About 'Respair'
In her book, An Emotional Dictionary, Susie Dent defines the word respair as 'fresh hope'. She goes on to say that respair is :
"a word that feels so necessary to modern times that its disappearance is quite perplexing. The word is, of course, the antithesis of 'despair'"
Clearly this word is a good match for the work of a therapist, but more than that, it seems fitting for an organisation that is similarly perplexed about how dance and the healing power of group movement has been lost somehow. And like dance, is it also a noun as well as a verb. So let's get respairing.
ABOUT DANCE MOVEMENT PSYCHOTHERAPY
Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) is a well-recognised, but often misunderstood form of psychotherapy which uses a combination of movement and verbal conversation. Practitioners require a Masters's degree and professional registration with the Association of Dance Movement Psychotherapy UK (ADMP UK), which is an organisational member of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). DMP is used by the NHS to treat adult and child populations, and DMP is recommended in the NICE guidelines as a treatment for psychosis. There are no barriers to taking part in a DMP session - it can be adapted to suit any client group and it can be done one-to-one or in a group. It is based on the understanding that the body and mind are interconnected and that movement can be used to promote emotional, cognitive, and physical health.
A DMP session can include:
talking about how emotions feel in our bodies
doing simple gestures to show how you feel e.g. shrugging your shoulders
gentle stretches or movement meditations
lying on the floor and listening to music
dancing or moving around the room
playing ball games
walking in nature
ABOUT OUR FOUNDER
Debbie Sheringham (she/her) founded Respair Therapy in 2023. As a qualified Dance Movement Psychotherapist, Circle of Security Facilitator, and Mental Health Consultant, Debbie brings a wealth of experience to her practice. With a Masters in Dance Movement Psychotherapy from the University of Roehampton and membership with ADMP UK (a UKCP-affiliated organisation), she specialises in supporting neurodiverse individuals, people with profound multiple learning disabilities and parents of young children.
In addition to her therapeutic work, Debbie has over 20 years of experience as a BBC producer and has also worked for the NHS as a Mental Health Practitioner.
Debbie is committed to running Respair Therapy C.I.C. from an anti-oppressive standpoint, offering inclusive services to individuals across all races, abilities, genders, sexualities, and marginalised communities.
For more information, visit Debbie's LinkedIn profile.
About our Directors
In addition to our Founding Director, Respair Therapy C.I.C. is run by a board of four Supporting Directors who offer their services as unpaid volunteers.
emma bassham
Emma is a conscientious and driven individual, who is currently channelling her energies into raising a small, delightful human.
Previously, Emma was a Finance Director for an ambitious private equity backed company. Having previously trained and qualified at a Big Four practice, she has a keen eye for detail.
Emma excels at business partnering and building great working relationships.
Denise Schaudt
Denise is a dedicated Dance Movement Psychotherapist who trained at The University of Roehampton. With a passion for the healing power of movement, Denise has devoted her career to helping individuals express and process their emotions through dance and movement.
In addition to her clinical work, Denise is actively involved in the Dance Movement Therapy community.
Catherine McLeod
Catherine is a student recruitment and marketing professional with over 20 years of experience in higher education. Her career is marked by a steadfast commitment to collaborating with others to meet and exceed challenging targets.
An effective leader, Catherine excels in communication, interpersonal, and influencing skills.
Outside of her professional life, Catherine is a keen gardener, reader, and supporter of the arts.
Patrick Johns
Patrick teaches music at a secondary school in Kingston-upon-Thames and works for Ofqual, writing education resources, and presenting the UK’s no.1 Music Education podcast, Teaching Notes.
He produces the BBC Radio 2 show Top Brass and has also produced for BBC Radio 3.
Patrick is a member of the Royal Society of Musicians and a committee member of the Music Teachers’ Association.
About Community Interest Companies (C.I.C.s)
Respair Therapy is a Community Interest Company (C.I.C.). C.I.C.s operate differently from charities in several ways. We generate income through contracts, trading, and grants, rather than relying solely on donations and fundraising. This allows us to offer continuous services and products to benefit our defined community, without time limitations.
While charities receive tax exemptions and can claim Gift Aid on donations, we are subject to corporation tax and don't receive the same benefits. However, we appreciate every donation given to Respair Therapy C.I.C. as it helps fund our community projects.
Overall, our business model allows us to offer continuous and affordable solutions, while generating income to fund our community projects.