Counseling Apps
Counseling, like nearly every profession, has been significantly impacted by technological advances. Thankfully, the development of mobile applications (apps) provides the opportunity to make many new resources available through apps.
Unfortunately, the proliferation of apps means that many of the available apps do not work reliably or may not include sound guidance. However, many high-quality apps exist to assist and enhance the counseling process. The following list contains recommendations from the mental health professionals at Christian Family Solutions. Please note that some apps may be available only for iOS (Apple’s mobile operating system) or Android devices.
PTSD Coach (free)
- Developed by the National PTSD Center
- Provides educational information about PTSD, information about professional care, a self-assessment for PTSD, and tools that can help users manage the stresses of daily life with PTSD
Abide
- Each day users receive a fresh, new meditation from the Bible that renews the mind. Start or end the day in peace.
Calm
- Guided meditations to help users manage anxiety, lower stress and sleep better.
Breathe+
- Breathe+ is a beautifully simple way to visualize your breathing.
- Use Breathe+ for daily relaxation, meditation or breath training.
Pacifica
- Daily tools for stress, anxiety, and depression alongside a supportive community.
- Based on cognitive behavioral therapy & mindfulness meditation.
MindShift
- MindShift uses scientifically proven strategies based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help users learn to relax and be mindful, develop more effective ways of thinking, and use active steps to take charge of their anxiety.
Mindfulness Coach
- Mindfulness has been shown to be effective for reducing stress, improving emotional balance, increasing self-awareness, helping with anxiety and depression, and coping more effectively with chronic pain.
Woebot
- Think through situations with step-by-step guidance from Woebot using methods from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Headspace
- Headspace is meditation made simple. Learn the life-changing skills of meditation and mindfulness in just a few minutes a day.
LifeArmor
- LifeArmor is a comprehensive learning and self-management tool to assist members of the military community with common mental health concerns.
Tactile Breather
- Tactical Breather can be used to gain control over physiological and Psychological responses to stress. Gain control of your heart rate, emotions, concentration, and other physiological and Psychological responses to your body during stressful situations.
Insight Timer
- The largest free library of guided meditations on earth with more than 15,000 titles.
Virtual Hope Box
- Designed for use by patients and their behavioral health providers as an accessory to treatment.
- This app contains simple tools to help patients with coping, relaxation, distraction, and positive thinking.
DAYLIO (Free)
- Offers resources to track mood and activities during the day
- Charts and stats can assist users as they better understand their habits and make changes
eMoods Mood Tracker (Free)
- Assists users in monitoring daily moods, symptoms, sleep, and medications
- Offers users the ability to e-mail their doctor a printable chart at the end of each month
T2 Mood Tracker (Free)
- Developed by National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2)
- Provides users tools to self-monitor and track emotional experiences with a visual rating scale
- Records notes regarding environmental factors that impact mood
Youper (Free)
- AI-powered assistant used to monitor and improve emotional health
- Designed to help users monitor symptoms to have better conversations with their doctor or health provider
My3
- Be prepared to help yourself and reach out to others when you are having thoughts of suicide.
Moving Forward
- Provides on-the-go tools and teaches problem solving skills to overcome obstacles and deal with stress.
- The app is designed for Veterans and Service members, but is useful for anyone with stressful problems.
Mood Coach
- An app for Veterans, Service members, and others to learn and practice Behavioral Activation.
- Designed to help you boost your mood through participation in positive activities.
STAIR Coach
- Designed to supplement in-person psychotherapy using Skills Training in Affective & Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR).
- Useful to people experiencing symptoms of trauma.
- Uses cognitive and behavioral techniques to help with managing emotions and relationships.
ACT Coach
- Aims to help you live with unpleasant thoughts, feelings, and impulses without avoiding them or being controlled by them.
- Encouragement to commit to actions so that you can live your life by your values, even in the face of unpleasant experiences.
CBT-I Coach
- Guides users through the process of learning about sleep, developing positive sleep routines, and improving their sleep environments.
- Provides a structured program that teaches strategies proven to improve sleep and help alleviate symptoms of insomnia.
PE Coach
- This app will guide you through the Prolonged Exposure exercises assigned by your therapist and allows you to track and record your progress.
- In addition, the app provides techniques such as controlled breathing that will help you tolerate and decrease your distress.
CPT Coach
- For those with posttraumatic stress disorder who are participating in Cognitive Processing Therapy with a professional mental healthcare provider.
- Contains support materials for a complete course of CPT to help patients manage their treatment.
AIMS
- Provides users with education about anger, opportunities for finding support, the ability to create an anger management plan, anger tracking, and tools to help manage angry reactions.
Family Coach
- For family members of those living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
- Provides extensive information about PTSD, how to take care of yourself, how to take care of your relationship with your loved one or with children, and how to help your loved one get treatment.
