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 (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].

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.











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.
Nick created an environment which made me feel extremely comfortable to share things I’d previously found extremely difficult to talk about. He helped me figure out what may be causing the way I’m feeling and approached the problem in a way which resonated for me (logical and curious). Thank you Nick, you helped me enormously.
I found my time at The Awareness Centre quite revealing and so helpful in the long run. Philippa was so approachable, understanding and I felt a shift in my behaviour very quickly within a number of sessions. Where I have previously failed to make improvements or facilitate change with various different counsellors, I immediately felt able to express myself and voice my honest concerns. The environment was friendly and accessible, where before I’ve often found talking about problems clinical or forced. I’m really grateful for the sessions and the way they have enabled to cope better with my issues, in particular anxiety.
Ann supported me for over a year through a journey of grief after losing my father to cancer. I was feeling low and confused and she helped guide me through these feelings and learn to acknowledge and accept them in order to process them. Not only did she help open my eyes to how normal my feelings were but helped me navigate difficult relationships that I have with other family members. Talking about these feelings and opening up about some difficult memories from the past I have been able to improve my approach to these relationships. I can’t thank Ann enough for her patience and feel grateful for her guidance.
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!
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.
I started my therapy sessions with Jackie in June 2023 after going through a toxic breakup. Initially, I went to therapy to help me heal from my breakup, but I found that the more I was attending sessions, the more I realised I had a lot of emotional turmoil and unhealed generational trauma I needed to work on.
Jackie was patient with me, she listened and helped me compartmentalise what was happening and helped me look at it in a different lens. Since stopping therapy with Jackie, I react better to my triggers, I’ve gained a new sense of confidence and I know what is important to me and what I should focus on. Thank you for everything, Jackie.
I cannot express enough gratitude for Sinthia. From our very first session, I felt seen and understood. I genuinely used to look forward to sessions every week, even though I knew that we would be discussing difficult topics. This was because she created a safe space where I could explore my thoughts and feelings openly and without feeling judged. Through her guidance and kindness, I’ve gained valuable insights to others, developed healthier coping mechanisms, and learned to navigate certain challenges with greater resilience and courage. Thank you Sinthia 🙂
I have been doing therapy for just under 6 months with Berenice. She helped me navigate through some traumatic events, and given me amazing tools to deal with pressure and anxiety. I value our weekly sessions so so much and I always feel like we tackle my issues practically and effectively.
Berenice is a thoughtful, insightful, supportive and empathetic therapist, who is also willing to challenge me on things when it is necessary. I would highly recommend Berenice to anyone.
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.
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.
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.
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