From The Depths Of Addiction To The Confidant Of The Rich And Famous, A Founder’s Story with Samuel Robinson
Samuel (Sam) started his career working in addiction treatment and now runs a consulting and psychotherapy business supporting those in positions of ultra-wealth, fame, and power through experiences such as trust issues, loneliness, anxiety, family conflict, depression, and addictions Sam has now moved into private practice in London, where he helps some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs find a greater connection in their relationships, authenticity, meaning, and happiness in all areas of their life.
Tell us about your childhood and where you grew up
“I grew up in a small town in southwest England. My childhood was fractious, to say the least involving a parent in addiction, divorce, social services, and the death of my mother. And this was all by the age of 6. At 8 I went to boarding school where I remained until I was 18. My father was from a line of successional wealth having had very successful entrepreneurs as parents, my grandparents. I grew up experiencing the light and dark of wealth in many regards. In my teenage years and early 20s, I suffered from addiction, fuelled by a modest inheritance that got me to a place of despair and desperation perhaps earlier than some. For which I will be eternally grateful. At 24 I found recovery and started on my new journey of personal and professional transformation. 32 now, the founder of 2 businesses and in an industry a business that I love, I have never been happier. But I went through hell and back to get there.
How did you get started as an entrepreneur?
I found myself at the start of the pandemic in a dilemma, The addiction treatment sector in the UK was not hiring and I realized that in order to create security for myself and my family I would need to set out on my own. This started with a role as a contract Live-in Counsellor supporting clients with Ultra-high net worth and high social profiles in experiences such as addictions, family conflict, and mental health. I found here a unique joy of working with the unhappiness that can come from wealth and success. After 2 years in this role, I founded an Addiction Treatment Consulting business supporting the development of innovative and best practices in luxury high-end treatment. Within months I was invited to speak on the matter at an internationally renowned conference (which I sadly had to withdraw from due to a family matter) and I had a caseload supporting teams to develop and align their practices in line with the highest standard of clinical care. However, like any seasoned entrepreneur will tell you I was presented with a dilemma that needed a pivot. My 1:1 private psychotherapy was thriving supporting UHNWIs around issues with trust and mental and personal issues that presented as a result of their wealth, and there was no longer space to run the B2B consulting and offer 1:1 therapy. So, I pivoted the consulting business and now work as both a personal psychotherapist and non-financial advisor to UHNWi’s, family office family business around issues associated with wealth and relationships, mental health, family conflict, and interpersonal communications. I have never been happier, and I cannot wait to see what 2024 will bring.
What is one business lesson you would tell a startup founder?
Never be afraid to pivot in line with the demands of the market. It might be that one vision has to shift to allow space for a new one. Work with authenticity, courage, and above all ethics. Because once you cross that ethical line it is very hard to redefine yourself.
