Octave

When nearly 40% of people begin their mental health journey in health plan directories, the quality of that experience determines everything that follows. WiseMatch brings real-time matching and booking into health plan directories to turn a fragmented experience into something that actually works for patients, providers, and plans alike. We like to think of it as turning directories from static lists into dynamic pathways to care. Hear from our CEO, Sandeep Acharya (he/his), on why this requires industry-wide collaboration: https://lnkd.in/g_jijBFs

At 35, I found out I had almost no eggs left. I did not see it coming. Well actually… What’s hard to admit is that I felt as if I shouldn’t have been surprised. I knew the science. I knew fertility declines with age. I knew I wanted to be a mama. But I still kept saying after this next milestone, after this next promotion, after this next event. Next, next, next. Until I waited too long. I did three IUI cycles and six IVF cycles. And somewhere in the middle of all of it, I left my job. Sure, I couldn't keep up with every meeting AND every doctor's appointment. The physical side effects were real. But the mental overload was what broke me. I was stuck, so consumed by whether any of it was ever going to work and whether “mama” would ever be a title I could have, that I couldn't focus on anything else. What got me through was my therapist, my husband, and a community that showed up in ways I didn’t expect. My therapist kept reminding me: "If you want to be a mom, you will be a mom, in whatever way that ends up meaning." I held onto that sense of hope more than I can explain. I got lucky. Two embryos worked. I’m now sitting here deeply grateful as a mom of two. I recognize I’m saying this from a place of privilege. Not everyone has the resources or safety net I did. And it was still really damn hard. Being on the other side of the journey, I am thinking about every person in the thick of it right now. I see you and how hard it is to juggle everything life throws at you while putting everything you’ve got towards trying to become a parent. The infertility community is one you only know about once you’re in it. If you’re in it, we’re here for you. As a leader at Octave, a working mom, a friend, a coworker, I am here to have the conversation. During National Infertility Awareness Week, it felt like the time to start it by sharing my story. We talk a lot about “having it all” but we don’t talk about the quiet tradeoffs we make along the way. When you’re raising tiny humans, or trying to, tradeoffs will always be a part of it. Community and honest conversation should be too.

Grand gestures don’t build lasting bonds. Showing up consistently does. I recently spoke with Parade about the top habits of highly respected grandparents, and what we found is that the best relationships all have something in common: consistency. This is something I've learned from almost two decades of clinical practice, and thankfully, from my own life too. I see how my own parents show up for my son. They are there for moments big and small, and take a genuine interest in him as a kid and the person he is today. In my work at Octave, I hear how the presence of grandparents can help the well-being of the entire family unit. For the kid, grandparents can help that child build confidence, increase emotional intellence, and adopt family traditions that contribute to a sense of self.  Being present is the most important thing any person can give to another, and that is especially true for a grandparents relationship with their grandchildren. Read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/gtcSCtPU

What songs would you add?

April is a natural reset point: new quarter, new rhythms, new priorities. It’s also a good reminder that mental health doesn’t follow a calendar. Whether you’re setting goals, navigating change, or just trying to keep up, taking care of your mental well-being is part of the work, not separate from it. We’re thinking a lot about sustainable ways to support both clients and the people who care for them and what it really means to build teams where that support is built in. Because the way we build teams directly shapes the care we deliver. So we'd love to hear from you. Tell us in the comments about the times you've felt supported or routines your workplace has had that made you feel like your mental well-being mattered. 👇

For people who are highly empathetic, being around others isn’t always energizing, it can be deeply draining. In a recent piece from Parade, our Head of Clinical Care, Golee Abrishami, PhD, shares how empathy and sensory overload are often connected, and why some people leave social situations feeling exhausted rather than fulfilled. She also outlines practical ways to recognize these patterns and re-energize, which is something we see often in therapy. At Octave, we think a lot about how people experience the world differently. For some, empathy is a strength, but without the right tools, it can also lead to burnout. Understanding how your nervous system responds to environments is a key part of taking care of your mental health. Proud to see Golee continuing to bring this perspective into broader conversations. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eCf_ETsS

Working parents aren’t just managing schedules, they’re managing emotional ecosystems. The invisible labor of parenting often extends beyond logistics: anticipating needs, regulating household emotions, navigating guilt, and carrying the mental load of “what’s next.” And when that emotional labor collides with professional expectations, burnout isn’t surprising, it’s predictable. But burnout in working parents isn’t simply a time management issue. It’s often a nervous system issue, shaped by competing roles, limited support structures, and cultural narratives about what “good parenting” should look like. Support for working parents can’t just be flexibility on paper. It needs to include psychological safety, realistic expectations, and acknowledgment of the emotional work happening behind the scenes. When we better understand the mental load parents carry, we create workplaces that support humans, not just productivity.

New quarter, same mission: expanding access to high-quality mental health care. But growth doesn’t happen without the right people. This April, our Talent team is focused on connecting with clinicians who are ready to do meaningful work without burnout, and without compromise. Supporting mental health starts with supporting the people who provide it. We’re excited to take this journey with you! Check out the Clinical Roles we're looking to fill this month: ➡️ Mental Health Therapist, 1099 - Illinois, Chicago Area: https://lnkd.in/e22W34fU ➡️ Mental Health Therapist, 1099 - New York, New York City - Flatiron Clinic: https://lnkd.in/gdhJur3C ➡️ Mental Health Therapist, 1099 - North Carolina, Raleigh/Durham Area:https://lnkd.in/gbE6kwRd ➡️ Mental Health Therapist, 1099 - Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Area: https://lnkd.in/gXm-mArS (Full list of open roles here: https://lnkd.in/g5sKc9qu)

In this piece from VICE Media, Octave therapist Hailey P., shares how our tendency to romanticize past decades isn’t accidental, it’s a psychological response to feeling overwhelmed, over connected, and stretched thin. At Octave, we see this often: when the present feels complex, people look for something that feels simpler, safer, and easier to hold onto. Proud to see Hailey bringing this perspective into a broader cultural conversation! Read full article here: https://lnkd.in/e_-ruRA3