Although some apps claim to address Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), as yet none can simulate the intensity of medical grade light boxes or have any research supporting their use. Additionally, therapists who use any apps to communicate with or monitor data from their patients are technically engaged in telehealth and should be aware of applicable laws, including HIPAA.
In the U.S., awareness of mental health problems as a common public health challenge has grown. An important example of societal support and awareness of the need for access to mental health services is reflected in the Mental Health Parity Act (MHPA) of 1996 and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008.
Two years have passed since I publicly discussed my brother’s suicide and how it impacted me in this very forum. It was a huge step for me at the time, disclosing this secret that I guarded carefully. I had the sense that it would be cathartic for me, but I also knew I couldn’t take it back once it was out there. In retrospect it’s one of the most important things I’ve ever done.
It seems like everyone is carrying a smartphone these days. Some of the attributes that make these devices an asset to therapy include they’re portable, acceptable, always on (this benefit is probably up for discussion), low cost, programmable, audio and video output, user-friendliness, and ease of use (Boschen, 2008). More and more we are able to recommend and guide our patients through various evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) with the help of evidence-based mobile health applications or so-called “apps”. For providers, we now have the same accessibility of a tool that can help us implement self-care practices in our day.
Have you ever said “I tend to overthink everything?” Most of us fall victim to some degree of overthinking. We search for more and more information, we focus on the details while losing sight of the big picture or we “choke” under pressure even when we are engaged in doing something we know we are good at.