Debbie has been amazing at enabling me to talk through issues that I’ve never been able to talk openly about before. I’m so grateful for all her help so far.
The Awareness Centre
The Awareness Centre (TAC) is one of London’s leading providers of in-person counselling, psychotherapy, and psychosexual and relationship therapy. Our services are BACP accredited. 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 in Counselling, 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.
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.
Magda supported my 4yo son process his grief. She took the time to get to know me and the situation before the sessions began and made my son feel very comfortable during his time with her. She is very knowledgeable about working with children and made him feel at ease, enabling him to express himself through play.
Katy created a safe and supportive space where I felt completely comfortable opening up about my feelings without fear of judgment. Through her thoughtful guidance, I’ve gained a much deeper understanding of my emotions and behaviors, and I’ve learned how to set and clearly communicate my boundaries.
She approaches every conversation with genuine kindness and always made me feel truly seen and heard. My feelings and perspectives were consistently respected and valued. I’m incredibly grateful for the support she has given me and cannot recommend her highly enough.
With a no-nonsense approach, Nick helped me uproot the foundations of a life that was not going the way I wanted it to, and through care, patience and empathy, lay new ones that will help bring about a future I never thought was possible.
I know that there is still work to be done, but thanks to the time I spent with Nick I am now confident in my ability to do the right thing and have stopped waiting for life to just “happen”.
If you are in need of non-judgemental and honest help, Nick is the right man for the job. Thank you.
Having not considered myself a ‘therapy person’ I found it difficult to bring myself to even call up about booking an appointment. I chose a therapist out of a few names provided and honestly everything changed for me once I started my sessions. Lesley was my saving grace in what was probably the toughest year I’ve experience so far in my life; I was apprehensive to share, to admit I didn’t have everything under control or figured out but literally from 15 minutes into my first session all of those feelings melted away and I was able to work through these obstacles in a safe space with the most incredible guide I could have asked for. To describe Lesley’s sessions as life-changing is no exaggeration. I am forever grateful for having found her.
Matt was a patient listener as my therapist encouraging me to process the layers of my personal issues and core beliefs whilst intuitively weaving in thought provoking questions that empowered me to take better control of my life and distorted thinking.
Kind and compassionate I recommend him as a therapist.
I am so grateful to have found The Awareness Centre, it has helped through some tough times and the support of my counsellor has allowed me to regain confidence in myself and life. I would recommend if anyone feels they need to talk through anything, here is definitely the place to do so. Thank you.
These sessions have dramatically changed my outlook and questioned my perspectives on life. They have guided me to reconnect to a sense of purpose, to unpack all of the complexities I could not make sense of. Minoo has so eloquently supported me on a journey to unlock and give myself permission to process my grief. To look into those darker corners with strength and pride. To take on new opportunities by believing in myself again. I am so grateful that I was given this service, to support my mental health at such a rocky and devastating time. Thank you Minoo for all of your time, energy and awareness, I will forever hold onto the newfound reflections these sessions have provided for my current and future self.
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!
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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.
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