Enhancing Therapy with Mental Health Apps: A Powerful Combination
Introduction: Mental Health Apps
I was recently featured in this Women’s Health Magazine article about mental health apps and the article included some of my recommendations and advice.
I remember when Headspace was the only game in town. In retrospect, it really was kind of ground-breaking that it delivered meditation education and a structure for mindfulness practice in such a user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing way. I still use Headspace almost everyday, usually for guided meditation or winding down at night. I also am a fan of the instrumental music on Headspace, (my favorite is the one by Sébastien Tellier). Mental health apps have gained popularity as valuable tools that can complement therapy provided by licensed professionals. And there are now so many options. The market has really grown and it’s hard to know where to start or which ones to try.
How Mental Health Apps Support People in Therapy
Incorporating mental health apps into your therapy journey can be a beneficial and empowering choice. Here are some ways in which they benefit clients in my experience.
1. Accessibility and Convenience:
One of the primary advantages of mental health apps is their accessibility. They are available 24/7, allowing you to access resources and support whenever you need it. This can be especially helpful between therapy sessions, providing a lifeline during difficult moments or when your therapist is not immediately available.
2. Tracking Progress:
Mental health apps often come with features that allow you to track your emotional well-being, mood fluctuations, and progress over time. This data can be shared with your therapist, providing valuable insights into your mental health journey. It can help identify patterns and areas that may require more attention during your therapy sessions.
3. Personalized Self-Help Tools:
Many mental health apps offer a wide range of self-help tools, including guided meditation, stress reduction exercises, and journaling prompts. These tools can complement the strategies and techniques you learn in therapy, empowering you to take an active role in managing your mental health.
4. Consistent Support:
Therapy appointments typically occur on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Between sessions, mental health apps can serve as a consistent source of support. They can provide coping strategies, relaxation techniques, and psychoeducation that reinforce the work you do in therapy.
5. Tailored Resources:
Many mental health apps allow you to customize your experience based on your specific needs. Whether you're dealing with anxiety, depression, or other concerns, you can often find apps that offer content and exercises tailored to your unique situation.
6. Bridging Gaps in Care:
In some cases, there may be gaps in your therapy schedule due to unforeseen circumstances or scheduling conflicts. Mental health apps can bridge these gaps by providing immediate support and resources to help you navigate challenging moments.
Privacy and Confidentiality: Some Tips
Apps have some of the same challenges as other products that we buy or consume in order to feel better. When a company creates an app that ostensibly serves a need related to mental health and it’s doing that for profit, it’s not necessarily vetted by mental health experts or based on research. In other words, it really matters who created the app. The other consideration with apps in general is what they do with your data. I personally feel very creeped out when an app doesn’t allow me to opt-out of things or has me put in a little too much personal information.
So I have some flexible rules for apps. I use the word “flexible” because ultimately, if I’m working with a client who finds a particular app useful, I’m not interested in judging that, even if it doesn’t align with my views about this stuff.
Whenever possible, try to go with an app created by a non-profit or educational institution. For instance, the Veterans Administration (VA) is a good source of high quality apps for mental health. I often recommend Mindfulness Coach, which is free and based on research.
Inspect the privacy policy and practices of an app and err on the side of opting out and protecting your information to the greatest extent possible. These apps are not obligated to be transparent about things and I’m not confident that all the app companies are super ethical in how they use data. It is safer to use an app that has some information about how they protecting your privacy and gives you options for the level of sharing you do. If you can’t find that information from the app itself, you can look at this database, which gives basic information about how apps handle personal information.
Talk with your therapist about whether or not an app can serve you at this time and what function it can serve. A mental health app is not a substitute for therapy but it can really enhance what you’re working on in your therapy. If you can incorporate an app into the goals of therapy, that can set you up for success with reminders and skill-building between sessions.
Use nonprofit guides to these apps rather than going directly to the app store first. There are two guides created by reputable, nonprofit organizations that I recommend for this. The first is One Mind Psyberguide, which has mental health experts review apps. The other is MIND, which is a very extensive database of mental health apps that gives you basic information about each apps cost, evidence base or clinical foundation, features, and privacy.
Conclusion: Mental Health Apps as Tools for Therapy
Mental health apps are not a replacement for professional therapy but can be a valuable complement to it. When used in conjunction with therapy provided by a licensed professional, these apps can enhance your mental health journey by providing accessibility, tracking progress, offering personalized self-help tools, and maintaining consistent support. The combination of expert guidance and the convenience of technology can empower you to take control of your mental well-being, creating a more holistic and effective approach to mental health care.
As you consider integrating mental health apps into your therapy journey, remember to discuss how you’ll use it with your therapist. They can offer guidance on selecting the most suitable apps and how to effectively incorporate them into your treatment plan.
If you’d like to start therapy with a licensed professional who can provide deeper work than an app can provide, contact me for a free consultation. Learn more about me here and here.