Home — The Maya Centre

We’re on a mission to improve women’s mental health

Established in 1984, the Maya Centre is a community-based charity in Islington providing free, culturally sensitive counselling, group work and complementary therapies.

We support women on low incomes whose mental health has been affected by a range of experiences including depression and anxiety, violence against women and girls, inequality, discrimination and racism.

We work together to give women from different cultural and language backgrounds more voice, choice and control over their wellbeing and life decisions.

hours of free, trauma-informed counselling offered each year

of women report a significant improvement in their mental health after attending our counselling sessions

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of women report improved confidence and self-esteem from attending our wellbeing workshops

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SERVICES

For over 30 years, our service has provided a safe women-only space in which to talk to a specialist counsellor.

Counselling

1:1 or group counselling for women, exploring difficult, painful or traumatic experiences and feelings within a safe and confidential space.

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Education

Outreach group work in community languages sharing knowledge and information about women's safety and self-care.

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Wellbeing

Wellbeing Workshops designed by women for women to build confidence, self-esteem and support networks.

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The Maya Centre is a team of qualified and dedicated professionals with a passion for women’s mental health and wellbeing.

SUPPORT US

Mental health services are stretched to the limit right now, and women without access to mainstream therapy are struggling.

Could you help give them a lifeline?

An image showing a meeting held in a hall with wooden floors and woven material wall panels. At the front, a woman wearing a blue hijab is presenting while standing next to a projection screen displaying text that reads 'International Women's Day 2024 or robes. On either side of the room are large artistic displays featuring portraits or collages of diverse faces and images. The scene depicts a community gathering.

Announcing the Women’s Forum, a Women-For-Women Network

The Women’s Forum will be heralded by a team of volunteer leaders who will guide both the design of our future services and our strategic influencing work. Four annual meetings will provide an opportunity for in-person overviews of discussions and events carried out over the year.

The Maya Centre and MamaSuze are in partnership Over the next two years, we will be working together to deliver free sessions of art therapy, psycheducation, talking therapy and creative arts workshops to 100 to refugee and asylum-seeking women.

The Maya Centre and MamaSuze Are Partnering to Support Refugee and Asylum-seeking Women

A new partnership with MamaSuze to deliver free art therapy, psycheducation, talking therapy and creative arts workshops to 100 refugee and asylum-seeking women over the next two years.

Help us raise funds to support low-income and minoritised women manage their mental health amid the cost-of-living crisis The Cost of Being Kind 2 Your Mind Pledge Request — We can’t do this without you Help us support women in being kind to their minds Pledges must be made by 5pm on Friday 1 March 2024

Make a Pledge and Support Women Being Kind to Their Minds

Running from 14 May to 28 May 2024, our upcoming Big Give campaign, ‘The Cost of Being Kind 2 Your Mind’, will be raising funds to support low-income and minoritised women manage their mental health amid a cost-of-living crisis

TESTIMONIALS

“I was able to talk without judgement, my therapist helped me to recognise my feelings and identify with past issues that were impacting my current behaviour in a negative way.”

“I feel safe here, I feel listened to, I feel understood, I feel like I’m working on myself and progressing in my life, I’m really grateful for all that.”

"The easy access and the self-referral option were really good. I sense a very welcoming attitude and there was an option to speak my mother tongue. It helped me to gain a different perspective to the issues that I am struggling with’’

"The counselling hasn’t just been helpful, it has changed my life and I am so incredibly grateful that I was given this opportunity. I am a new person. I understand myself and others."

"I feel strong and confident, but genuinely from within the inside instead of ‘trying’ to be strong. I know who I am now, and I like that person."

"I found a version of myself that I find more comfortable and confident being and learned about boundaries and ways to deal with people in a way that makes life easier and calmer."

"I feel calmer and in control of my life in a way that has not only had a positive effect on me but has also had a positive knock-on effect on the people who are closest to me in my life."

The Maya Centre is a community-based charity set up in 1984 to provide specialist counselling and holistic support to low-income and minoritised women.

Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Registered Charity No. 1012889

Company No. 02701313