The Awareness Centre
The Awareness Centre (TAC) is one of London’s leading providers of in-person and online counselling, psychotherapy, and psychosexual and relationship therapy. Our services are BACP accredited. 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 Certificate level through to our BACP Accredited Diploma in Counselling, equivalent to Levels 3–5. With our Diploma, there is an opportunity for 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 a Diploma in Clinical Supervision, empowering qualified counsellors and therapists to expand their expertise and enhance their practice. During the course, trainee supervisiors have access to an in-house supervision placement to support them in building valuable experience with supervisees. Call us on 020 3051 8235 or email training@theawarenesscentre.com.
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.
Trainee counsellors and psychotherapists can access therapy with one of our qualified therapists at a reduced fee while completing their professional training.
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 and online.
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 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 Psychosexual & Relationship therapists are all either registered or accredited with one or more of the following professional bodies.
Last year, I went through some traumatic events and was recommended EMDR therapy. Shirley’s professionalism and guidance not only helped me process these experiences but also uncovered some underlying conflicts that had been weighing on me subconsciously. I am very grateful to Shirley and wholeheartedly recommend her services.
Philippa is amazing – it’s hard to put into words how much she has changed my life and how highly I think of her and her work. She provides a safe space for her clients with no judgement and has a unique way of helping you get to the answer and working out the best way forward. I wish I had found her years ago.
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.
My sessions with Ann have become an invaluable tool in helping me understand myself and how I feel about the events that are taking place within and around my life. I look forward to unpacking the thoughts, feelings and events of a given week in her session, knowing that I will leave with a clearer contextualisation for them and their interconnectedness. Ann creates a space where you feel comfortable to take the time to articulate what you’re going through, giving room for you to reach answers for yourself but also she knows when to prod and unpack things more deeply. I also appreciate how well she remembers the events and relationships in my life, rarely do I have to repeat things we’ve covered which helps maintain my train of thought and allows the most to be gained from each session. Importantly, I feel safe in her room to share that which is most private in my life. In my time working with her I have learnt more about myself, my motivations and the root of certain patterns of behaviour.
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!
I couldn’t recommend Elizabeth or The Awareness Centre more. I rang in the summer of 2024 looking for help, and the reception team were quick to help me find Elizabeth based on availability/what I was looking for. Elizabeth is fantastic, and has created a judgement free, safe zone for the past 6 months of sessions. She’s taught me to speak kindly to myself and so much more, and her help has been life changing. I feel really equipped to take on my anxiety and things that life may throw my way because of the toolkit Elizabeth has helped me create – I can’t thank her enough.
My experience with Shirley at The Awareness Centre was a very positive one. Shirley was an amazing therapist, she helped me confront lots of things within myself at a slow and manageable pace. Every therapy session felt as though it was completely in my control as Shirley seemed to follow a client lead approach. I was very impressed with the therapy I received and it has definitely helped me an awful lot. I would recommend Shirley as a therapist to everyone.
I’m so grateful to have found Laura. She has such a warm, human approach that makes it easy to open up and work through challenges. Feeling heard and supported is really important to me, and she creates a space where I feel completely safe and understood. Her guidance has already made such a difference in my life, and I’m excited to continue this journey with her. I truly appreciate her care and expertise and would recommend her to anyone looking for a compassionate and effective therapist.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
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 and online, 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 from Monday to Saturday. Book an appointment online or call our 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 Monday- Saturday, 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 team is 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
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.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
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