There was never any pressure to talk. It always felt right, easy, and (most importantly) I felt listened to. I’ve found my sessions so useful and counselling has had a very positive impact on my life.
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.
I started talking to Matthew during a very stressful period of my life and found our conversations really positive and helpful in a variety of ways – without them, I would have found things a lot more difficult. He was really easy to talk to in an honest way without any worry of judgement. Since finishing our meetings I still see the positive impact through an improvement in managing my stress and recalling advice when it comes to judging myself and emotional responses in a less harsh, and more understanding way. I would reccommend Matthew and the Awareness Centre as a whole to anyone who was seeking therapy.
I started to visit Riana on a weekly basis at a very low point – and when I had run out of tools to help myself independently. Almost two year later, and Riana has helped me navigate some massive changes in my life, such as a new job, mending rifts with family and friends, and embarking on a new relationship – each change coming with its own unique challenges, and learning a lot about myself in the process. Riana met my issues with patience and wisdom and allowed me to find inner strength by being a source of stability for me when I felt life was turned upside down. I thoroughly recommend Riana and The Awareness Centre – thank you!
I started therapy to help with anxiety, worrying, and catastophising as it could dominate my thoughts, which was both exhausting and could prevent me doing things.
It was helpful to have a safe space to say how I was feeling and how my brain would think about things to someone and have that support of someone who would listen without judgement. Being able to discuss things in therapy has helped me look at issues more rationally and help me think of other possible outcomes to situations I worry about and to take action.
Dealing with anxiety hasn’t been a smooth journey and I have some way to go, but I feel I have become better at managing negative thinking and now have more techniques to fall back on when things are hard.
Although I have been taking therapy with Berenice Mumbru only for several weeks, she has been extremely useful in terms of providing actionable solutions to my needs and even going above and beyond what I would expect from a counsellor. She is resourceful, accommodating and insightful and I would highly recommend her as a therapist.
I attended Shirley, to treat me for PTSD, which I had for 2 years. It had gotten to crisis point. The guidance and help I received from Shirley was exceptional. Shirley introduced me to EMDR, which worked incredibly well for me. She guided me through each step and checked in with me at all times. I was amazed at how quickly I came to terms with the trauma that brought me to be treated by Shirley. I am continuing with good mental health, and am very grateful for Shirley’s expertise and professional skills. I have had therapy sporadically over a long period of time and would rate Shirley as being one of the best. I would highly recommend her therapeutic skills and knowledge.
When I first started therapy, I was struggling with body image, low confidence, and depression. I spoke to myself so negatively and felt completely stuck. Working with my therapist has truly changed my life. I’ve learned to be kinder to myself, my confidence has grown so much, and I no longer carry the same heavy, negative thoughts. I feel lighter, happier, and finally at peace with who I am.
I have started therapy following a difficult moment in life, where both work and personal relationships were not going well. I was struggling. Valeria has been very supportive, she is a sensitive and competent professional. I completely trust her abilities to sustain my recovery and support me to achieve my goals.
Holly was very warm right from the start and I felt I could be completely honest with the thoughts and feelings I had through a very challenging period of changes in my family life. Our weekly sessions gave me an opportunity to take stock of what was happening, acknowledge the pace of change and how I was responding. In fact, I returned to Holly a while later when circumstances became more challenging again as I knew how beneficial it was to have that regular time and space to reflect and clarify my thoughts.
I have been working with Tom for the last 6 months. From the outset he was warm kind and compassionate, listening intently to me describe my emotions, feelings and behaviours. This created a safe space where I feel completely accepted and respected, enabling me to be honest and open in I way I never have been before. Over the this time, our way of working together has developed and I have gained greater clarity and confidence from it. I feel more empowered to say how I feel and ask for what I want to those I love and who love me. Tom is a fantastic therapist and incredible person. Thank you!
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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