In recent years, self-care has transformed from a buzzword to a way of life, and with this cultural shift comes a larger embrace of mental health care and wellness. In 2015, the Pew Research Center reported that millennials spend more on services associated with self-care like life coaching, therapy, diet, fitness and personal improvement apps than their baby boomer counterparts.
So it should come as no surprise that SoCal tech companies have been there to help people gain easier access to these types of services. From guided meditation apps to therapist matching tech, take a look at five companies that are zeroing in on this growing industry and helping folks find their zen.
Headspace wants to help you meditate and live a little more mindfully. The nearly 20 million users of the company’s app are given access to hundreds of themed meditation sessions that tackle everything from anxiety and stress to better sleep quality. Headspace believes in the power of meditation so much that some of their employees practice during the workday, implementing 10-minute guided sessions throughout the week at their Santa Monica headquarters.
Need some sound advice? Mindsail’s platform gives users access to a diverse group of experts who provide advice on everything from how to improve your emotional well-being to changing relationship patterns. The LA-based company aims to help people make better choices that lead to a happier and healthier life, offering things like five-minute daily mood boosts, bite-sized coaching sessions and breathing exercises to accomplish that goal.
Finding a therapist that’s the right fit can mean a lot of trial and error. MyTherapistMatch’s matching technology aims to make this process easier by connecting users with therapists based on compatibility. Founder and CEO Corey Quinn started the company in 2009 after he faced difficulties trying to find a therapist. Users can complete a questionnaire that assesses personality, communication style and personal preferences, and then receive a list of local options that best fit those criteria.
Santa Monica-based Stop, Breathe & Think asks users to, well, do just that. The company’s emotional wellness platform allows users to check in on how they are feeling and practice breathing and meditation exercises. Stop, Breathe & Think originated from Tools for Peace, a non-profit that teaches mindfulness and meditation skills to inner-city youth. Last year, the company raised $2.4 million in funding.
Fitspot partners with companies to create corporate wellness programs for their employees. The LA-based company provides services like educational workshops, a wide variety of on-site fitness classes, health screenings, wellness management tools and stress relief programs. In addition to corporate clients, Fitspot works with property managers to design programs for their tenants.
