Sanctuary Therapy Rooms
Therapy and counselling in the heart of North London
Sanctuary Therapy's Core Values
People matter:
Can't tell you how deeply this runs in me
Social responsibility:
The therapist's pay for space, and I pay £20 of this per therapist each month, to a charity of their choice. Donations should total around several thousand a year:
Transparency:
Because without this, there can be no trust.
Honesty & Fair-mindedness:
Because making you and me happy is a joy in and of itself
Radical openness & client work:
If a client asks a therapist 'How are you?', they may choose not to answer with complete honesty if they feel a bit unwell or are suffering from stress. This is a necessary white lie to make space for the client, especially for those inclined to put a lid on their own needs when others also have a need.
In contrast to this, the vulnerability that comes with honesty engenders trust and more fruitful work with clients. I've opted to model this in the organisational structure at Sanctuary Therapy Rooms, so that therapists get a container to feel free to do the same.
If you've worked in an organisation, you'll already be familiar with the opposite of this - it is undermining if you are a good worker in a bad system, and it reduces your effectiveness. Instead, it will feel safer to be open and sensitive so the client's work can deepen.
Concerns Therapists Have That Sanctuary Therapy Addresses:
In the interests of transparency, I'll make public the impact of charity donations, not just the amount that was donated. So if a therapist's contribution goes towards building a well in Sudan, then there'll be photos of it on the website. I'll also use social media to share both successes AND failures at Sanctuary Therapy. 'Could do better' seems to be the best starting point for improvement.
People over profit:
With these values in mind, the financial principles on which Sanctuary Therapy Rooms is based are influenced by Dale Patridge and his ideas on People Over Profit. He alerts us to losing our way by stressing profitability over care for people. Giving away money to charity whilst never charging more than market rate is part of that commitment, but my 'primary pledge' is to serve the community of people who use Sanctuary Therapy.
The idea of service goes by many names. But goodwill is the fuel that drives my desire to do this. To that end, instead of using a commercial cleaning service, the cleaner is, in fact, me!I want therapists to feel good about the good money they part with, rather than the 'grudge purchase' feeling we usually get when paying for things we'd prefer not to. Democratising the choice about where the charitable donation goes is part of that. And if I've done my job properly, they'll feel proud to work from here and excited about the investment they're making.
Creating a feeling not just of involvement but of genuine partnership.
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The value of Generosity:
"No one has ever become poor by giving", Anne Frank.
"Generosity is holistic, not just financial", Dale Partridge.
The flow of energy, literally your money flowing out via Sanctuary Therapy, has a direct beneficial impact on your client work. By 'paying it forward', you create a vacuum that draws an attracting energy into its wake. What gets drawn into this vacuum is dependent on what Sanctuary Therapy is aiming to do, which is improve the flow into your work, more clients, thriving better.
If this appears to be selfish by making it about you, it isn't. If you were only giving so as to receive, this may be the case. But you are not. Instead, you are maximising your desire to be helpful, sowing good so as to reap the ability to do more good. The more goodwill you put out, the more you get back. The fact that you choose where the money goes becomes an essential part of the process.