the professional and confidential help that I needed to allow me to deal with past issues and grow from them, I believe this will stay with me as I finish my course of therapy and have a great benefit going forward.
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Low-Cost Counselling & Psychotherapy Service at The Awareness Centre
We believe in making therapy accessible to everyone. We offer affordable therapy at our Clapham and Tooting centres, with therapists coming to the end of their training at our training school or with our external training providers. Our trainee counsellors and psychotherapists are carefully selected and develop their clinical experience with The Awareness Centre, while working towards full qualification and registration.
Whether you need short or long-term support, our trainee counsellors and psychotherapists are here for you. They offer confidential, affordable support seven days a week. Book an appointment online or call our reception team today to be referred to see a therapist at a time that works for you.
We Are Here For You
The Awareness Centre is open seven days a week, with early appointments from 7am and the latest sessions at 9pm. Book an appointment online at a time that works for you, or call us on 020 8673 4545.
Our clinical reception team is always on hand to assist you in deciding what type of therapy is right for you. We’ll talk to you about what you’re experiencing and help you take the right step forward.
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Introducing A Bunch of Therapists – a new podcast opening the door to real conversations from inside the therapy room.
Ever wondered what makes therapists… therapists? Step into a world where mental health professionals become the storytellers, sharing their own raw, unfiltered journeys and insights. Join hosts Michaela McCarthy and Dipti Solanki as they flip the script, turning candid conversations with fellow therapists into powerful revelations about the human experience – from both sides of the couch.
Whether you’re in therapy, considering it, or simply curious about how it works, this podcast offers real insight into the therapeutic journey – what it feels like, why it matters, and how it can change lives.
New episodes every Thursday.
We provide short-term NHS Talking Therapies in Lambeth, Sutton and Wandsworth. Our counsellors and psychotherapists are either in training or have qualified in many approaches to therapy. We offer face-to-face or online sessions. You can self-refer or be referred by your GP. All NHS clients must be 18+.
The NHS will triage you for this counselling service by phone. Therapists work with clients who want to explore their symptoms of anxiety and depression.
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Take the first step and book your counselling appointment today. We do not have a waiting list.
FAQs
The first step in starting counselling is to find a therapist you can work with. If you’d like to make a start, check out our team of therapists to see which have the experience and expertise for the issues you’re bringing to therapy.
If you’d like more guidance in deciding on the specific mental health services or professionals that are right for you, please call our team on 020 8673 4545 and they will point you in the right direction.
If you are seeking private therapy or low cost counselling , you can self-refer and call us on on 020 8673 4545 or book an appointment online. However, you do need to be registered with a GP to use the low cost service. If you are using your private healthcare insurance to pay for your therapy, you will need a GP referral. For our NHS counselling service, you can either self-refer or be referred by your GP.
Once you’re booked in for an appointment, your therapist will call to confirm day and time, check any details, and to answer any practical questions you might have. Your counsellor won’t be able to provide a therapy session on the phone before you start. You’ll be able to talk about your issues during your first full session.
We don’t offer interpreters for our low-cost and private counselling services; however, our multilingual therapists offer counselling in over 20 languages.
Our Diploma in Integrative Counselling was accredited by BACP in May 2024. BACP do not accredit Foundation Certificate or Supervision courses. However, our courses are created according to BACP guidelines and the competence framework for supervision.
We welcome students with no formal qualifications or previous experience to join our Foundation Certificate In Counselling. To join our Diploma in Integrative Counselling you will need the TAC Foundation Certificate in Counselling, or equivalent qualification from another training provider. For the Diploma in Clinical Supervision, you need to be a qualified counsellor, psychotherapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist. Please see the individual course pages for more detail about enrolment requirements.
Our courses are not currently eligible for student finance. However, we do offer a direct debit monthly payment system to support your monthly budget