ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A new mental health treatment center, Ellie Mental Health, opened in St. Petersburg in June, and its owners say they are working to make it a more affordable option for people in the area.

What You Need To Know

  •  Ellie Mental Health opened in St. Petersburg on June 3 

  •  Right now, the team consists of four licensed therapists, with two more expected to be added in July

  • The clinic's owners say they plan to expand to two more locations within the next couple years

For owner Christine Whisler, family was the driving force behind opening the clinic with her husband, Allen.

A few months after her wedding, Christine’s mom lost her battle to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a deterioration of the body and mind. Soon after, her grandmother also passed away.

Soon after, Christine was diagnosed with depression.

“August is really when I started to hit rock bottom when everything was settling in," she said. "At my worst, I was in the fetal position on our kitchen floor for five hours. I felt a hole in my heart."

To heal, she started going to therapy, but it took sessions with several different therapists to find the right one. And once she did, she faced another challenge.

“It was 175 bucks an hour, and that's really expensive," she said. "So myself and some of our friends and family had to stop going, because it was so expensive."

Christine and her husband Allen decided to open Ellie Mental Health in St. Petersburg with the goal of making mental health treatment more affordable.

“Most clinics don't take insurance because, at the end of the day, the owners don't make as much money," Christine said. "We are community-focused — one of the requirements to be an owner (of an Ellie Mental Health clinic) is that you have to be from and within the community."

While Ellie Mental Health is a franchise, the Whislers said it is up to the owners to make it their own. To limit patient costs, Allen negotiated agreements with about 10 insurance companies, including Florida Blue and United Healthcare.

“Luckily, our insurance is, you know, for most people, it’s going to hopefully be around $50 at most for them,” he said.

The Whislers hired four full-time licensed therapists and say they will soon add two more. The facility began accepting patients last month and already has more than 60 clients.

“It just goes to show the need for mental health care without a wait list, and that accepts insurance,” Christine said.

Christine said she has come a long way, and that therapy saved her life.

She said she's found her own peace while helping others get the treatment they need.

The two are also working to get Medicaid and TRICARE insurances on board to help more people afford the services. Christine and Allen also said they are planning to expand to two more clinics in the next two years.