Michaela McCarthy

Michaela McCarthy is the Managing Director of The Awareness Centre and is a qualified Counsellor, Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor and Organisational Consultant.  She is MBACP Accredited and UKRCP Registered (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy), and a member of FDAP (Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals). Michaela was born in the UK and her heritage is second generation Irish. Before training as a therapist she worked extensively in business and describes herself as an entrepreneur who enjoys the challenge of setting up projects and organisations. 

About 15 years ago Michaela found herself unsatisfied with life and realised that she had somehow lost her direction and passion.  Her response was to enter therapy to explore her issues and embark upon a journey of self discovery. As her values, feelings and frame of reference slowly changed she became more interested in therapeutic work and enrolled on a course to train in counselling and psychotherapy. 

Training 

Michaela trained as a Counsellor and Psychotherapist at The School of Counselling and Psychotherapy at The Whittington Hospital, and as a Clinical Supervisor at CPPD School of Counselling, both in London.  During her extensive clinical training she completed many courses on working with addiction, couples and sexual abuse.  Michaela is an integrative practitioner which means that she has combined many theories of thought and has found her own style of working as a therapist. Her training has been in Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, Person Centred Practice and Object Relations.  Michaela’s current interest is in Existential theory and practice.  Above all, she believes that the most important part of therapy is the relationship between client and therapist and that this relational process enables developmental growth and change.  Michaela is currently training in Psychosexual and Relationship therapy at Regents College and aims to enroll onto a Doctorate in 2009.    

Work  

Michaela has worked extensively within the private and voluntary sector.  She has worked in private practice with individuals and couples in Harley Street and Clapham and has run many therapy groups over the years with different colleagues as well as managing counselling services throughout London.  One of those counselling services is Faces in Focus, an organisation that works with young people between the ages of 13 and 25.  She developed both the individual and group supervision structure within the organisation to clinically support the counsellors and psychotherapists as well as running workshops and training to support staff members. 

Three years ago Michaela set up The Awareness Centre - the realisation of her desire to create an organisation which would incorporate most of her personal and professional experiences. Her vision is to share her knowledge and make it accessible to all who want to embark on a journey of self discovery and change. With the support of a very experienced and robust team Michaela has been able to develop each department within The Awareness Centre to a very high standard.  Michaela and her team are dedicated to the Centre and carefully nurture the development of each Department and Clinic. 

Because the Centre has grown over the years the aim is to open more centres throughout London within the next five years. Michaela has been particularly involved with setting up the Addiction Recovery Programme and overseeing its development at the Centre as she has a special interest in addiction and obsessive compulsive behaviours.  She is currently developing counselling training in addiction and will soon open the first three Awareness Centre residential Addiction Rehabilitation Centres in South London.

Michaela has recently set up the Organisational Consultancy Department within the centre with colleagues.   Their decision to set up this department was based on their wealth of experience in business and their familiarity with the multiple challenges of running an organisation and managing staff. In addition, Michaela still works with individuals, couples and groups in private practice in Clapham.  She will see clients who experience issues such as; 

• Addiction (Alcohol, Drugs, Food, Sex, Gambling, Co-dependency and other compulsive behaviours)
• Dual Diagnoses
• Obsession
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Stress
• Anger
• Psychosexual and Relationships
• Sexuality
• Abuse (Sexual, Physical, Emotional and Neglect) 
• Loss and Bereavement

Initially Michaela meets clients for an assessment and if both agree to work together then she will offer the client a further 5 sessions. After the initial 6 sessions, there is a discussion to review the process of the work and to decide if therapy will continue into longer-term work. Michaela tends to specialise more in longer-term therapy however only tends to work up to one year with couples.   Also, Michaela offers aftercare to clients who have completed a programme at a 12 step treatment centre, she will also work with families

Fees 

Therapy

Clapham:         Individuals - 50 minute session - £50.00
                       Couples - 90 minute session - £85.00 

Clinical Supervision

 Individuals - £50.00     
 Group - £30.00 

Organisational consultancy

Individuals - 50 minute session - £100.00                        

Daily rate in the UK and overseas between £750.00 and £2500.00   

Contact 

Private Practice:  Tel - 020 7498 5287  Mob - 07850 282 495 

mail@michaelamccarthy.com

michaela@theawarenesscentre.com