Ms Akhtar has been very helpful, understanding and emphathic. Always gives the time to listen and guide me through any issues I may be facing.
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.
Working with Shirley was truly transformational. From the very first session, she was warm, kind and welcoming. I always felt supported and genuinely cared for throughout my journey, and it made such a difference knowing I was in safe, compassionate hands. Her sincerity and empathy helped foster a strong therapeutic relationship where I felt comfortable enough to open up and work through difficult issues from my childhood. I genuinely looked forward to our sessions, and I’m so grateful for the progress I made with her support. I can’t thank her enough and would highly recommend her to anyone considering EMDR!
Nick is a kind, thoughtful, sympathetic, empathetic, humane, experienced and engaged therapist. After we’d talked for some months, he had a crucial insight into my issues which no one had had, and then suggested a course of action which changed my life.I’m forever indebted to Nick for his help and support, and to The Awareness Centre for bringing us together and giving us a perfect place to talk.
Had a good experience with The Awareness Centre when my son did some counselling with Magda Florek in preparation for secondary school. Her approach through art worked really well with our son, who is on the quiet side, and she had some practical advice and reassuring commentary at the end of our round of sessions.
Sinthia is a professional and phenomenal therapist and really listens and makes sense of my sessions by adding and hi-lighting things I may have not thought of… she has honestly helped me through a very rough patch of my life and without her, it would have been harder as I was in a very low place. She has given and shown me my inner courage and is still helping me through it.
I was looking for a therapist to help me following a trauma. I wasn’t able to eat or sleep and had worry and anxiety. I had lost a significant amount of weight and was continuing to do so, that had begun worrying me further. After several months I wasn’t feeling any better. When I contacted Nick I knew instantly during a free introductory phone call that Nick was someone I could talk to. He made me feel comfortable and safe. Although we could not schedule appointments immediately due to my commitments and his availability I eventually opted to conduct our sessions via what’s app and that worked. I finally had the help I needed. I wish I had opted for that sooner. Nick really listened and with patience. He was skilfully alert to what might help me. He gave me small amounts of food for thought that I could digest and contemplate. He was also solution focused where I couldn’t be, and that enabled me to have a breakthrough and take action that set me free me from my merry-go-round . After that I immediately started to regain my weight and I’m back to normal – perhaps actually in better physical shape. He identified what was holding me back and gave me that incentive to make that shift. Things are so much better for me now. I’ll be forever grateful. I’ve had other counselling therapy and there’s just no comparison. I can’t recommend Nick highly enough.
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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