Does mobile app based online therapy really work?

With the internet now accessible in almost every corner of the world, online therapy has become much more popular and also much more effective.

How does online therapy work?

With traditional psychotherapy or talk therapy, you typically meet with a counselor at a specified time and place -- usually at the therapist's office -- and speak face to face. The benefit of this is that you and the practitioner can have a real-time conversation, where they can pick up on your body language and tone of voice, which can give them insights on what you're feeling.

The services offered to depend on the platform or expert you see, but usually include:

Messaging via text, video or voice With this option, you're able to send messages to your therapist anytime through a third-party platform. The therapist will reply as soon as they're able, though some platforms do guarantee a response within a certain amount of time.

Live text, video, or phone sessions: These are scheduled in advance and are typically conducted through the third-party platform, or with a therapist directly. They give you and your therapist a chance to communicate much as you would during a traditional in-person session.

Ultimately, the form of communication you use will depend on personal preference. For example, text messaging-based therapy is appealing to a generation of young adults who grew up communicating that way.

Effectiveness of online therapy:

The efficacy of traditional talk therapy can vary depending on the type of therapy that's used -- cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, interpersonal therapy -- as well as the issue it's being used to treat (depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder.

That said, there is research that shows that talk therapy can literally change your brain, strengthening the connection between regions of the brain that can help reduce symptoms and support recovery. And a separate study found that talk therapy can work as equally well as antidepressants during the initial treatment of moderate to severe depression.

So far, multiple studies -- though still preliminary -- find that online therapy can be equivalent to face-to-face care. Also, it's important to note that you can always select and try one of these platforms to see if it’s a good fit for you. You can then take it forward from there easily. The US mental health department has also published many research papers on the effectiveness of online therapy for psychological problems. You can read one here on the effectiveness of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. ICBT’s effectiveness has been investigated in treating and managing conditions like depression, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), adjustment disorder, bipolar disorder, chronic pain, and phobias.

Which are the best apps for online therapy?

While there are many apps that can be used for helping you with your emotional and mental health issues, we are listing a few of them which have been quite effective and well designed. These are by far the best online therapy apps of 2020. They are listed in the order of preference.

1- Aurum :

It’s one of the best online therapy apps globally. They have their own unique programs on stress, anxiety, depression management, and others. It's based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which is the most well-adopted approach to tackle emotional issues like stress, anxiety, etc. They have a good panel of therapists and have experts for different areas of therapy. The experience of therapy is wonderful and all this at probably the most affordable prices you will find online. This makes Aurum the top app of online therapy anywhere in the world right now.

2- Calm:

Its become quite popular in the last couple of years. They have a whole lot of guided audio activities and especially useful for sleep and relaxation. It’s a well-designed app as well. For people who like to rely solely on audio, this could be a good option. They don’t provide any real-life coaches or therapists though. They are more focused on audio content and are expanding on that front.

3- Headspace:

Again another app that has become quite popular in recent times. Similar to Calm in terms of usability they also have lots of guided audio activities to choose from. It’s quite popular in Europe due to the founders being from there.

4- Youper:

It's an AI-based emotional assistant. It can be quite useful in times of emotional distress. You get someone to talk to without judgment. Although it doesn’t have a real-life coach to support so that is a drawback.

5- 7 cups:

It has a platform where you can connect with a listener who will listen to you and offer you support without judgment. They have real-life people who act as listeners and you are paired with a listener when you sign up for talking. It’s a good place to vent out but again the lack of qualified professionals to help you is a drawback.

6- Breathe ball:

It’s a stress-relieving guided audio app. There are different activities that you can listen to and relieve your depression. Easy activities and quick relaxation. Again, they lack access to professionals.

7- BetterHelp:

With over 3,000 trained, experienced and accredited counselors covering a range of areas – from depression and anxiety to family and couples therapy – it’s never been easier to receive personal, professional help when you need it.

8- Talkspace:

Its an online therapy app wherein you can sign up and connect with a professional therapist over chat, audio or video. There is no need to go and visit a therapist now you can just connect with one over this platform.

So these are the top apps that you can download now to get into online therapy. It's quite easy to enroll in any one of these apps and getting help for your issues has never been easier. The apps are all good in their own way and any one of these would be quite useful for anyone looking for online therapy. You can try a couple and settle in on the one which makes you feel most comfortable. Go ahead and try online therapy right away,