By Sophia Wyatt, Founder of Send Therapy Rooms
Welcome to our very first blog!
I thought it would be lovely to start by sharing a little about the history of Send Therapy Rooms, how I came to be here and why this rather special building means so much to me.
Many people assume that Send Therapy Rooms was originally a bungalow that was converted into a clinic. In fact, its history is quite different, and rather fitting considering what the building is used for today.
From Village Doctors’ Surgery to Send Therapy Rooms
Our building was purpose-built as the original doctors’ surgery for the village of Send.
It was owned by a group of five local GPs who provided medical care to generations of village residents.
The bungalow next door was built at the same time and was originally home to the village GP, meaning the two properties were connected from the very beginning.
When the new Villages Medical Centre was built on Send Barns Lane, the original surgery was no longer required for general practice. The GPs, who had since retired, retained ownership of the building and began leasing it to independent therapists and healthcare practitioners.
Over the years, the former surgery became home to a variety of different therapies, continuing its long association with caring for the health and wellbeing of the local community.
Meanwhile, the bungalow next door had been sold separately, and the deeds to the two properties were divided.
Little did I know that, many years later, my own family would become part of the building’s history.
A Chance Conversation That Changed Everything
In 2012, my parents moved into the bungalow next door to the former surgery.
My lovely mum was always chatting to people, and over the years she got to know one of the therapists renting the building.
Apparently, during one of their conversations, Mum mentioned that if the therapist ever decided to leave, her daughter would jump at the opportunity to take over the premises.
The funny thing is, I had absolutely no idea she’d said this!
At the time, I was running my own skin and laser business, and although having my own dedicated clinic was certainly something I would have loved, I hadn’t been actively looking for premises in Send.
Then, in 2021, completely out of the blue, I received a phone call offering me first refusal on taking over the lease.
It turned out Mum had quietly planted a seed all those years earlier.
Of course, I jumped at the opportunity.
A New Beginning During a Difficult Time
When I took over the building in 2021, it was looking rather tired and desperately needed some love and attention.
The treatment rooms, décor and facilities all needed updating, and transforming the premises into the professional, welcoming clinic I envisaged was going to be quite a challenge.
But there was another, much more personal reason why the opportunity meant so much to me.
My mum had terminal cancer.
Taking on the clinic meant I could be close to my parents while continuing to run my business and develop something I’d always wanted to create.
At the time, I was concentrating on getting the clinic up and running, juggling work, renovations and family life.
Looking back now, I genuinely believe Mum knew exactly what she was doing.
She knew that having my business next door would keep me close to Dad when she was no longer here.
We sadly lost Mum the following year, in 2022.
It’s only with hindsight that I’ve come to appreciate just how much that seemingly casual conversation changed the course of our lives.
Bringing Our Family Together
After Mum died, we began the difficult task of sorting through her belongings.
Among her things, I discovered plans she had made to extend the bungalow.
Those plans sparked another idea.
We decided to sell our family home in Guildford, use the proceeds to fund the extension and move to Send to live with Dad.
It was a big decision, but one that made perfect sense for our family.
Today, I live next door to Send Therapy Rooms with my family and Dad, in the very bungalow that was originally built for the village GP.
And in 2026, another unexpected opportunity arose.
I was given the chance to purchase the freehold of the former doctors’ surgery.
After years of the two properties being separately owned, this means bringing the bungalow and the original surgery back under the same ownership, just as they were when they were first built.
There’s something incredibly special about that.
What started as a conversation between my mum and a therapist has come full circle.
I only wish Mum were here to see it.
Five Years of Transforming Send Therapy Rooms
Over the past five years, I’ve gradually transformed the building, redecorating and improving the treatment rooms, updating facilities and creating a welcoming, professional environment for both practitioners and their clients.
It hasn’t all happened overnight, and there have certainly been challenges along the way!
But I’ve always had a clear vision of what I wanted Send Therapy Rooms to become.
I didn’t want to create just another beauty salon or a traditional medical clinic.
I wanted to create a place where independent medical, healthcare and holistic practitioners could work alongside one another, each running their own business while benefiting from a professional, supportive environment.
I also wanted to make the rooms accessible to therapists who were just starting out.
Setting up your own practice can be expensive and daunting, particularly when you’re faced with long commercial leases, business rates, equipment costs and the financial commitment of having your own premises.
