Hi, we’re Erica and Joe, the Co-founders of humanStreams. We started humanStreams because we recognized that while psychotherapy is highly effective, it is simply too expensive and not scalable enough to support society, even if everyone has access. We needed to rethink the system. Our idea was to get people to engage in the core of the psychotherapeutic process, reflecting deeply and letting out their thoughts, on their own.

 

Our thinking originated during Erica’s PhD research at Stanford University, where she blended concepts from Design Thinking, Psychology, and Palliative Care. Her work engaged families at Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital in deep reflection, by responding to creative and thoughtful prompts, to help them process their traumatic experiences of stem cell transplantation.

 

The results were clear. The prompts were a breakthrough in helping them reflect and express their deepest pain more comfortably and easily. Participants felt excited and inspired, with a sense of relief and deeper purpose. And they gained insight into their core human needs and how to move forward.

 

There are broader lessons here. Therapeutic levels of deep reflection can be done on our own, without a coach or therapist, and can even be enjoyable and inspiring. When combined with the coaching relationship and accountability that only humans can provide, the process is transformed, unlocking massive efficiency that allows many more people to gain access to effective mental healthcare. Our goal is to build the most efficient psychotherapeutic platform in the industry, meeting people where they’re at in their busy lives and making mental healthcare accessible to all.