Frequently Asked Questions

The first step 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 one appeals to you, and has the experience and expertise for the issues you’re bringing to therapy.

If you’d like more guidance, please call our reception team on 020 8673 4545 and they will point you in the right direction.

Once you have selected the therapist you would like to work with you book an appointment by either call our reception team on 020 8673 4545 or complete the online booking form and one of the reception team will get back to you.

If you are seeking private therapy then no, you won’t need to speak to your GP first. If you’re coming to counselling through private healthcare then yes, you will need a GP referral first. All of our clients need to be registered with a GP, otherwise we are unable to see them for therapy.

Counselling is short-term, therapy that will typically last between 6 and 15 sessions. It helps you identify coping strategies for an issue in your life, and ways to work through it. It offers a space that is warm, empathic and non-judgemental.

Psychotherapy is longer-term, open-ended therapy that allows you the time and space to delve deeper into the issues affecting your life. It can help you identify unhelpful patterns and behaviours that often have roots in childhood, and it can help you work towards healing your deepest wounds.

Psychology is the science of the mind and behaviour. A clinical psychologist will diagnose and treat psychological and mental health problems. Counselling psychologists will also integrate the emotional and therapeutic aspects of psychology.

Our experienced reception team will help you find a match for your needs.

Our therapists have studied and qualified at many different universities and training institutions and offer different modalities of psychotherapy, counselling and psychology. However, whatever theories they are drawing on to inform their work, they are all highly qualified professionals offering you a safe space to reflect on your difficulties and to try to help you to make the changes you want to in your life. It can seem confusing to read about all the different modalities, but the most important thing is to find a therapist you can connect with.

All therapy works through the relationship you have with your therapist, which offers you the opportunity to work through your issues and try out new ways of thinking, feeling and being.

Start with six sessions, see how you feel, and take it from there. The beauty of coming to The Awareness Centre is that we have more than 300 therapists, and there will be one who can offer you just what you need.

We will help you find a match for your needs, your schedule, your budget and your aspirations.

Take your time to look at a few profiles of therapists who offer session at the times that would work best for you. Read what the therapist says about the conditions they work with and the way they work, and think about what you want to achieve from the sessions and whether that would be a good fit for you. Once you have done your research listen to your instinct about who might be the right one for you.

Our low-cost therapists are in the final stages of their training as a counsellor, psychotherapist or counselling psychologist, or are working towards becoming accredited therapists. Their services are offered at a lower rate while they complete their qualifications, and appointments are available daytimes, Friday evenings and weekends. Fees per 50-minute session are £20 if you’re on benefits and £35 if you’re on low income.

Private therapists are fully qualified, and some have been practising for some years. They offer appointments during the evenings and at weekends too. Fees range from £50 to £130.

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, however. You’ll be able to talk about your issues during your first session.

In your first session your therapist will take you through an initial assessment, which will be a series of questions to get to know you and the issues you’re bringing to therapy. Your counsellor will also want to find out about your current health and wellbeing, as well as issues and patterns from your past that you may want to work through. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions about how therapy will work.

Counselling is a talking therapy, so you do the talking and your therapist does the listening, questioning and reflecting. Therapy offers a safe, confidential space each week for you to feel heard and understood, to gain new perspective on difficulties in your life, and build a stronger sense of self.

This is a difficult question to answer as it varies very much depending on you, the difficulties you would like to work on, and your goals for therapy. You can discuss the likely length of time or number of sessions this will take with your therapist in the first session and work out a treatment plan.

Within our low-cost counselling service, sessions start at £20 per 50-minute session if you’re on benefits, or £35 if you’re on a low income. Fees for our private therapists range from £50 to £130.

The Awareness Centre is a private healthcare provider for Aviva, AXA PPP, BUPA, BUPA Global, Cigna, Vitality Health and WPA. If your insurance is with any of these companies, give them a call to check you’re covered and ask your GP for a referral. Then get in touch with TAC on 020 8673 4545 to be referred to a therapist who’s a healthcare provider.

If you cannot make a session, you will need to contact your therapist directly and inform them. Therapists have different terms and conditions in regards to their practice and missed sessions or cancellations and often there is a charge incurred with missed appointments.

The relationship with your therapist is paramount. You need to feel comfortable opening up to a professional every week, and if the rapport isn’t there then it’s best to raise that straight away. We’re happy to find you another therapist who may be more suitable to your situation, issues and requirements.

Counselling and psychotherapy work best when you have weekly sessions. That’s why we offer therapy seven days a week, to fit around your busy schedule. You may be working shifts, or have irregular work patterns. Our therapists our also available weekends, which may be a time when you, too, have time for yourself. To explore options, call the reception team on 020 8673 4545.

Anxiety is a very common symptom, and all therapists have the training and experience to with anxiety.

Yes, we have specialist child and adolescent therapists trained to work with small children. The focus is on play, so children can express themselves in their preferred way. Please note we do not work with children in our low-cost and NHS counselling services. Call 020 8673 4545 for more information and appointment availability.

Yes. If English is your second language then you can still access therapy through The Awareness Centre. The team of multilingual therapists currently offer counselling more than 30 different languages. Call 020 8673 4545 to find out more.

Unfortunately we do not currently offer a sign language service. If you require counselling in BSL please refer here: www.deaf4deaf.com

Yes, our ground floor consulting rooms in both centres are fully accessible. We have wide-access doors, and a toilet suitable for disabled users.

We do not provide a home visit counselling service, however some of our counsellors work via phone and Skype. It can be a helpful and powerful way of accessing therapy if you’re not able to travel to the centre. Just ask the reception team when you call to book an appointment and they can refer you to a therapist who offers telephone or Skype therapy.

• We do not provide home visits
• We do not provide therapy for the deaf. If you require counselling in BSL please refer here: www.deaf4deaf.com
• We do not provide telephone or online therapy within our low cost counselling service.
• We do not work with children in our low cost and NHS counselling services. If you require counselling for children place2be.org.uk
• All our clients need to be registered with a GP otherwise we cannot see them for therapy.