Dr Rachel Kemp and Dr Hayley Poole, our wonderful founders of The Purple House Clinic Rugby, recently celebrated their clinic’s second anniversary. Founded in May 2021 the clinic has experienced remarkable growth in response to the local community’s demand for specialised mental health support services.
Rachel stated, “Our primary objective is to provide the highest quality psychological healthcare. We just knew that offering a safe, comfortable and specialist space was the right thing to do. The Purple House Clinic is designed to be a welcoming place for everyone – from homely décor to having our skilled staff and clinicians onsite and accessible. The last two years have proved that our gut instincts were correct!”
Initially, the team consisted of only Rachel and Hayley, but they have now expanded to include two administrators and 15 specialist associate clinicians at the clinic. Offering an impressive 150 appointments each month to clients, they constantly seek to enlarge their team to meet the ever-growing demand for their services
Before establishing The Purple House Clinic Rugby, both Rachel and Hayley worked in the National Health Service (NHS). As time went on, they became increasingly frustrated, feeling constrained by limited resources and a rigid structure, which restricted the support they could offer their clients. The two friends were confident that expanding their own skills and scope to assist others was the way forward.
Rachel reflected, “To think that two years ago I was wondering if we’d made the right decision, and now we’re here! I’m incredibly proud of the range of services we offer and the calibre of professionals who work with us…it’s such an achievement in such a short space of time. Leaving our old roles behind us and starting this business was nerve-wracking, but it’s been so rewarding. Together, Hayley and I haven’t just changed our own lives, we’re having a positive impact on the lives of hundreds of people in and around our community too.”
Purple House Clinic Rugby caters to clients of all ages, from the very young to the elderly. Although women tend to seek help more frequently, Rachel observed that an increasing number of men are now coming forward to access local services. This shift is partly in response to the pandemic and partly due to a growing general awareness and acceptance, a development that the entire team welcomes.
Hayley shared their future plans, saying, “Our plans for the future are bold – because we believe wholeheartedly in the efficacy and importance of our services. In the next year, we plan to have our own dedicated clinic space and to increase our team of associates up to 20. In five years’ time, that number will be between 25 and 30. We live in a world where our mental health is being tested to the limit by new challenges and difficulties, faced by all ages. We’ll continue to be a bastion of ethical, personal and easy-to-access support when people need it most.
Purple House Clinic Rugby is located within Eastlands Court Business Centre, St. Peters Road, and serves clients from Rugby and neighbouring areas, including Lutterworth and Daventry. With particular expertise in adult mental health, child mental health, child behaviour, developmental trauma, physical health and psychosexual difficulties, the team comprises of Clinical Psychologists, Forensic Psychologists, Educational Psychologists, Psychotherapists and Play Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Therapists.