Founder Story
From Community to Company
Berlin, 2013: Johanne Schwensen, freshly arrived from Copenhagen with a degree in clinical psychology, was searching for fellow Scandinavian therapists in the city. A quick Google search returned exactly two results, and one of them was Jakob Lusensky, a psychoanalyst and former brand director already deeply involved in Berlin’s psychological community. When they met at a café in Sonnenallee, they quickly realized they were grappling with the same question: Why do so many therapists feel isolated in their work? And how could that change?
At the time, Jakob was immersed in Stillpoint Spaces, a hub for lectures, discussions, and art events with a psychoanalytic focus. Johanne, new to Berlin and eager to connect, brought fresh energy and perspectives. The idea of a platform that would both connect therapists and make therapy more accessible began to take shape.
For Johanne and Jakob, therapy was never just about a nameplate on an office door – it was about real connections. Interestingly, they had already seen this principle at work in a completely different world: the electronic music scene. In their past lives, Jakob ran a record label in Stockholm and Tokyo, while both had DJ'ed, facilitated club events, and created spaces for resonance. Now, they were doing the same for therapists. The mechanics were surprisingly similar: Visibility helps people find you. Community keeps you inspired. And strong networks create a foundation for real growth.
They first established a small community practice in Berlin-Neukölln, but demand quickly outgrew the space. More and more therapists were looking for new ways to organize themselves, and more and more people were searching for the right therapist. The usual online directories? Too impersonal, too rigid. The big therapy platforms? Designed more for tech investors than for therapists. It was clear: there had to be another way.
It’s Complicated became the counter-model: A platform that puts therapists first. No faceless profiles, but real personalities. Not a static listing, but a living network. A space where therapists can present themselves authentically, manage their practice with ease, and support one another – without having to rely on a large corporation.
Research shows that successful therapy starts and ends with the relationship, also known as the therapeutic alliance between therapist and client. It’s even more important than the modality itself. That’s why It’s Complicated doubles down on making the right match between therapist and client, whether through people exploring and discovering on their own, or through personalized matching by psychologists.
And what’s next? Maybe a club or a listening bar. After all, whether it’s on the dance floor or in the therapy room, at the heart of everything, it’s always about real connections. And as the pioneering psychologist Carl Gustav Jung put it: „I feel from now on music should be an essential part of every analysis.“
Contact:
For more information, feel free to visit our website at www.complicated.life or reach out to our press contact, Antje Jochmann, via email at press@complicated.life.
