The Awareness Centre

What The Awareness Centre does

The Awareness Centre (TAC) is a London-based counselling and psychotherapy provider operating across three physical sites — Clapham (41 Abbeville Road, SW4 9JX), Tooting (74-80 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7PB), and a CEO-led Marylebone practice at 85 Wimpole Street (W1G 9RJ) — supplemented by online session delivery. The organisation serves individual adults, adolescents, children, and couples through a three-tier service model: NHS-funded Talking Therapies delivered under contract in the Lambeth, Sutton, and Wandsworth boroughs; private therapy at £70 per individual session and £85 per couples session; and a low-cost tier staffed by trainee therapists at the Clapham and Tooting centres. The clinical network comprises more than 300 registered or accredited therapists covering 20+ languages and a broad range of specialisations including trauma, eating disorders, LGBTQIA+, psychosexual therapy, and child & adolescent work.

Revenue is generated through four principal streams: private therapy fees, NHS block contracts via partnerships with the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) and South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG), tuition from the BACP-accredited Training School, and the CEO's individual private practice. The Training School operates as a separate legal entity (The Awareness Centre Training School Ltd) delivering a Foundation Certificate in Counselling, a BACP-accredited two-year Diploma in Integrative Counselling, and a Diploma in Clinical Supervision. Go-to-market is primarily direct-to-consumer via an online self-service booking system and telephone reception, with NHS pathways functioning as a referral channel. There is no proprietary technology platform; delivery relies on standard video conferencing for online counselling and a Wordpress-based website for bookings and content.

The company is privately held and founder-controlled, with Michaela McCarthy serving as CEO and also operating an active private practice that contributes a distinct premium-tier revenue stream. The Awareness Centre holds BACP accreditation at both the service and Diploma levels (the latter granted May 2024) and has invested in a content strategy through the May 2025 launch of the 'A Bunch of Therapists' podcast. No external investment, M&A activity, or AI/ML capability development is evidenced in the source data.

Name

The Awareness Centre

Legal name

The Awareness Centre Ltd

Website

https://theawarenesscentre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Awareness Centre is a London-based counselling and psychotherapy provider operating three city sites and a BACP-accredited training school, delivering NHS-funded, low-cost, and private therapy across 300+ therapists and 20+ languages to individuals, couples, and adolescents in South and Central London.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Counselling & Psychotherapy

NAICS

Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (62133), Educational Support Services (611710), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Outpatient Mental Health Clinics & Counseling Centers (HLAFACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Behavioral Health & Counseling (Social Work, Psychology, Substance Use CE) (EDAAALAD)

Keywords

• Counselling psychotherapy services
• Mental health therapy
• Counselling training programs
• NHS talking therapies
• Low cost counselling

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Private Therapy Services: Fee-for-service therapy sessions to individuals and couples. Counsellors and psychotherapists provide services from private practice locations.
2. NHS Talking Therapies Contracts: Provision of short-term NHS-funded counselling in Lambeth, Sutton and Wandsworth. Counsellors either in training or qualified in multiple therapeutic approaches.
3. Training School Courses: Professional counselling and clinical supervision training programs including Foundation Certificate, Diploma in Integrative Counselling (BACP accredited), and Diploma in Clinical Supervision. Revenue from tuition fees with direct debit monthly payment options.
4. Low-Cost Therapy: Affordable therapy sessions provided by trainee counsellors and psychotherapists working towards full qualification at Clapham and Tooting centres.
5. Michaela McCarthy Private Practice: CEO's individual private practice operating from Wimpole Street in Marylebone, providing counselling and psychotherapy services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Awareness Centre delivers confidential counselling and psychotherapy services through three tiers — private, low-cost (trainee-delivered), and NHS-funded Talking Therapies — to individuals, couples, adolescents and children across London and online, staffed by over 300 BACP-registered therapists. The organisation also runs a BACP-accredited training school offering a Foundation Certificate in Counselling, a Diploma in Integrative Counselling, and a Diploma in Clinical Supervision, providing a full professional pathway from introductory training through to qualification.

