Meela’s new approach of addressing mental health.

"Mismatched chemistry between a client and a therapist is a widespread problem! So, with the help of two research professors, we built the first evidence-based matching tool between client and therapist."

- Tiffany Boswell, co-founder of Meela

Women in Tech - Gothenburg (WITGBG) was born out of a desire to create a community of like-minded individuals in order to empower women working in technology. While there are a million ways of amplifying the voices and supporting our community members, our all-time favourite activity has been to inspire and introduce the trailblazers amongst us.  

Recently, we grabbed a digital fika with Tiffany and Natali, co-founders of Meela, an exciting and much anticipated startup. We were curious to get the scoop on Meela, a revolutionary new approach of addressing mental health in women, and meet the women in charge. Like your childhood best friends, both Tiffany and Natali are incredibly down to earth, smart and charming. We fell in love with them right away. What a vibrant duo on a mission to transform women’s mental health.

Meela in their own words

“We personalize mental health care for women through our evidence-based matching service. Meela is both a tool and web application with the ambition to be a global platform where women can find their best fit therapist, and therapist’s find their best fit client”

How Meela works

“With the help of two international researchers, we developed the first evidence-based matching system and algorithm that uses clinical metrics to calculate relational compatibility between client and therapist. Our matching technology personalizes mental health care by identifying what type of therapy the client needs and what therapist is most qualified and compatible to treat them. This enables us to offer women clinically the best treatment options from the start! 

Last fall, we tested the system with 30 women. They were each matched with a private psychologist within our network and we followed their therapy. The outcome - both clinically and experientially - was amazing to see. Since then, we have been putting all our efforts into realising our idea on a bigger scale.”

And why is Meela only for women?

“We are building a brand and a company around women's mental health. We want to be women's mental health specialists, and not another generalist. With this said however, we do not turn down men or non-binaries who contact us looking to get help and start therapy. Our matching tool works for everybody.”

Why a good match between a client and a therapist matters:

“Simply put, research shows that the better the relationship between you and your therapist is, the better your experience and clinical outcome of therapy will be.

Currently, psychologists and clients are matched based on luck or random availability. Both of us have first-hand experience in what it is like to start therapy with a therapist you just don’t click with. How you finally have the courage to seek help but find that the help you sought was not the right kind of help for you. We at Meela want to change this.  Instead of getting ‘the next best therapist’ to getting ‘the best therapist for them personally and their unique psychological needs’- backed by the research. “

Meet Natali Suonvieri
Co-founder & COO of Meela

I started a Facebook group called Stressgäris back in 2017, when I was on a sick leave for clinical burnout. Today, it’s Sweden’s largest community and platform for women and non-binaries suffering from stress related mental illness with over 7000 members. 

Over the years, I have noticed a recurring problem among our members, seeking recommendations to find the right psychologist who would match their individual needs and preferences. Many struggle finding the help and treatment they need for mainly, but not only stress-related mental illnesses. That’s why our mission at Meela is so important.

And her free time?

Sleep is important for me. I like to get 8-10 hours of sleep per night. I also play video games - everything from Harry Potter to GTA, exercise, and go out to nature. A new hobby that I picked up under Corona is to do puzzles. I love it!

Tiffany Boswell
Co-founder and CEO of Meela

My mother is a psychologist, so I grew up peeking behind the curtain of the profession. A therapist has no control over who comes to see them, until they are sat in their office. So, Meela also acts as an intermediary service for therapists to ensure they don’t work with clients that present problems that they don’t feel confident working with. So, it’s also about providing job satisfaction and greater clinical success to therapists. We realised that mismatched chemistry between a client and a therapist is a widespread problem, after speaking with hundreds of women.

And how does she spend her free time?
I am learning how to chill. It is an art in itself. I enjoy writing with a glass of whiskey, which gives me space to recharge and reflect.