After earning an undergrad in social development and psychology at the University of Waterloo and a master’s in business at Sauder School of Business at UBC, Steve Hallman hadn’t imagined returning home during a global crisis. But when his parents’ business needed support, he stepped in and found inspiration along the way. 

“My dad is a psychologist and was a therapist. He ran his own personal practice for 30 years and saw everything you could see. I grew up around that,” said Hallman. 

That experience planted the seed for UPI Health, a Waterloo-based startup that connects Canadians with therapists through online sessions and ongoing advisor support between sessions. The goal is simple, to make it easier for people to get the help they need and harder for them to give up. 

“If I walked up to anybody on the street and asked where they’d go if they needed a therapist, it would be a pretty fragmented response,” said Hallman. “Most people could Google it, but there’s no real name out there that people trust as a go-to. So we’re hoping to build that.”

Finding the right fit from the start

UPI Health starts by connecting users directly to a health advisor who will match you to the right therapist based on your own unique needs. The goal is to reduce the frustration of trial-and-error matching and connect each person with someone truly compatible from the start. 

Hallman also added the support of health advisors who follow up after sessions and help clients stay engaged. 

“We’re really trying to match people with their personality, their culture, where they come from and their experience,” he said.

By combining a pre-screening strategy with follow-ups from real health advisors, UPI Health creates a personalized, human-centred experience that goes beyond other standard online therapy platforms. 

Where tech meets care

Hallman says the idea isn’t just about making therapy accessible for Canadians, it’s about changing how people think about it. 

“We go to the gym to work on our body and our physical health, so, why don’t we go to a therapist to work on our mind and emotional health?” said Hallman.

Early user feedback has helped the team understand what keeps people from starting therapy in the first place. Cost is a significant barrier. Fear is another. 

“Price is hard and judgment is a huge factor,” said Hallman. “Like being afraid to get started, being afraid to commit and being afraid to change.”

Plugging into Waterloo’s ecosystem

Hallman grew up in Waterloo Region and still calls it home. 

“I can see Communitech from my window,” he said.

UPI Health recently joined as a member of  Communitech Pro Squad, which allows Communitech member companies to access trusted advice from pre-vetted sources and trusted business professionals.

“We’re just starting to plug into the community,” he said. “That’s what makes this place special. Founders here talk openly about what they’re going through. We want to be part of that conversation.”

For Hallman, building UPI Health in Waterloo is about more than location. 

“I think people need that right now. Coming out of COVID, I think there’s still a lot of disconnection,” he said. “People are maybe talking to ChatGPT about their problems instead of talking to real people.”

Hallman believes in the importance of belonging to a community that understands both the challenge and the importance of mental health and wellness. 

A homegrown solution for Canadian mental health

Hallman sees a national opportunity for improved access to mental health support. Canada lacks a recognized, homegrown mental health program. This is something UPI Health aims to change.

“There are a few big names in the U.S., but nothing Canadians really recognize,” Hallman said. “We want to be that name, built here, for here.”

He hopes that by normalizing therapy and building a better way to access it, UPI Health can help more people take the first step toward better mental well-being.

“Get rid of the stigma,” he said. “It’s time to throw it out and just go ahead.”

Waterloo Region is home to founders who build solutions that put people first.

Discover more local innovators making a difference through the Communitech network.