Empowering Young Minds at Elemental Health.
Angela McMillan, founder of Elemental Health.
Angela McMillan, the founder of Elemental Health, is on a mission to revolutionise therapeutic support for children and young people. From tackling anxiety in children to supporting parents and carers, Angela’s approach combines traditional therapy with cutting-edge technology, making her work uniquely impactful.
The Foundations of Elemental Health
Founded in 2015, Elemental Health began with Angela’s work as a therapist. Working in the industry for a number of years, it was speaking at schools that sparked the idea for a training company to empower youth professionals, including counsellors. Over time, her work expanded to include training therapists and running therapeutic support groups for parents and carers. Always with a mind on the changing ways we live and work, Angela looked into the role that immersive technologies could play in supporting others. This holistic approach combined with emerging tech became Elemental Health’s hallmark.
Reflecting on how her journey began, Angela said, “I started out as a therapist, and after speaking to a school about anxiety in children, I realised there was a much bigger need for training and support. I was also intrigued by how useful emerging tech could be in this space. Can technology reduce anxiety in children? We used guided imagery and AR, to develop a way to help children externalise emotions. It’s about giving children a safe space to express themselves in ways they might not with traditional therapy,”.
Global Impact and Diverse Clients
Elemental Health works with organisations worldwide, primarily supporting children and young people experiencing anxiety, as well as their families, ensuring parents and carers have access to therapeutic support.
Challenges and Triumphs
Angela faced challenges navigating the unfamiliar world of technology. “I’m not tech-minded,” she admits. “I had the vision, but I didn't know how to get to the end result. The hardest part was working with people who didn't fully grasp what I was trying to achieve."
Despite this, her persistence paid off. “One child who had never spoken before started engaging within three sessions. Another after just one session, reached out wanting to be involved in more. These moments really affirm the value of our work.
Signs of Growth
Elemental Health is growing, with a new associate counsellor recently joining and another soon to follow. “Expanding the team is exciting because it means we can reach more people and help more children,” Angela says.
Her involvement with Media Cymru has provided opportunities to scale further. “Being a part of the Media Cymru community has been a huge source of support, and allowed me to explore the potential of using augmented reality (AR) and gaming technologies in therapy.”
Angela’s Vision
Angela’s journey began as she was seeking to explore immersive technology in therapy, and applied for seed funding through Media Cymru.. “At first, I didn’t think I was eligible for the funding because I was a therapist, but I was encouraged to apply, and that changed everything. It’s not just about the ability to create something news - it’s about doing it responsibly, and working with Media Cymru and its experts allows me to do that.
Looking Ahead
Angela’s journey with Elemental Health demonstrated the power of combining compassion, innovation, and perseverance. By helping children thrive and express themselves, Angela is setting new standards in therapy. Angela concludes, “For me, it’s about asking the right questions. “What if? What’s possible? How can we help children in ways we haven’t tried before?”
With her growing team and innovative way of using immersive tech/ XR, the future of Elemental Health - and the children it supports - looks brighter than ever.
For more info, visit ehe.org.uk
