Co-founders Sean Boyd and Mark Frank (standing) join Stephanie Diaz, community liaison, in the lobby of Stapleton’s Sondermind Wellness Center. The Stapleton location is the newest of nine in the Denver/Boulder metro area.

In the French language, the word sonder can mean “to probe” or “to search.” That’s exactly what Mark Frank was doing when he began to think about a better way for therapists and patients to connect. A U.S. Army veteran and Stapleton resident, Frank’s business background in medical services and technology prompted him to imagine an innovative way to help patients find a therapist quickly and efficiently. His vision was to “really move the needle” to reduce barriers and improve the patient experience.

Along the way, Frank connected with Sean Boyd, a therapist and clinician with a practice in a shared office for behavioral health providers. Together, Frank and Boyd co-founded Sondermind, a two-pronged business concept designed to make mental health and wellness services more accessible and convenient for consumers, and offering technical services to assist therapists with the day-to-day business of managing their practices. These became Sondermind Wellness Centers and Sondermind, Inc.

The newest Sondermind Wellness Center is now open in Stapleton. It is the ninth location to serve patients in the metro Denver/Boulder area. Sondermind centers can accommodate 30 to 50 carefully vetted providers in a shared office concept that offers prospective patients quick response time, ready provider accessibility, and ease of scheduling.

Sean Boyd relaxes in one of the therapy rooms. Licensed mental health providers can use office space to best accommodate the needs of their practices and patients.

Sondermind, Inc. is a medical software program enabling patients to find a provider match by using an algorithm similar to those used on dating website platforms. When information about preferred location, appointment times, areas of concern, and insurance coverage is entered, the system will offer “therapist matches.” A live chat feature can help consumers navigate the site and answer questions in real time. Prospective patients can contact one therapist, or several, to schedule consultations to determine the best fit.

Site users can also perform a directory search to view photos and profiles of a full spectrum of provider types and specialties. Sondermind providers include Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), Nurse Practitioners, Psychologists (Ph.D), and Psychiatrists (MD). With over 300 providers practicing at Sondermind Wellness Centers, patients have access to all levels of care and can search by insurance or self-pay preferences. Return calls to consumers are usually made within an hour, reducing the wait time to schedule consults and appointments. “It takes courage for people to acknowledge they need help navigating life situations,” says Frank. “Removing obstacles helps make behavioral health an important part of overall individual wellness.”

Sondermind is located at 3401 Quebec Street, Suite 4500. To learn more about Sondermind and see a list of wellness center locations, visit www.sondermind.com or call 720.330.3713.