We're small but mighty
Jodie Cariss
Founder
Jodie is the Founder of Self Space, a therapist, and a Tavistock-trained executive coach. Her experience is wide-ranging, from supporting marginalised young people in the education sector to running creative burnout retreats for professionals. Over the years, Jodie has become a leading voice in championing accessible mental health support.
Chance Marshall
Co-Founder
Chance is a Co-founder of Self Space and the northern heart behind the brand’s voice and creative spirit. He is an experienced and grounded creative psychotherapist working with clients to navigate challenges including anxiety and depression, alcohol and substance misuse, grief and loss. He is experienced in Adult Mental Health, Addiction Therapy and working with Refugee and Asylum Seekers.
Sue Mariner
Finance Manager
Maintaining the financial records and producing financial reports
Providing data and input to strategic planning over all areas of business. Overseeing payrolls for all staff and some HR.
My favourite book:
There are too many
What I love about working at Self Space:
Challenge and variety
Alex Austin
Sales Manager
My focus is identifying and engaging with potential corporate clients and introducing them to Self Space. It’s all about building relationships with HR leads in organisations spanning a variety of industries, and supporting them with their mental health and wellbeing strategies. I help drive the vision to create a more emotionally healthy world through progressive therapy and psychoeducation.
My favourite film:
Moulin Rouge
What I love about working at Self Space:
It’s two things for me. The team at Self Space is human all the way through and I can be my absolute self here. I also love meeting new people everyday who are passionate and devoted to making their workplace mentally healthier.
Chilli Bernstein
Senior Client Success Manager
I look after our partners once they are through the door. I work collaboratively with our partners to ensure that them and their teams are getting the most out of what Self Space has to offer. Empowering partners to reach their mental wellness and culture goals. My hope is that the lovely HR, People People and Ops teams that I work with see me as a trusted advisor and fierce advocate.
My favourite song:
Sometimes It Snows In April by Prince
What I love about working at Self Space:
The team is the absolute best. I get to talk about therapy all day long and no one tells me to shut up. Also, helping people access therapy? *chefs kiss*
Mitali Soni
Senior Clinician
I support our lovely therapists with the day to day running of the service. I also work with the rest of the clinical team to make sure everyone feels looked after and comfortable to think out loud about any questions or worries they have about their clinical work.
My favourite song:
It has to be Two of Us by Louis Tomlinson. It got me through some hard times in life.
What I love about working at Self Space:
I love working with different people and holding a space for people to come in to talk about whatever they want. My favourite part of the work day is chatting to everyone and having such a friendly response no matter who you chat to.
Nibarna Kannathasan
Clinical Lead
I make sure that our lovely therapists are looked after and have a space to think out loud about any questions or worries they have about their clinical work.I also look after the recruitment of new therapists with our HR Team and currently supporting with shaping our trainee placement pathway with our placement co-ordinator.
My favourite book:
When Breath Becomes Air – Paul Kalanithi
What I love about working at Self Space:
I really enjoy working with like minded people with a vision and a mission to disrupt the norm and create more space for mental wellbeing! I also love seeing clients at Self Space and the different rich and textured meanings they bring to their lived experience.
Sharmin Aysha
Human Resource
Running things from recruitment to onboarding and everything in between. My role involves actively contributing in finding new talent to join our amazing teams and supporting our company’s most valuable asset – our employees.
My favourite book:
As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh, such a beautiful read.
What I love about working at Self Space:
I get to be part of such an amazing team! Everyone is incredibly supportive and just so real it makes working all the more enjoyable.
Amanda Mattson
Integrated Marketing lead
I look after marketing at Self Space, which basically means helping more people know that therapy and mental maintenance is for everyone – not just in crisis. I work with a beautiful team on everything from launches to partnerships, campaigns to content. We’re here to shift the conversation around mental health and make it feel more human, more everyday, and a lot less clinical.
My favourite movie:
The Florida Project (but I’m known to nap through most movies…)
What I love about working at Self Space:
The creativity. The people. The humanness. There’s such a special energy in this team – some of the most beautiful people I’ve ever had the chance to work with.
Michaela Donnerova
Marketing Executive
I’m supporting all B2B and B2C marketing activities across the entire business. My specialty is in fine-tuning the nitty-gritty, making sure each detail plays its part in our overarching strategy.
My favourite book:
The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho
What I love about working at Self Space:
An amazing group of passionate, kind, and creative people working towards the meaningful mission of changing the culture around mental health. It’s an environment where you can be honest and share your vulnerabilities, feeling supported, inspired, and challenged. What’s not to like?
Nicole Zanatta
Special Projects Manager
I make sure things happen exactly when they should. I oversee the planning and execution of special projects, ensuring all operational aspects run smoothly.
