Self Space emerged as a disruptive force in 2018, transforming the mental wellbeing landscape with an innovative approach. In a context where the need for emotional support has grown rapidly, Self Space established itself as a pioneer in offering a radically different alternative to traditional therapy methods.
Jodie Cariss and Chance Marshall have grown the company from a small workshop in Shoreditch with just a few therapists to having locations across the UK, with a team of over 120 qualified therapists. They now provide support to both individuals and corporate partners, including companies such as Omnicom, Huel, Selfridges, and Stella McCartney.
What inspired you to found Self Space in 2018, and what was the initial vision?
[Jodie] When we launched, as two qualified therapists, we knew there was nothing in the wellbeing space that reflected a proactive approach, and the overall landscape needed a radical overhaul. Culturally, we tend to seek therapy in times of crisis, whereas we wanted to create something that moved towards helping people unlock their full potential and providing them with the opportunity to find sparks of light, joy, and meaning.
How have you seen the need for mental health support evolve from the start of Self Space to the present? What have been the main changes?
[Jodie] For us, it’s been a shift towards building mental maintenance and integrating daily practices into your routine that promote better mental health and offer people tools to develop resilience. This means that when we face unexpected rough waters in life, as we all will, we have a bit more buoyancy, and that’s something that still needs to change further. We also need to make therapy even more accessible, and Self Space combines excellent therapists with amazing spaces that people genuinely want to visit and can relax in.
Self Space has grown significantly since its inception. What have been the biggest challenges you’ve faced?
[Chance] Self Space has evolved tremendously since we started. What began as a small workshop in Shoreditch with a handful of therapists has turned into something magical. We now have locations across the UK, virtual therapy, a team of over 120 qualified therapists, and we also help individuals and companies with mental health training.
Earlier this year, we secured seed funding from a purpose-driven venture capital firm, which means the potential impact we can have in 2024 and beyond is incredible. I’m sure any founder would tell you the same: raising funds is challenging, and we’ve had to deal with some external challenges beyond our control, from the pandemic to the cost of living crisis, which has forced us to adapt along the way.
How do you select the therapists who are part of your team, and what criteria do you consider essential in this process?
[Jodie] We take pride in having a diverse team of 120 qualified therapists, covering multiple modalities and speaking 16 languages. Self Space is for everyone, and with many of our in-person therapy spaces in busy cities, it’s important that our locations and our therapists reflect that. People can come once to help with a difficult situation or more regularly each week, and we offer a unique therapist matching service to assist them.
How does your approach differ from traditional mental health support methods?
[Chance] People can choose their own schedule, location, and therapist, and the power of when and how often they come is in their hands, which relates much more to self-care than the traditional therapy approach. We are here to offer same-day access and eliminate the barriers created by the constant demands of life.
What role does mental wellbeing play in the workplace, and how do you help companies address this aspect?
[Chance] We are not a temporary fix for workplace wellbeing, so when we work with individuals and teams, we want to help them address the root causes of any disconnect between employees and empower people to be the best version of themselves at work. We are very proud to be expanding this service and working with over 80 companies.
We assist by providing individual therapy for employees, along with expert-led workshops and mental health training.
We also collaborate with Nobu Ibiza, offering “How to Grow Through It” retreats and decompression sessions. What do these sessions entail, and how did this collaboration come about?
[Jodie] We are very proud to work with Nobu Ibiza: the retreats stem from the concept of daily mental maintenance, normalising the conversation around mental health and bringing it fully to light. Our three-day mental maintenance retreats help you get to know yourself better, find calm, and make positive, lasting changes in your life while enjoying the best of the beautiful island. We cover many aspects of our human lives, including challenges, relationships, and emotional resilience, and they are designed to create a space to delve into mental health. You can expect journal writing sessions, beach walks, meditation, and reflection, with plenty of amazing food in a beautiful setting!
