As the sole UX intern at Olanah, I presented my research findings directly to the primary stakeholders. What began as research to support a beta launch led to a different outcome. Through therapist interviews and synthesis, it became clear that the product direction didn’t fully align with therapists’ real workflows and long-term needs.

Instead of moving forward with a misaligned beta, the team chose to pause the launch and reconsider the broader strategy. I was able to sit in on these conversations and share my perspective on next steps and see firsthand how research can meaningfully shape company decisions.

My Role

I helped shape and execute a research plan from start to finish.

• Research Strategy: Co-developed an interview approach centered on a conversational, podcast-like tone using a Hero’s Journey framework. This helped therapists reflect more openly on their growth, challenges, and identity.

• Interviews: Crafted the interview guide and conducted sessions focused on understanding therapists’ workflows and the realities of supporting clients outside of sessions.

• Synthesis: Processed and analyzed the data in Figma/FigJam, identifying themes that revealed misalignment between the product vision and therapist needs.

The Pivot

The research showed that there is much more to learn about the complexities of intertwining mental health and technology. We realized that our current approach wasn't going to empower therapists as we intended, leading the company to choose not to pursue in the launch.

This experience was a great learning opportunity that research is not just about validation but knowing when to take a step back.