I am excited by the increasing number of excellent apps and the use of technology to optimise our psychological wellbeing. I see great potential in the way that therapists can now use these tools to enhance their treatment. I often like to highlight apps that I think can be useful in helping with certain parts of our treatment together. Here are 10 you might be interested to know more about
Reach Out Worry Time
Interrupts repetitive thinking by acknowledging the worry, asking you to type it out and then set aside time to revisit these at a later point, so they don’t continue to get in the way of other activities.
https://au.reachout.com/tools-and-apps/reachout-worrytime
Reach Out Breathe App
Aims to reduce the physical symptoms of stress and anxiety by slowing down your breathing and your heart rate with your iPhone or Apple Watch.
https://au.reachout.com/tools-and-apps/reachout-breathe
Headspace
Guided meditation and mindfulness practices to introduce this into daily life.
https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app
Snapshot
To help monitor and manage depression and anxiety.
https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/getting-help/self-help-tools-apps/snapshot
The Check-In
Developed by Beyond Blue to help young people have a conversation with a friend that is struggling.
https://www.youthbeyondblue.com/help-someone-you-know/thecheckin
Smiling Mind
A not-for-profit initiative developed by psychologists and educators to increase access to mindfulness practices.
https://www.smilingmind.com.au/
MindShift
CBT based app to support young people to develop coping skills for anxiety.
https://www.anxietybc.com/resources/mindshift-app
PTSD Coach
To help people understand and manage symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
http://at-ease.dva.gov.au/veterans/resources/mobile-apps/ptsd-coach/
Mood Mission
To support new strategies to better manage stress, anxiety and low mood.
Beyond Now Suicide Safety Plan
Developing a structured plan of what to do when you or a loved one are going through this.
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/beyondnow-suicide-safety-planning