Product overview

The Awareness Centre operates as a multi-service counselling and psychotherapy organization offering three tiers of therapy services (private, low-cost, and NHS-funded), complemented by a BACP-accredited training school that provides a complete professional journey from Foundation Certificate through to Diploma level. The organization also produces a podcast called 'A Bunch of Therapists' as a content and community initiative. Services are delivered across three London locations (Clapham, Tooting, and Marylebone) and online, with over 300 therapists providing support in more than 20 languages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• A Bunch of Therapists: A podcast hosted by Michaela McCarthy and Dipti Solanki that opens the door to real conversations from inside the therapy room, featuring therapists sharing their journeys and insights about mental health and the therapeutic process.

Products and services

• Private Therapy Services Individual, couples and specialist counselling and psychotherapy delivered by qualified, registered or accredited BACP therapists, available in-person across London and online. Covers issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, bereavement, relationships, eating disorders, anger management, LGBTQIA+ support and more.
• Low-Cost Therapy Affordable counselling and psychotherapy provided by trainee therapists working towards full qualification, including LGBTQIA+ and multilingual options, available at Clapham and Tooting centres.
• NHS Talking Therapies Short-term NHS-funded counselling for adults experiencing anxiety and depression, delivered face-to-face or online in Lambeth, Sutton and Wandsworth. Includes a dedicated NHS multilingual counselling pathway.
• Foundation Certificate in Counselling Part-time, face-to-face introductory counselling training offered over six or ten months at Level 3 equivalent, with no prior qualifications or experience required, serving as the entry point to the Training School's diploma pathway.
• Diploma in Integrative Counselling

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS partnership providing counselling placements for TAC Training School students in Lambeth. Students gain clinical experience through NHS Talking Therapies services working with clients experiencing anxiety and depression symptoms.
• South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS partnership providing counselling placements for TAC Training School students in Wandsworth and Sutton. Students gain clinical experience through NHS Talking Therapies services.
• Michaela McCarthycoreOthersCEO and founder runs independent private practice from Wimpole Street in Marylebone. Integrates with The Awareness Centre network while maintaining separate practice operations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Harley Therapy: London-based private counselling and psychotherapy clinic with a large therapist network. Directly comparable as another multi-modality London private therapy provider competing for the same individual and couples clients.
• Relate: UK-wide provider of relationship counselling, sex therapy, and family therapy. Directly comparable for couples and relationship therapy services, the segment where TAC's CEO also practices and where TAC lists couples counselling among its core offerings.
• BACP-Accredited Training Providers (e.g., CPCAB, Iron Mill College): UK colleges offering BACP-aligned counselling diplomas and clinical supervision training. Directly comparable to TAC Training School's Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Diploma in Clinical Supervision, competing for the same aspiring counsellor cohort.

Broad incumbents

• Priory Group: One of the UK's largest independent mental health providers operating outpatient, inpatient, and residential services. Comparable as a broad incumbent in UK outpatient mental health, though much larger and not London-specialist.
• Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust: NHS mental health trust operating psychotherapy outpatient clinics and postgraduate training in London. Comparable as both a London NHS mental health service provider and a psychotherapy training institution, the two pillars TAC also operates.

Emerging players

• BetterHelp: Global digital-first therapy platform delivering online counselling via subscription. Comparable as a competing channel for online counselling clients in London, though its digital-only model contrasts with TAC's in-person centres.
• Ieso Digital Health: UK-based provider of online CBT and NHS Talking Therapies services. Comparable as a competitor for NHS Talking Therapies contracts and online therapy delivery, particularly relevant given TAC's NHS and online delivery focus.

Others

• Mind (UK charity): National mental health charity providing information, support, and signposting rather than direct therapy. Comparable as a UK mental health brand and alternative for clients TAC serves, but operates a different (non-clinical) model.
• Therapy Directory: UK online directory listing therapists and counsellors with booking functionality. Comparable as a competing therapist-discovery channel in the same UK private-pay market where TAC acquires clients.

Regional players

• Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust Talking Therapies: Other London NHS trust delivering NHS Talking Therapies. Comparable as another NHS Talking Therapies provider competing for similar borough-level contracts, though geographically separate from TAC's South London footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ABunchofTherapistsTV
• Facebookfacebook.com/michaelamccarthypodcast
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a-bunch-of-therapists
• Instagraminstagram.com/abunchoftherapists
• TikToktiktok.com/@a.bunch.of.therapists

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Awareness Centre