Berenice is a wonderful therapist who is genuine in her compassion, and a total professional who can help you move through feelings with a depth of knowledge on her technical practice whilst handling emotions carefully.
The Awareness Centre
The Awareness Centre (TAC) is one of London’s leading providers of in-person counselling, psychotherapy, and psychosexual and relationship therapy. 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, 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.
When my partner and I hit a bumpy patch due to the pressures of life, we found ourselves struggling to communicate and truly listen to one another. I realised we needed a helping hand, but not just anyone. We wanted someone who genuinely cared, rather than simply following a set process. After reading many therapist biographies, Joy’s really stood out to me, so we took a leap of faith and booked an appointment.
From the very first session, Joy was warm, engaging, and deeply attuned to both of our personalities. She created a safe space where we each felt heard, giving us the time to express our feelings while gently helping us understand each other’s perspectives. The thoughtful “homework” she gave us also helped us recognise and change some ingrained habits.
We genuinely enjoyed the process, and now that our sessions have ended, we both find ourselves missing Joy. We were so impressed that we recommended her to my partner’s sister, who also found her session hugely beneficial. We would wholeheartedly recommend Joy to anyone seeking relationship support.
I have found my experience with my therapist at The Awareness Centre very helpful and valuable. Berenice is very warm and engaging and has taught me lots of helpful techniques around managing and easing an anxious attachment style, forming healthier habits, communicating effectively, boosting confidence and self-esteem, and navigating big life changes. I had put off attending therapy for a long time but I’m very glad I took the plunge and booked some sessions as it’s been invaluable.
This was my first experience of therapy and Sara-Jane was absolutely fantastic. She’s helped me develop a clearer understanding of my emotions which has equipped me to be able to experience and manage them more effectively. With Sara-Jane’s support I’m confident that I’ve now developed the tools to take on any future challenges without letting them take over me. I feel 10 times better than I did at the beginning of my therapy.
I cannot thank Lara for the counselling services she provided. I was dealing with relationship issues and life decisions and she enabled me to understand why everything links back to knowing and understanding your values. In a period of 4 months she helped me understand myself, my emotions and thoughts which in turn improved my relationships. Thank you!
Due to my life circumstances I knew I would only be able to have a very short course of therapy – I am so glad I was matched with Jill; I gained an outsized amount of new insight in our sessions. I found Jill to be very warm in her style and I felt comfortable opening up to her from the outset – she was an incredibly supportive listener as I wept through her box of tissues in our first session! I also particularly appreciated that in our sessions she went beyond just listening to an extent that not all therapists I have seen in the past have done – Jill asked specific follow-up questions to get me to explore and drill down into deeper layers of self-awareness – and she offered challenge, and, when appropriate, her own wise opinion, which I found really beneficial. I finished the sessions with a feeling of having shored up my resilience for approaching life-changes, and with some new behavioral / mindset interventions to put into practice to enhance my experience of day-to-day life. I would definitely recommend Jill as a therapist.
I was referred to The Awareness Centre via the NHS and worked with Tom during my 12 weeks. At first I was initially a bit hesitant on what therapy would entail, but straight away Tom made me feel comfortable and we developed a strong trust during our time. Tom leads his sessions with grace and a strong emotional intention by asking the right questions and getting you to explore connections between your past and present actions. Since our sessions I can already see a difference in building self confidence and self esteem. I encourage anyone who is curious about counselling and wants to prioritise their mental health to work with Tom!
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.
Eleanor is a fantastic therapist and is continuing to help me work through my issues. I find our sessions very helpful and can already see a significant shift in how I feel about myself/the world at large. I would strongly recommend Eleanor as a therapist. I find her approach very soothing and comforting. She helps me regain a sense of perspective when I feel overwhelmed
Feeling anxious after a breakup and massive dissatisfaction with my job, uncertain as to how I could build a future, I turned to Stuart for guidance. Our weekly sessions helped me become clearer about my thoughts and feelings. Stuart is supportive, genuine, and knowledgeable, and quickly put me at ease. The sessions provided a safe, non-judgemental environment, where I felt comfortable talking about difficult problems. It was an often challenging, but ultimately extremely rewarding experience, which I’d absolutely recommend to others considering support.
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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.
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