By offering flexible room rental, I hoped to make it easier for qualified practitioners to establish and grow their businesses without those barriers.
And for the people visiting us, my vision was equally important.
I wanted our local community to have access to a wide range of qualified, professional, affordable and accessible treatments, all in one convenient location.
Why Accessibility Matters So Much to Me
Accessibility has always been at the forefront of my plans for Send Therapy Rooms.
As a double below-knee amputee, I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be when buildings, facilities or services haven’t been designed with accessibility in mind.
Having also cared for my mum throughout her illness, I understand how important it is for people to feel comfortable, supported and able to access the care they need.
Accessibility isn’t simply about being able to get through the front door.
It’s about considering the whole experience, from parking and moving around the building to feeling welcomed, respected and understood.
It’s something I continue to think about whenever I’m making improvements to the clinic.
I want Send Therapy Rooms to be a place where people of different ages, abilities and circumstances feel genuinely welcome.
Send Therapy Rooms Today
Today, I’m incredibly proud that Send Therapy Rooms is home to 20 independent practitioners, offering a wonderfully diverse range of professional services.
These include:
- Advanced skin and laser treatments: IPL, tattoo removal, skin rejuvenation, pigmentation, vascular treatments and scar management
- Medical aesthetics and skincare: Nurse-led and doctor-led aesthetic treatments, skin boosters and professional skincare
- Permanent makeup: Brows, lips and eyeliner enhancements
- Beauty and massage therapies: Facials, massage, waxing, nails and specialist skin treatments
- Counselling and psychotherapy: Individual counselling, relationship counselling and psychological support
- Clinical psychology: Specialist psychological assessment and therapy
- Hypnotherapy and NLP: Support with confidence, emotional wellbeing and personal challenges
- Physiotherapy and osteopathy: Musculoskeletal assessment, movement and physical wellbeing
- Podiatry: Professional foot care and specialist podiatry treatments
- Electrolysis: Permanent hair removal
- Healthcare and nursing services: Minor illness consultations, ear care and other nurse-led services
- Holistic therapies: Reiki, reflexology, cupping therapy, acupressure and relaxation treatments
Each therapist operates independently, bringing their own qualifications, professional experience and approach to client care.
We have an incredible mix of established healthcare professionals, experienced therapists and practitioners developing their own businesses.
It’s exactly the kind of community I hoped to create when I first took over the building.
You can find out more about our practitioners and their services on our Meet the Therapists page.
Looking to the Future
Although we’ve achieved a great deal over the past five years, I still have plenty of ideas!
There are further improvements I’d love to make to the building and its surroundings, continuing to develop the facilities and accessibility while preserving its character and history.
I’m particularly excited about the possibilities that come with owning the freehold and being able to plan for the long-term future of Send Therapy Rooms.
What I love most is that, despite all the changes over the years, the building is still fulfilling the purpose for which it was originally built: caring for the health and wellbeing of our community.
From a village doctors’ surgery to a multidisciplinary clinic, its role has evolved, but its connection to local healthcare has remained.
And for me, it’s become so much more than a workplace.
It’s part of our family story.
Thank You, Mum
I couldn’t finish this first blog without mentioning Mum one last time.
When I think about everything that’s happened since that phone call in 2021, I often wonder whether any of it would have happened without her.
A simple conversation, a little encouragement behind the scenes and a belief that the building would be perfect for me.
She never got to see everything Send Therapy Rooms has become, but I know she would be so proud.
Not just of the clinic, but of the wonderful community of therapists who work here and the people we’re able to help.
And I think she’d be particularly happy knowing that we’re all together next door, looking after Dad.
So, in many ways, Send Therapy Rooms is part of Mum’s legacy.
And I’m very grateful she made that conversation all those years ago.
Come and Visit Us
Whether you’re looking for a particular treatment, searching for a local healthcare professional or you’re a qualified therapist interested in joining our community, we’d love to welcome you.
Send Therapy Rooms
175 Send Road
Send, Woking
Surrey, GU23 7ET
We are conveniently located between Guildford and Woking, overlooking Send Lakes, with free parking directly outside.
Find out about therapy room rental
Thank you for taking the time to read our very first blog and for being part of the Send Therapy Rooms story.
Sophia x
Founder, Send Therapy Rooms