FIND A DIGITAL THERAPIST
BIG WHITE WALL (bigwhitewall.com) is a website offering anonymous support 24/7. There is a community of members you can talk to about what’s on your mind, plus a place to express yourself by posting drawings and images. Users are also able to take tests to assess their mental state and do online courses for a variety of conditions. The site is monitored around the clock to make sure the community is supportive and safe. WHO IS IT FOR? Studies have shown that Big White Wall significantly reduces anxiety and depression, which are the most common reasons for joining. It’s also helpful for bereavement, stress and post-traumatic stress disorder. THE COST Available for a subscription of €26.75 a month. MOODNOTES (moodnotesapp.com) is an iOS app that records your moods over time, tracks changes and explores emotional habits. It was developed with two clinical psychologists and applies the principles of CBT. At a specific time each day, the app asks how you are feeling, and you respond by altering a smiley face and colour-coding your mood (from unhappy grey to sunny yellow). If you have expressed a series of negative faces, the app will help you identify thinking traps you have fallen into (laying blame or downplaying positives). WHO IS IT FOR? Anyone who wants healthier thinking patterns. It is not meant as a substitute for therapy, but can work well alongside it. THE COST €4.49. BABYLON HEALTH app (babylonhealth.com) enables you to have a virtual appointment with an accredited therapist via your mobile wherever you are at any time, bypassing the need to go through your GP or be put on a waiting list. You can choose the type of therapy (eg, psychodynamic therapy, where you talk about your past) and the therapist you would prefer to speak to (sign up to see their photos and credentials on the website; a subscription is not required). You can also choose whether to have a voice or a video call. Your records are automatically stored securely online, so you can read them back at any time. WHO IS IT FOR? Babylon’s list of therapists treat stress, low mood, panic attacks, addictions, bereavement, relationship problems, bullying and sleep difficulties.
FEARFIGHTER (fearfighter. cbtprogram. com) is a CCBT self-help course available on computer or mobile, consisting of nine modules. Each session is interactive, with videos to explain how anxiety affects the mind and body, plus exercises, questionnaires and downloadable advice to help you gradually face your fear. You are also given a support worker who can advise over the phone throughout your course. This isn’t a light option – you’ll be expected to carry out four to five hours of homework each week. WHO IS IT FOR? Anyone with anxiety or phobias. THE COST Private patients pay €110 to work through the sessions on their own or €220 to have the support of a healthcare professional throughout. PLUSGUIDANCE (plusguidance.com) is a website (with mobile apps launching this month) that offers a choice of therapist and session type: online video, voice call, written messaging or in person at their office. It also offers a wider range of therapies from the mainstream (CBT) to the spiritual (mindfulness) and the philosophical (existential therapy). WHO IS IT FOR? The conditions treated are diverse, including anxiety, depression, relationship problems, stress, self-harming, postnatal depression, body dysmorphia and low self-esteem. THE COST Prices start from €21 per week for daily anytime messaging to €40 per session for live therapy. Free 15-minute initial sessions are unlimited to help you choose your therapist. IESO DIGITAL HEALTH (iesohealth.com) provides one-to-one therapy in real time using typed conversation (similar to instant messaging, but more secure) between the client and an accredited therapist. It uses a form of CBT to help people learn what switches a problem on in the first place, and how to switch it off. WHO IS IT FOR? A 2009 study showed it to be more effective than face-to-face counselling for depression and social anxiety, and it is also recommended for generalised anxiety disorder, anger management, eating disorders and sexual difficulties. THE COST Not yet available unless prescribed. Expected to be rolled out further later this year.