Sunah is very supportive, and full of suggestions to improve day to day quality of life. I would recommend her to anyone.
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.
Phil was an excellent therapist, both giving me space to speak my mind to the conclusion of a thought, and then at the appropriate time stepping in to suggest new ways of seeing my emotions in context. I’ve emerged from the experience enriched and better able to perceive the perspectives of others in my life and relationships, without negating my own emotions within them. I would highly recommend speaking with Phil if you have a situation in your life which you feel a lack of control over – his calm, patient and kind approach was invaluable in navigating several very difficult months for me.
When my partner and I hit a bumpy patch due to the pressures of life, we found ourselves struggling to communicate and truly listen to one another. I realised we needed a helping hand, but not just anyone. We wanted someone who genuinely cared, rather than simply following a set process. After reading many therapist biographies, Joy’s really stood out to me, so we took a leap of faith and booked an appointment.
From the very first session, Joy was warm, engaging, and deeply attuned to both of our personalities. She created a safe space where we each felt heard, giving us the time to express our feelings while gently helping us understand each other’s perspectives. The thoughtful “homework” she gave us also helped us recognise and change some ingrained habits.
We genuinely enjoyed the process, and now that our sessions have ended, we both find ourselves missing Joy. We were so impressed that we recommended her to my partner’s sister, who also found her session hugely beneficial. We would wholeheartedly recommend Joy to anyone seeking relationship support.
My partner and I didn’t know what to expect from couples therapy. I think we thought you only go if you’re about to break up, but the sessions made us closer and more understanding of each other. I would recommend this centre to anyone – especially couples who want a safe space to work through any disagreements.
Had to switch therapist as she was leaving and was recommended to speak with Donna. I was a bit apprehensive as it’s hard to swap when you’ve opened up to someone. To my surprise I felt comfortable from the first session and walked out feeling very calm about the swap. Since then it’s been like that. Donna is very calm, asks questions, challenges thoughts without judgment and makes me feel heard. She also encourages small changes in behaviour, thoughts to try a think about during the week without making it feel like homework. That’s all I can ask for really. Very grateful.
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.
I have previously worked with a few different counsellors at various stages in my life and Emma is the counsellor that I have worked with most consistently. I feel comfortable and supported and we have discussed realistic options for what the sessions will achieve. Emma is compassionate and insightful. Moreover, I appreciate the different approaches she incorporates into our sessions, whether it be Mindfulness-based techniques or ACT. My experience in the sessions with Emma has been evolving based on the use of different approaches and she helps me feel confident in challenging my perspectives and opening out how I think about some things in my life.
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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