Ellie Mental Health is a fast-growing mental health franchise model headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. And a new Bethesda location at 8120 Woodmont Ave., Suite 840, is the first of multiple Maryland practices that its franchise owner, Montgomery County native Shahzad Dastgir, plans to open this year. How it started: Dastgir was working as a consultant for Optum Inc. doing mergers and acquisitions with large health care systems, including mental health providers. Then about a year and a half ago, he came across Ellie Mental Health. Its cozy vibe was more reminiscent of a living room couch than a doctor’s office, and its therapists felt like friends, he said. It caught his attention.
Montgomery County native brings mental health franchise to Bethesda — with more to come
October 21, 2022