6 Best Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Apps That Are Proven To Work
Now that a lot of us are at home isolated, facing uncertainty in the economy, and are concerned about the health of the public, many of us are feeling more stressed than ever. Sometimes, this pressure can cause us to have negative thoughts. When this happens, therapy is non-negotiable. Just like how doctors heal your physical body, therapists, or therapy services will heal your mind. There’s a specific type of therapy called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that is very popular and effective. I gathered the 6 best CBT apps that are using CBT practices to help you feel better.
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?
CBT is a psychotherapy treatment that helps you identify destructive thoughts and behavior patterns. The goal of CBT is to recognize how your emotions are affecting your actions. By doing so, you can start thinking in a better perspective and in a positive light. With the help of therapy apps, self-discipline, and determination, you’ll be able to jump out of this mental state and enjoy life with a happy mindset.
1. BetterHelp
CBT is centered around conversations to help your mind think in a positive direction. One of the best ways to do that is through live 1:1 therapy sessions. BetterHelp allows you to schedule flexible sessions and it’s very simple to get started. When you first go to the site, they’ll ask you to take a survey to help you get matched to a therapist that is right for you. There’s a ton of therapists on the platform that specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy.
2. CBT Companion
Using CBT practices, CBT Companion a comprehensive app that has features including journaling, watching video lessons, doing practice exercises, and be able to track your progress. This app is great for people who don’t necessarily want to speak with a therapist live or via chat but want to try CBT practices in other forms. The subscription is $9.99/month or $49.99/six months.
3. Talkspace
If live sessions aren’t enough and you want more interaction with your therapist, try Talkspace. The platform allows users to schedule live video sessions and also the ability to message a therapist at any time of the day using their safe, encrypted messaging system. The platform is one of the largest therapy platforms that has helped over a million users overcome anxiety, depression, and more. It’s constantly rated as one of the best CBT apps. For those wanting to try cognitive behavioral therapy, Talkspace is an affordable option for you.
4. Online-Therapy.com
If you want to fully commit to cognitive behavioral therapy, Online-Therapy.com will provide you a comprehensive toolkit to help you with all your needs. In addition to being able to have live video sessions and send messages to your personal therapist, they also provide worksheets, guides, journaling, and even yoga lessons to accompany your therapy journey. The platform can only be accessed on the web, but it does make more sense to log on to your computer so you can access all the features more easily. Due to COVID-19, they are opening up parts of their platform completely free to use. For their affordable paid plans, you can get 20% off with this link.
5. Woebot
Created by a clinical psychologist at Stanford University, this chatbot is powered by artificial intelligence that uses the principles of CBT. Although you’re not speaking to an actual person, the bot still understands everything you type in and responds with suggestions and advice like a real-life therapist would. Woebot makes it clear that the platform isn’t meant to replace real-life therapists, but rather offer another option of therapy. The app is currently free to use.
6. Reflectly
This is an intelligent journal utilizing artificial intelligence to allow you to reflect on daily thoughts. The platform uses CBT principles and gives you the resources to build a positive mindset with their habit tracker. To use the platform, you first write down how you feel every day. Using their AI technology, they will ask you questions based on your diary entries so you can reflect deeper. Using the platform will help increase motivation, recover from anxiety, and practice mindfulness, making it one of the best CBT apps. Reflectly offers a free trial and after that, it will be $9.99/month or $59.99/year.
In addition to these CBT apps, there are other activities that are alternatives to therapy that you can do simultaneously.
