Anxious As Anything, a mental health resource hub created during the pandemic, sought to expand its offerings by exploring therapy matchmaking. Our task was to design a prototype that would differentiate itself from competitors like BetterHelp, addressing user pain points with a fresh, approachable perspective.

We identified key opportunities for a less clinical, more user-friendly experience, emphasizing shorter questionnaires and accessible information. The resulting prototype not only aligned with Anxious As Anything’s vibrant, “homey” branding but also incorporated a streamlined therapist-matching system that Chip, the founder, could showcase to potential investors.

Duration: 3-week sprint

Team: Sophie Count, Kate Wziatek, Isobel Kieran, Daniel Kenyon

Tools: Figma, FigJam, Maze

THE gap in the market

With NHS mental health referrals taking up to 18 weeks and therapy-seeking users overwhelmed by clinical processes, there was a clear gap in the market for a more approachable, efficient platform.

KEY STATISTICS

- Conducted 11 user interviews, 30 Maze tests, and 4 usability test rounds with 8 participants each.

- Gathered data from 100+ Instagram poll responses confirming demand for therapy services.

- Designed a prototype that reduced onboarding steps by over 50% compared to competitors.

- Integrated user-preferred features like therapist filters (gender, background, specialization) and community support spaces.

KEY findings

- 93% of respondents considered therapy, but only 64% accessed it.

-Users desired therapist filters (e.g., religion, gender) to ensure compatibility.

-Overwhelming, clinical language discouraged engagement.

- Long, emotionless questionnaires were a barrier, especially when users were already struggling.

our solution

We created a therapist matchmaking tool that matched users with therapists based on personalised criteria while maintaining Anxious As Anything’s friendly and supportive tone.

KEY features

Two streamlined quizzes: One for onboarding (customising the app experience) and one for therapist matching.
‍Simplified onboarding: Reduced steps, focusing on immediacy and user needs.
‍Accessible design: Replaced emojis with clear, non-triggering language.
‍Community integration: A space to connect with others facing similar challenges.

Design process

Research and Ideation
- Competitive analysis revealed BetterHelp’s 30-step onboarding was overly complex and unaligned with user needs.
- Using insights from polls, interviews, and usability tests, we prioritised simplicity and clarity.
- Ran a collaborative design studio with Chip, answering the question:
"How might we help users take active steps toward improving their mental health in a straightforward and enjoyable way?"

Prototyping
- Collaborated on sketches and low-fidelity prototypes, iterating based on user feedback.
- Created a vibrant, user-friendly UI with a clear path to resources or therapy.

Usability Testing
- Tested prototypes with 4 rounds of user feedback.
- Refined questionnaire content to avoid clinical overload and emotional triggers.

Reflection

This project was both challenging and rewarding. The tight timeline pushed us to prioritize efficiency and communication, resulting in one of my proudest UI designs back in 2022. Collaborating closely with Isobel highlighted the importance of trust and teamwork in delivering a polished product.

Takeaway: Thoughtful design and user-centered processes can transform overwhelming challenges into opportunities for real impact.