About our project
The problem we solve: Of the 1 in 5 US adults who need therapy, over 27% do not pursue therapy because they do not know where to begin. Meanwhile, over 75% of therapists in NYC have available slots in their caseload. My Wellbeing demystifies the therapist-search process for clients and connects individuals with compatible therapists who fit their needs.
About our solution:
My Wellbeing offers a 3-minute web-based questionnaire and optional high touch resources like phone calls and coffee meetings, in addition to an informative blog, to guide therapy-seekers through what is otherwise an overwhelming and isolating therapist-search process.
Progress to
date:My Wellbeing is creating the web and mobile platform for therapy-seekers to connect with compatible therapists who fit their needs. Learn more through our explainer video.
In just six weeks since completing a 10-week accelerator through New York University, My Wellbeing has grown to include over 200+ therapists, 90+ clients, and 15+ corporate partners, including brands like Care/Of, Glossier, and Birchbox. Therapists in our network experience significant growth in connections with clients and connections with other mental health professionals. We've been growing our key metrics 20% WoW and look forward to increasing the sophistication of our tech platform in the coming month to accommodate even faster growth.
About Our Team
Creator: Alyssa Petersel
Location: New York
Education: Northwestern University and NYU
Bio: ALYSSA PETERSEL, LMSW, is a writer, social worker, and entrepreneur. Alyssa is Founder and CEO of My Wellbeing (mywellbeing.us), where she helps therapy-seekers connect with therapists who fit their needs. She released her debut narrative nonfiction anthology, Somehow I Am Different: Narratives of Searching and Belonging in Jewish Budapest, in March 2016. SIAD has since earned a starred Kirkus Review, won Kirkus Reviews' Best Indie Books of 2016, won first place in the New York Book Festival for Autobiography/Biography, and participated in three national book festivals. Alyssa graduated from Northwestern University in 2013 with dual BA degrees in psychology and international studies, graduated summa cum laude from New York University in May 2017 with her Master's in Social Work, and graduated from The Writer's Institute non-fiction program at CUNY Graduate Center in May 2017. A native New Yorker, Alyssa now lives in Brooklyn and enjoys running, coffee, community, and social justice.
Hospital Affiliation: RevitaLife Group Therapy Practice
Title: Founder, CEO
Advanced Degree(s): LMSW
About Our Company
How We Help Patients
My Wellbeing helps patients save time, emotional distress and confusion, and money, by guiding the patient through a more directive, personalized, and informative therapist-search process.
How We Help Physicians
My Wellbeing saves time, money, frustartion, and feelings of isolation for therapists by providing a personalized client flow and access to regular My Wellbeing community events for mental health care providers.
How We Help Hospitals
My Wellbeing can help hospitals prodiver better therapist recommendations to outgoing patients to reduce re-entry and save time and costs. Many medical conditions correlate with fluctuating mental health conditions. Introductions to compatible and high quality therapists can ease the transition back into daily life outside of the hospital setting.
How We Help Partners
My Wellbeing helps organizations and teams provide better wellness resources to their leadership and staff, which improves self-esteem, workability, quality of interpersonal relationships, and overall health and wellbeing.
Challenge Mission
Key Milestones Achieved and Planned
My Wellbeing is creating the web and mobile platform for therapy-seekers to connect with therapists who fit their needs. Here is our explainer video.
In just six weeks since we finished a 10-week accelerator through New York University, we have grown to include over 100+ therapists, 90+ clients, and 15+ corporate partners, including brands like Care/Of, Glossier, and Birchbox. Therapists in our network experience significant growth in connections with clients and connections with other mental health professionals. We've been growing our key metrics 20% WoW and look forward to increasing the sophistication of our tech platform in the coming month to accommodate even faster growth.
Our Competitive Advantages
Our use of client and therapist questionnaires allow us to learn personal and clinical information in match making that our competitors do not yet utilize. Psychology Today, one leader in the space, provides a directory-style navigation system that is experienced as confusing and overwhelming by clients. ZocDoc, another leader in the space, provides easy scheduling for clients and therapists, but the features are not specifically designed for consistent therapy meetings, which causes confusion and frustration for both clients and therapists. Compared to Talkspace, a new leader in the space, which connects clients to teletherapy, My Wellbeing prioritizes in-person connections as we know that rapport and nonverbal communiation is primarily responsbile for therapy's ultimate healing. Our directive, supportive, personalized, and educational approach differentiates us from our competition and sets the stage for growth.
Barriers to Entry
Our industry know-how and network connections enable our unique growth. This product at this time does not require a patent. Our lead will be determined by our team grit, diversity of skill sets, and distinct and experienced advising.
Traction, Funding and Partners
We have raised $10,000 through a grant from New York University and have otherwise supported the company through bootsrapping. We are now raising $250,000.
Innovation Details
Intellectual Property Summary
Anything that needs to be kept private is not revealed in this campaign. At this time, we have no strong need for a patent.
Clinical Information
NSDUH, SAMHSA (2015): 27% of US adults in need of therapy do not pursue therapy because they do not know where to begin
Ramseyer, F., & Tschacher, W. (2011). Nonverbal synchrony in psychotherapy: Coordinated body movement reflects relationship quality and outcome. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 79(3), 284-295. - speaks to the importance of rapport and nonverbal communication in positive therapy experiences.
Regulatory Status
This project does not require FDA approval.
How we will use the funds raised
The funding and grants from this program will be used to launch the next iteration of My Wellbeing's beta technology platform and mobile app and to account for legal expenses and compensation for the next three hires (sales, operations, and technology).
Thank You
Thank you for your interest in My Wellbeing. I launched this project following three personal experiences: one as a patient looking for a therapist, another as a social worker assisting clients in finding a therapist, and a third as a therapist looking to meet with more clients. My hope is to build trust among clients and therapists to help you and people like you enter a healing relationship, through which you feel safe and seen. If you or someone you know are looking for a therapist, I am happy to help. If you are working with a therapist you love, I would love to meet them, too. If you would like to bring My Wellbeing to your workplace, let's make it happen. Please email me at alyssa@mywellbeing.us.
