When Danielle Marconi and Meredith Munk first toured the empty space on Naugatuck Avenue in 2022, it was hard to see past the concrete floors, drop ceilings, and mallard duck wallpaper. The former garage didn't exactly scream "wellness sanctuary." But what the two friends saw was possibility – a vision they had manifested one evening over tacos, and one that would finally make mental health care and holistic wellness feel less like intimidating medical appointments and more like meeting up with friends who genuinely care.
Today, Re:mind Wellness Boutique is exactly what they envisioned: a 4,000-square-foot space where getting counseling feels as normal as getting a massage, and where self-care isn't shrouded in mystique or judgment. Accessibility is a staple of the business model: the welcoming, non-pretentious vibe encourages people to show up just as they are.
For Marconi, the dream had been percolating for over two decades. A school counselor with 24 years of experience, Reiki Master, and licensed massage therapist, she kept a journal back in 2002 that outlined her vision right down to the details: a sauna, books to borrow, a retail store, and counseling services all under one roof.
Munk, meanwhile, has recently received her yoga instruction certification from Marconi’s yoga studio, Bend, just up the road. Her background in art, interior design, and fashion had given way to a passion for wellness about twelve years ago. When Marconi shared her vision for a counseling center with spa services, Munk had her own ideas about adding a salt room and retail boutique. Within two to three weeks, they were touring spaces.
The buildout was a labor of love. “It wasn’t easy,” Munk remembers, “but this place was built by many – by moms, dads, friends, and community members who loved this space as much as we did.” By fall 2022, they opened their doors to a business model that was intentionally different.
At its heart, Re:mind operates on a simple but revolutionary premise: mental health counseling should feel as accessible and normalized as any other wellness service. The boutique functions as two businesses under one roof: traditional counseling services that accept insurance alongside membership-based or a la carte spa and wellness offerings. Currently employing nearly 20 people, including clinicians who see clients from tweens to adults for everything from generalized anxiety to life transitions, Re:mind is rewriting the rules on what mental health care can look like. “We have truly gifted and talented workers, estheticians, and energetic therapists,” Marconi notes. “We are so grateful to the people who make this place feel like home.”
After hearing from therapy clients that their self-care and mental health practices were often addressed separately, Marconi realized that “there’s no program or container for all things.” Re:mind was born with the vision to eliminate that sense of overwhelm by offering everything in one accessible location. “We want people to create a habit of self-care and self-awareness,” she says. “To help everyone lead more balanced and emotionally regulated lifestyles.”
The membership model reinforces their mission to make self-care a non-negotiable. For $145 monthly, members get a 60-minute service of their choice – massage, facial, Reiki, or body treatment – plus a salt therapy session, infrared sauna session, and meditation class. "We're forcing you to take care of yourself," Munk says. It's an elevator pitch that works; the actual value of those services would be over $300.
Beyond the memberships, Re:mind offers an impressive array of services spanning mind, body, and spirit. The "mind" offerings include professional counseling, holistic life coaching, and group therapy. Under "body," guests can choose from therapeutic massage, prenatal massage, Thai massage, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, facials, body wraps and scrubs, assisted stretching, craniosacral therapy, and compression therapy for athletic recovery. The "spirit" menu features Reiki sessions, sound therapy experiences with tuning forks and singing bowls, guided meditation classes, and spiritual readings. Their "curious hours" – typically 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, with weekend availability – accommodate people's work schedules while leaving daytime hours open for private parties, workshops, and special events.
But what truly sets Re:mind apart is the atmosphere. The space is thoughtfully designed with unique décor that feels more like a stylish friend's home than a clinical setting. Regular workshops and events, from manifestation seminars to their self-care book club that pairs literature with salt sessions and sound baths, create genuine community. "We have such a family," Munk reflects. "We were so focused on what we're giving our clients, but now being reflective, we're getting a lot back from them too."
The city's big heart and support for small businesses made Re:mind possible. Now they're paying it forward, creating a space where everyone – from the wellness-curious to the self-care devoted – can find exactly what they need.
“Come in. Wander around. Ask questions,” Munk says. “We’ll show you the salt room, introduce you to the sauna, and probably make you laugh.”
"This place was built by many – by moms, dads, friends, and community members who loved this space as much as we did."
“We want people to create a habit of self-care and self-awareness...to help everyone lead more balanced and emotionally regulated lifestyles.”