My favourite book:
Untamed by Glennon Doyle (we can do hard things!)
What I love about working at Self Space:
That I get to be part of the most brilliant team! I’m always surrounded by such amazing humans who genuinely support me and I think that’s really special.
Erika Fahndrick
Front of House
As part of the Front of House team, I’m here to help you feel welcome and comfortable in our Spaces. Any questions – from a drink request to booking assistance – I’m happy to help.
My favourite song:
I’m torn between saying Ivy by Taylor Swift or Too Late to Turn Back Now by Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose
What I love about working at Self Space:
I feel incredibly lucky to be working with such a warm and supportive team. I’m super passionate about making people feel safe, welcome, and comfortable, and I’m very excited to have the opportunity to do so everyday.
Anna Davies
Psychoeducation Manager
Human first, therapist second. Heading up a deliriously wonderful team of therapists, who facilitate curious and compassionate workshops with individuals working within companies, that are in partnership with Self Space. I also curate and deliver our content alongside our Psychoeducational Leads for our partners and for individuals. A big part of my role is getting to know our partners and their people teams, and listening well to them; so that we are holding space for people that feels meaningful and warm.
Favourite song:
Bennie and The Jets by Elton John…never fails to get me up out of my seat
What I love about working at Self Space:
There is something magical and permission-giving that comes from bringing people into a space together, inviting vulnerability and curiosity, and sharing the oh-so-normal idea that we are all, inherently messy. I am so lucky to hear people say things like ‘I didn’t realise other people felt like that’ or ‘I thought it was only me’. It will never ever, not feel like a privilege.
Nina Gaul
Psychoeducation Lead
My role involves being part of the team who create, develop and deliver workshops, talks and trainings that offer theory, practical tools and reflective spaces. I also help to support the Psychoeducation Facilitators in the preparation process and successful delivery of workshops and I meet with some of our existing partners to ensure that our workshops are attending to the needs of their organisations. I am also part of the Self Space Retreat team so plan, create and facilitate our retreats in beautiful locations (how lucky am I!).
My favourite song:
Hip Hop Song by Coco and The Butterfields – total feel good song
What I love about working at Self Space:
Two things stand out for me….the team that I work with at Self Space, everyone is passionate, creative, caring and supportive – I genuinely really enjoy being part of this team.
The other is being able to engage in meaningful conversations through workshops, providing theory that helps people make sense of why they are thinking or feeling something and realising they aren’t alone, and then having the opportunity to offer people tools to help them overcome and embrace life’s ups and downs.
Lucy Davies
Psychoeducation Executive
My role is to coordinate and support all of our wonderful Psychoeducation work. From workshop bookings to partner check-ins and coordinating larger projects. I am here to help ensure the success of all our projects and Psychoeducation partnerships.
My favourite song:
Warm Love by Van Morison and anything by Wes Anderson.
What I love about working at Self Space:
The focus and drive and creativity at Self Space, I enjoy getting to meet and work with a lot of different people as part of my role.
Ryan Campinho Valadas
Psychoeducation Lead
Psychoeducation is the department at Self Space which manages, coordinates, and delivers everything that is not 1:1 therapy. This includes all of our corporate and public facing training and events: workshops, mental health awareness training for leaders, other CPD certified training, retreats, etc. In particular, I’m a Lead for our Tools for Leaders offering which is a specialised and bespoke training for anyone who is a leader in an organisation. I’m also a Lead for our upcoming Social space, which will include a wide variety of workshops, talks, and events focusing on bringing people together in these times of great upheaval and uncertainty. Alongside this work, I specialise in Psychosexual & Relationships Psychotherapy as a therapist and lecturer.
My favourite book:
There are many, but Just Kids by Patti Smith is one I cherish deeply.
What I love about working at Self Space:
Creativity. Passion. Innovation. And most importantly, an extremely talented and joyous group of people.
Alice Humphreys
Growth Director
My job is to bring Self Space to as many people and businesses as possible, in our bid to bring Everyday Mental Maintenance to the world. We really, really believe that everyone deserves to feel healthy and happy within themselves and the communities they belong to, and our job is to make that happen.
My favourite book:
Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov, closely followed by Mrs Dalloway, by Virginia Woolf
What I love about working at Self Space:
The people and the mission. We work so well together as a team, and watching us change the world together bit by bit is the most rewarding experience.
Olivia Muir
Clinical Operations Lead
I look after the clinical and operational sides of Self Space – from making sure we’re offering top-quality therapy, to supporting our therapists and getting stuck into things like site expansion, safeguarding and service improvements. I also see clients myself, which keeps me connected to the heart of the work.
