Mindly is a concept designed to make therapy more affordable, approachable, and user-friendly for Millennials and Gen Z. It’s not a real app (yet), but a vision for better mental health access through smart design.
Introduction
Mental health care should be simple and accessible, but for many, it isn’t. High costs, confusing platforms, and lingering stigma often keep people from seeking help. Mindly is a UX project aimed at creating a more affordable, user-friendly, and approachable therapy platform for Millennials and Gen Z.
This project follows a structured UX methodology, incorporating user research, personas, empathy mapping, journey mapping, wireframing, and UI design to create a meaningful solution for accessible mental health support.
Research & User Insights
To understand the key barriers people face when seeking therapy, I conducted surveys and 1:1 interviews with potential users. The findings revealed major pain points:
High Costs: Therapy is too expensive for many.
Complexity: Finding the right therapist is overwhelming.
Stigma: Many are hesitant to seek help due to fear of judgment.
Privacy Concerns: Users are worried about confidentiality.
Lack of Peer Support: Many want a mix of professional therapy and community-driven interaction.
The user persona represents the target audience, providing a clear picture of their needs and struggles.
One such user is Tyson, a 24-year-old master's student in Berlin, balancing academic stress with feelings of isolation. He wants therapy but struggles with affordability and finding the right match.
To further explore Tyson’s pain points, I created an Empathy Map to capture his thoughts, emotions, and behaviors while navigating therapy options.
This visualization helps pinpoint the emotional journey of a user trying to access mental health support.
Defining the User Experience
With a clearer understanding of the target user, the next step was to map out their journey. The User Journey Maphighlights key touchpoints, emotions, and actions from the moment a user searches for therapy to when they establish a routine.
This map provides insights into where users struggle most and how to improve their experience.
Based on this journey, I identified key features Mindly needed to succeed:
Transparent Pricing – No hidden fees, making therapy affordable.
Smart Therapist Matching – A guided process to find the right therapist.
Community Support – Safe, anonymous peer discussions.
Privacy-First Approach – Secure messaging and data protection.
Simple & Intuitive UI – A stress-free experience from start to finish.
To validate these features, I conducted a Competitive Analysis to compare Mindly against existing platforms like BetterHelp, Talkspace, and 7 Cups.
* Only for paid professional therapy.
** Offers financial aid.
*** Accepts insurance, which may reduce cost.
This table highlights Mindly’s advantages over competitors, including affordability, community-driven support, and accessibility.
Designing the Solution
With user research and competitive insights in place, I moved into ideation and wireframing. The goal was to ensure that users could navigate the app effortlessly, from signing up to booking a session.
Sketching & Wireframing
Early sketches helped visualize potential layouts and interactions. I focused on a minimalist, calming design that reduces cognitive load and makes therapy more approachable.
These sketches laid the foundation for the app’s user flow and interface.
Final UI Screens
Each screen was carefully designed to ensure ease of use and a stress-free experience. Below are the core screens:
Key Takeaways & Impact
Mindly showcases how thoughtful UX design can remove barriers to mental health support. Key takeaways include:
User Research Drives Design – Understanding real struggles leads to more impactful solutions.
Simplicity Enhances Accessibility – A clean, intuitive interface makes therapy approachable.
Community Support Boosts Engagement – Peer connections complement professional help.
While Mindly is a conceptual project, it highlights how UX design can transform mental health accessibility, making therapy more inclusive and approachable.