Respair Therapy CIC

Who we are

Respair Therapy C.I.C. was founded in 2023 by Debbie Sheringham, a qualified Dance Movement Psychotherapist, Circle of Security Facilitator and mental health consultant.

Debbie holds a master’s degree in Dance Movement Psychotherapy from the University of Roehampton and is registered with the Association for Dance Movement Psychotherapy UK. She has particular experience of working with neurodivergent people, children and adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities, and people who experience mental distress through the body.

Before becoming a psychotherapist, Debbie spent more than 20 years as a BBC producer. She has also worked in the NHS as a Mental Health Practitioner. Respair brings these different strands together: clinical knowledge, creativity, communication and a willingness to turn unusual ideas into practical projects.

What we do

Respair began with a simple belief: dance belongs to everybody and every body. Our work does not fit neatly into one box. It exists on a spectrum, from the gloriously frivolous to the deeply serious.

At one end, we hire out silent disco equipment so people can turn their living room, kitchen or garden into a dancefloor. Income from each hire goes back into Respair, meaning a party in somebody’s garden can help another person access psychological support.

At the other end is Dance Movement Psychotherapy, or DMP. This is not a dance class or an informal wellbeing activity. It is a recognised form of psychotherapy in which movement, the body and the relationship between client and therapist are central to the clinical work. Practitioners undertake postgraduate training at master’s level and work in settings including the NHS, schools, mental health services, community organisations and private practice.

Between these two ends are projects such as Babe Club, our silent disco for parents, carers and babies; therapy and therapeutic movement in schools; community wellbeing projects; and work with neurodivergent people, adults with learning disabilities and people living with dementia.

The thread running through everything we do is the belief that movement matters. It can be playful, social and freeing. It can also provide a serious form of communication and psychological support when words are difficult or simply not enough.

Our legal structure

Respair Therapy is a Community Interest Company limited by guarantee. This means we are a social enterprise rather than a registered charity.

We generate income through therapy, contracts, grants, events and equipment hire. Any surplus is used to develop our services and benefit the communities we serve. We pay Corporation Tax where it is due and report each year on how our work has benefited the community.

This model allows us to combine trading income with grant funding and build services that are useful, affordable and sustainable.

Our culture and values

Respair is a small, creative and responsive organisation. New ideas and opportunities can appear quickly, and we are willing to try things that do not fit a conventional model.

We are friendly and informal, but we take our responsibilities seriously. Much of our work involves people who may be vulnerable, so safeguarding, confidentiality, professional boundaries and good governance are central to how we operate.

We value plain speaking, curiosity, fairness and a sense of humour. We want people working with Respair to feel able to contribute ideas, ask questions and respectfully challenge decisions. Support does not mean agreeing with everything, and professionalism does not need to mean becoming distant or overly formal.

We do not expect people to know everything. We do expect them to recognise the limits of their knowledge and seek appropriate advice when it is needed.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Inclusion is central to Respair’s work. We want our services, events and working relationships to be welcoming and accessible to people with different bodies, minds, identities and life experiences.

The external venues we currently use for group and community work are wheelchair accessible. We invite people to tell us about their access requirements and make reasonable adjustments wherever possible.

Respair is LGBTQ+ affirming, actively anti racist and committed to anti oppressive practice. We do not tolerate discrimination, harassment or hate speech.

We know that inclusion requires more than a policy. It means listening, remaining open to challenge and continuing to examine how power, privilege and exclusion may appear within our work.