Emerging Business of the Year: Relief Mental Health

How do you launch a successful business in a global pandemic? Provide a service that people truly need, with innovations to make it easily accessible. Susan Mueller, founder of Relief Mental Health, embraced that philosophy and found that demand for her company’s services outpaced expectations, leading to rapid expansion to 11 locations in less than five years.

Mueller’s decision to open Relief Mental Health arose from her professional experience in the healthcare industry as a marketing and sales executive, as well as her personal observations as family members navigated mental health treatment.

“People who have a mental health diagnosis are desperate to get help and it takes a lot to pick up the phone,” says Mueller. “For me, it was about how we could remove barriers. I wanted to be able to really give people access, and make it fast, comprehensive, and a place that just really put the patient first.”

In January 2020, Mueller opened the first Relief Mental Health office in Oak Brook offering OCD and depression treatment through transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). At the time, TMS was not widely available and appointments were in high demand. As an essential business, Relief Mental Health was allowed to stay open during the COVID lockdowns. Flexible appointment hours and an emphasis on prompt intake also attracted a rapidly-growing flow of new clients, leading to the addition of more treatment options as well as a need for more locations.

Recognizing that many of Relief’s initial patients were coming from the North Shore, Mueller and her team added a Northbrook office in September 2020. Northbrook was a natural choice for the company; the firm’s Chief Medical Officer lives in the community, and a number of behavioral health partners are also nearby.  The business now has clinics in Illinois, Wisconsin and New Jersey, and will be opening in a few months in Colorado. The focus on prompt response remains at the heart of their business model. A centralized intake team in the Oak Brook corporate office is available to triage a situation over the phone and help get a patient into care quickly.

As the business expands, Mueller recognizes the importance of building community relationships. “The best way for us to help more patients is to have direct referrals from people who really understand what we do, whether it's from someone in the community or another provider,” she notes. “You can do all kinds of advertising, but community outreach is just as important.” Chamber membership is a vital part of that outreach strategy; Relief has participated in the annual Business Expo and other networking opportunities.

Mental health challenges require responsive, accessible treatment options, and Relief Mental Health has created a model for delivery that serves its clients well. The growth of this emerging business reflects the value of its services and the importance of its role in the community. We are delighted to recognize their accomplishments as the 2025 Northbrook Chamber Emerging Business of the Year.