Michaela McCarthy

Counsellor, Psychotherapist, Sex & Relationship Therapist

Michaela McCarthy

Located on Wimpole Street in the heart of Marylebone, Michaela McCarthy offers expert psychotherapy and counselling services for individuals and couples seeking meaningful change. With over 25 years of clinical experience, Michaela is a BACP Senior Accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist, as well as a registered COSRT Psychosexual & Relationship Therapist.

Michaela is also the founder and CEO of The Awareness Centre and The Awareness Centre Training School, inspiring the next generation of therapists and promoting excellence in mental health care. As the creator and host of the A Bunch of Therapists, she’s passionate about destigmatising therapy and making therapeutic support more accessible to all.

Counsellor, Psychotherapist, Sex & Relationship Therapist

With over 25 years of experience in private practice, Michaela McCarthy is a highly respected integrative therapist who draws on a range of therapeutic approaches to create her own distinctive style. At the heart of her work is a deep belief in the power of the therapeutic relationship – where trust, empathy, and connection form the foundation for meaningful change.

Michaela’s approach blends personal insight with professional expertise, offering a safe, inclusive space for clients to explore their inner world and navigate their outer experiences. She supports individuals in uncovering and understanding the patterns that shape their lives, using open and transparent communication to foster emotional growth and transformation.

Whether therapy is short-term or a longer journey, Michaela is passionate about helping clients gain clarity, build resilience, and develop healthier relationships with themselves and others. In addition to working with individuals, she has extensive experience supporting couples, guiding them toward deeper intimacy and more effective communication

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The Awareness Centre

Michaela McCarthy is the Founder and CEO of The Awareness Centre. As a qualified and accredited therapist and clinical supervisor, Michaela has worked extensively across the private, voluntary, and NHS sectors. In 2005, she opened her first counselling centre in Clapham, fulfilling her vision to create a welcoming and inclusive space where therapy is accessible to anyone seeking personal growth, emotional healing, and meaningful change.

In 2019, Michaela expanded The Awareness Centre with a second location in Tooting. Supported by a dedicated team of experienced therapists, she has developed The Awareness Centre into one of London’s leading providers of safe, confidential counselling and psychotherapy services to individuals, couples, and families across London.

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Michaela McCarthy at The Awareness Centre

The Awareness Centre Training School

Michaela founded The Awareness Centre Training School in 2020 to empower the next generation of counsellors, psychotherapists, and clinical supervisors. Michaela’s vision was to build a centre of excellence for therapeutic education, combining academic rigour with real-world clinical experience. Drawing on her decades of expertise and leadership in the mental health sector, she brought together a dynamic team of highly qualified tutors to deliver training programmes that prepare students for successful careers in both private practice and public services.

TAC Training School offers a comprehensive pathway from foundation-level counselling courses to advanced diplomas. Students benefit from integrated counselling placement opportunities through The Awareness Centre’s NHS and low-cost counselling services, including partnerships with the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) and the South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG). The Awareness Centre runs one of the largest counselling placement schemes in the UK, providing trainees with exceptional opportunities to access diverse clinical settings and client groups as part of their professional development. This unique model ensures that trainees graduate with not only theoretical knowledge but also the clinical confidence and experience needed to make a meaningful impact.

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A Bunch of Therapists

In 2025, Michaela McCarthy launched A Bunch of Therapists, a podcast she created and co-hosts with fellow therapist Ditpi Solanki. The podcast opens the door to the real, raw, and often surprising stories from inside the therapy room shared by therapists and those who’ve experienced counselling and psychotherapy first-hand.

Each episode explores the emotional depth and transformative power of therapy, revealing the lessons learned, the breakthroughs made, and the human connections that shape the healing process. Whether you’re currently in therapy, considering it, or simply curious about how it works, A Bunch of Therapists offers authentic insight into the therapeutic journey – what it feels like, why it matters, and how it can change lives.

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Michaela’s Story

Michaela McCarthy was born in the UK and is of second-generation Irish heritage. From a young age, she was always fascinated by human behaviour. Before training as a therapist, she built a successful career in business, gaining valuable experience in leadership and management.

Thirty years ago, Michaela found herself at a crossroads. Despite a successful career, she felt she’d lost her direction and passion for what mattered to her. She turned to therapy to help make sense of what she was feeling and reassess. Over the years, she committed to extensive personal development, including individual and group therapy, support groups, and exploring different approaches to wellbeing.

As Michaela began to reflect on her feelings, values and beliefs, she decided to retrain as a therapist. Driven by a deep desire to support others and a bold entrepreneurial spirit, this decision ultimately led her to open The Awareness Centre, a place where people could access therapy, feel supported, and begin to make sense of their own lives.

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Michaela McCarthy

Counsellor, Psychotherapist, Sex & Relationship Therapist