The Awareness Centre
Therapy Services and Counselling Training for London
The Awareness Centre (TAC) is one of London’s leading providers of in-person counselling, psychotherapy and psychology. We also offer online appointments. We offer a warm and welcoming environment for clients seeking support for their mental health. With over 250 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 delivers a complete professional journey with counselling courses from Foundation to our BACP Accredited Diploma, equivalent to Levels 3 – 5. We also offer Clinical Supervision Training, empowering qualified counsellors and therapists to expand their skills and enhance their practice. Call us on 020 3051 8235 or email [email protected].
Private Counselling & Psychotherapy Service
Therapists practicing in our private therapy service are qualified and experienced counsellors, psychotherapists or psychologists 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, psychotherapists and psychologists are all either registered or accredited with one or more of the following professional bodies.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
We Are Here For You
Busy schedule?
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.
Need help choosing the right therapy for you?
Our 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.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
Take the first step and book your counselling appointment today. We do not have a waiting list.
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.
Visit Michaela McCarthy’s Private Practice in Wimpole Street
Michaela is the founder and CEO of The Awareness Centre and runs her practice from Wimpole Street in Marylebone. She is an experienced BACP Senior Accredited Counsellor, Psychotherapist, and registered COSRT Psychosexual & Relationship Therapist with over 25 years of experience working with individuals and couples on a range of issues.
NHS Counselling Service
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.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
Take the first step and book your counselling appointment today. We do not have a waiting list.
Managing Anxiety with Counselling
More than three million people in the UK have anxiety, and TAC’s therapists are working hard to help as many people as possible to manage their anxiety better.
Having anxiety can impact your health, happiness and day-to-day life. You may feel fearful, overwhelmed or isolated. The good news is that there are some simple steps you can take to start feeling better right now. Watch the video below to learn more about treating anxiety, or get in touch with our team for more information.
I found my time at The Awareness Centre quite revealing and so helpful in the long run. Philippa was so approachable, understanding and I felt a shift in my behaviour very quickly within a number of sessions. Where I have previously failed to make improvements or facilitate change with various different counsellors, I immediately felt able to express myself and voice my honest concerns. The environment was friendly and accessible, where before I’ve often found talking about problems clinical or forced. I’m really grateful for the sessions and the way they have enabled me to cope better with my issues, in particular anxiety.
SARAH, SW17
Talking Therapy Blog
Take a look at some of our recent blog posts, covering topics from relationships and intimacy to anxiety and depression.
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.
You can either book an appointment online or you can call us on 020 8673 4545.
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.
The therapeutic relationship you create with your therapist is one of the most important processes of therapy. Below are the 3 main types of therapy along with a short overview:
- Counselling offers a safe and confidential space where a counsellor can help you explore your issues with warmth, empathy, acceptance, and respect. Counselling is not about giving advice or telling you what to do. Counsellors do not have an agenda or a roadmap for your life. Counselling is about listening to you without judgement, enabling you to explore your thoughts and feelings, and helping you access resources within.
- Psychotherapy is longer-term, open-ended therapy that allows you the time and space to delve deeper into the issues affecting your life. It can help you identify unhelpful patterns and behaviours that often have roots in childhood, and it can help you work towards healing your deepest wounds.
- Psychology is the science of the mind and behaviour. Clinical psychologists will diagnose and treat psychological and mental health issues, and counselling psychologists will integrate the emotional and therapeutic aspects of psychology into their sessions with you.
Whatever your concern, our experienced team at TAC will help you discover the type of therapy that’s right for you. We’ll also be sure to keep in mind your schedule, budget, and aspirations, making therapy as stress-free and as rewarding as possible.
If you cannot make a session, you will need to contact your therapist directly and inform them as soon as possible. Therapists will have different terms and conditions in regards to their practice, and for missed sessions or cancellations there is often a charge. You will be provided with this information before you start your therapy sessions.
I have previously worked with a few different counsellors at various stages in my life and Emma is the counsellor that I have worked with most consistently. I feel comfortable and supported and we have discussed realistic options for what the sessions will achieve. Emma is compassionate and insightful. Moreover, I appreciate the different approaches she incorporates into our sessions, whether it be Mindfulness-based techniques or ACT. My experience in the sessions with Emma has been evolving based on the use of different approaches and she helps me feel confident in challenging my perspectives and opening out how I think about some things in my life.
N.T, SE21