Recommended Applications (Apps)
Mindshift
Mindshift CBT is based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with a focus on treating anxiety. The app has different categories that address general worry, social anxiety, perfectionism, panic, and phobias. There are a variety of tools including a thought journal, coping cards, and breathing exercises. It allows you to track your anxiety beliefs. Mindshift CBT helps you to make goals to face your fears or push you outside of your comfort zone. It has an educational component as well, providing information on different activities you can do to challenge anxiety.
​
RESEARCH:
Created by Anxiety Canada and claims to be evidenced based. Recommended by the Mayo Clinic.
​
1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32623368/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35069357/
3. https://www.jmir.org/2020/11/e22287
4. https://mental.jmir.org/2017/4/e45
5. https://mental.jmir.org/2019/10/e14385
6. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2017-07848-001
Cost: FREE
Available for androids and on iphones.
Calm
Calm is based on mindfulness. It includes a variety of different tools with a focus on guided meditation. There are different mediation stories, mindfulness music, yoga instructional videos, soundscapes, and breathing exercises. Also, Calm has writing prompts to reflect on personal thoughts and feelings. It has inspirational stories to provide wisdom. It has specific categories for children, adults, and individuals at work.
​
RESEARCH:
It one of the most popular apps for mental health.
​
1. https://mhealth.jmir.org/2021/5/e26037/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34679078/
3. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10566-021-09651-z
4. https://mhealth.jmir.org/2019/6/e14273/
​
Cost:
There are limited free activities
and has a yearly subscription
cost of $69.99.
Available for androids and on iphones.
CBT-I Coach
The CBT-I Coach app uses the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for veterans. CBT-I Coach has a variety of different activities including, activities to stay awake, activities when you can't get out of bed, and evening activities to help wind down. The app has tips on reducing caffeine intake and setting up a proper sleeping environment. Also, it has guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, breathing tools, etc.
​
RESEARCH:
Supported by the VA and created by the VA's National Center for PTSD in partnership with Stanford University
Medical Center, the Department of Defense's DoD's DHA Connected Health and VA Sierra Pacific Mental Illness
Research, Education, & Clinical Center. Overall, I found the most research on this app.
​
1. https://www-ncbi-nlm-nihgov.proxy.lib.ohiostate.edu/pmc/articles/PMC8576602/
2. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/cbticoach_app_pro.asp
3.https://implementationsciencecomms.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s43058-020-00096-4
4. https://formative.jmir.org/2021/12/e29573/pdf
5. https://mobile.va.gov/app/cbt-i-coach
​
Cost: FREE
Available for androids and on iphones.
Smiling Mind
Smiling Mind is based on mindfulness and mainly uses mediation. It does a daily check-in to evaluate feelings. The app includes different guided meditation programs for kids, adults, youth, families, etc. Within all of the different guided meditation sessions, there are separate categories. For example, in the adult mediation section, there are guided audio sessions for sleep, school, stress management, digital detox, etc.
​
RESEARCH:
Created in tandem with the Australian Government.
1. https://mhealth.jmir.org/2015/3/e82/PDF
2. https://mhealth.jmir.org/2019/6/e14273
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8874803/
Cost: FREE
Available on Google Play and on iTunes
Mood Mission
Mood Mission is an app that uses Mindfulness and CBT to help treat anxiety along with depression. It has an array of tools including relaxation, meditation, affirmations, coping cards, exercise activities, yoga, behavioral activities, and gratitude statements.
​
RESEARCH:
1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005796718301244
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1077722918300646
4. https://www.researchprotocols.org/2020/7/e17159/
5. https://mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca/handle/1993/34333
6. https://mental.jmir.org/2019/10/e14385/
​
Cost: $7.99 with in app
purchases.
Available for iPhone
and Android.
Mindfulness Coach
Mindfulness Coach is based on mindfulness. It was made for veterans. There is a heavy focus on using mediation to practice the different aspects of mindfulness. It has guided exercises on awareness of body, breath, and senses. Includes mindfulness tools on mindful looking, walking, eating, emotional discomfort, and seated practice. There are specialty exercises called iRest and Mind-STRIDE. iRest is used to manage worry and anxiety through short guided meditation exercises. Mind-STRIDE is a mindfulness exercise for veterans with diabetes.
​
RESEARCH:
Created by the Veterans Affair’s National Center for PTSD.
1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33245289/
2. https://mental.jmir.org/2020/11/e23377/
3. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0209482
4. https://mental.jmir.org/2019/1/e10844
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5770479/
​
Cost: FREE
Available for Andriods and iPhones