Last week I had the pleasure of talking to a group of fellow therapists about the use of Apps in therapy. This week, I thought I'd share that info with you!
You may already be familiar with the abundance of mindfulness apps out there. Calm, Headspace and Smiling Mind are some of the most well known, but did you know there are also apps specifically for depression, eating disorders, self harm, anxiety, PTSD and suicidal ideation? It's true, and these apps, while not a substitute for therapy, can provide users with valuable tools 24hrs a day.
Before you begin using a mental health app there are a few things you should know:
- Research - Many apps aren't well researched (unlike therapeutic techniques which undergo LOTS of research before we can use them.) For best results look for an app created by a University, a therapist or check out the Anxiety and Depression Association of America's recommendations.
- Privacy - If you're concerned about privacy, make sure your app requires a log in and password and be sure to limit what it has access to on your phone. Most apps wont publish anything to Facebook, but it's always good to double check!
- False Claims - Sound too good to be true? Well it probably is. Beware of false claims. An app wont be able to "fix" your depression in a week, I promise.
