Ok, so the title gave away my big news.

Labyrinth Healing will be relocating to a larger space in 2013.  The office is moving from Westlake to south Austin.

I am very excited about this transition!  There’s much to do to prepare the space, and this got me thinking about therapy offices in general.  You know—the important stuff.

In searching for new space, I had a number of criteria that I needed to meet.

Here’s what I came up with:

The lobby will be nicer than this…

Quiet and convenient location.  It’s good to have an office that’s convenient to get to, but also has a bit of a “tucked away” feeling to it.  A heavily trafficked office can feel disruptive and work against getting into the therapy mindset.

The new therapy office is in 78748, set back against a residential neighborhood.  It’s about a half block from a good-sized intersection, so it’s easy to get to.

Lots of parking.  There’s nothing worse than running late to a therapy session and having trouble finding parking.  Or having to pay for parking each session—another annoyance!

Good soundproofing.  I can think of few things more unnerving than sitting in a therapist’s lobby and clearly hearing what’s being said in an office down the hall.  Most therapists use soundproofing machines for this reason.

In the new office, they will be adding extra insulation to the walls to help keep things quiet.  We may also use some noise machines, if we need to.  With soundproofing, it’s not just a comfort thing, but a matter of professional ethics and confidentiality, too!

…but not as nice as this!

Comfortable lobby.  Tea and water, magazines and music, and a comfortable spot to sit while you wait… having a quiet, peaceful lobby can help you mentally prepare for your session.

This is still in progress, but I’m looking forward to putting it together!  I’d be curious to hear what sorts of creature comforts you enjoy in lobbies and waiting rooms—please reply in the comments or send me an email and let me know what you like best!

In suite bathroom.  Something you don’t think about needing until you need one!

Large offices with views.  Every office in the new space has a window—nice for natural light or having a place to look if you don’t want to look at your therapist.  And all of the offices are a nice size—big enough to hold whatever needs holding.

ADA accessible.  The office is in a single story building that is ADA compliant.

Trees.  I don’t know what it is, but trees really make all the difference.  This office is in a new condo, so there are a few mature trees on site, and lots of younglings looking to grow!

A safe, comfortable therapy office can do all the holding you need when you’re doing this important work.

Chime in

What do you notice in therapy offices and waiting rooms?  Or lobbies in general?

What sorts of amenities and details do you appreciate?  Any waiting room horror stories you wanna share?

I’m really hungry for ideas on this, so please share yours!