Welcome to Oria.

A Word on Our Founder:

Dr. Richard Connell is a licensed Psychologist who believes in a therapeutic approach that treats both the mind and the body. To serve this purpose, he founded Connell & Associates in 2013, a behavioral health service clinic that offers comprehensive mental healthcare including therapy, medication management, and psychological evaluations. 

In his more than 20 years of service, Dr. Connell has served the whole person, making and maintaining the connection between emotional and physical health. But as we have all come to learn, mental healthcare delivery must evolve as needs do, and a major need is accessibility. Along these lines, Dr. Connell identified two significant issues in mental healthcare in his years of service: achieving the right fit between provider and client, and providing the ultimate continuity of care. His solution to both? Start a riot. 

Ignited by his passion and dedication but also the public health emergency brought about by COVID, Dr. Connell sought to create radical change in the provision of mental health services by creating a new virtual branch of Connell & Associates: Oria Health. Founded in 2020, Oria breaks down the geographical barriers to care so that you don’t need to settle for a provider who lives near you. When we go where you go, we also eliminate any lack of continuity of care so that you and your provider can continue your incredible and meaningful work together, boundlessly. Oria also ensures that its employees feel the same sense of inclusivity, support, and wellness that our clients do.

Matching clients with providers that are just right for them is fundamental to Dr. Connell’s mission. Because we are not restricted by geography, we are able to do just that and in Dr. Connell’s words:

“We want to attract the ideal provider. We don’t want to attract everyone, we’re not for everyone. What’s really important to me is that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.”

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide the highest quality behavioral health care in the most convenient and effective way possible.

We use data and technology to enhance both the quality of treatment and the overall experience for our clients.

By thoughtfully matching each client with the provider best suited to their diagnosis and personality—as well as the provider’s expertise and style—we aim to create meaningful, effective connections.

But it’s not just about client satisfaction. We also prioritize the wellbeing and growth of our providers. Through regular monitoring of performance indicators, we support and encourage ongoing improvement in the quality of care delivered.

Transforming lives through our collaborative approach. We partner with clients on their journey to wellness while also nurturing our team’s growth—because everyone deserves the chance to live their most fulfilled life. We are people helping people.

Meet The Team

Dr. Richard Connell, Ph.D. Founder, Psychologist

Dr. Christopher Bone, Ph.D. Medical Director

Kayla Sprain Director of Operations

Rachel Roden Director of Accounting and Finance

Rachel Beachy Director of Customer Service

Leigh Ann Mullins-Zugelder Director of Arts , Special Projects

Joann Vasquez Office Manager , San Antonio

Our Values

  • As a team, we meet people where they are—and we go with them wherever they go. But this core belief runs deeper: at Oria, we also reach for each other. Providers build relationships with their clients that foster real healing. Our leadership supports providers in reaching new populations, helps HQ staff grow in their careers, and connects clients with the providers best suited to their needs. Together, we share a lifelong journey of connection, care, and growth.

  • Everybody is a work in progress and we’re here to help each other grow. With humility and curiosity, we give our hearts and get the direct feedback we all need to become great. This is a place where we encourage one another to speak up with ideas, concerns, dreams, and raise the flag to ask for help. We’re here to support one another, and that includes you.

  • We know that this starts with a safe and supportive workspace. We believe in communicating honestly and directly. We don’t back-channel, and we don’t gossip. An Oria team member is someone who speaks with kindness, authenticity, and respect at all times, to all people. We trust each other as collaborators, and we exist in a community.

  • Yes, you read that right.

    We’re innovating in an industry that too often stays the same—because we believe everyone deserves access to quality behavioral healthcare without the weight of shame, doubt, or anything else that holds us back. Fear is a roadblock, and failure is simply a natural part of trying, experimenting, and growing. When we act with intention, take a leap, and stumble? That’s not defeat—it’s data. It’s learning. In fact, if we’re never failing, we’re probably not truly innovating.

  • We seek first to understand.

    We admit what we don't understand.

    We hold each other accountable.

    We can disagree, but commit.

    We help each other.

    We believe the clear is kind, and unclear is unkind.

    We define tasks by what "done" looks like and roles by what “success” looks like.

  • Oria is a safe space for all.
    The care someone needs is deeply personal—and so is the person who provides it. When we bring new teammates aboard, we look for superpowers: those innate qualities that make you unmistakably you. We craft job descriptions around those strengths and build support where it’s needed. We don’t discriminate—ever—because we believe all people are equals. We don’t assume any one way of life or identity is “best.” The right one is the one that’s truly yours.