CBT Self-Care Journal

I am in therapy, but it’s just plain old talk therapy. I had heard of CBT but never bothered to learn anything about it. Despite several medication changes and countless hours of talk-therapy over the years, I don’t feel like my depression or anxiety has improved much at all. And I’m so tired of feeling this way. Then I found this app, and started paying attention to all the negative thoughts I’m having and challenging them. The relief was so immediate I started crying. I’m very thankful this app was free because that was what attracted me to try it. I know this app will not “cure” me, but I feel like it’s a heck of a helpful tool. I’m going to research CBT now, and look for a new therapist who uses it. I think out of everything I’ve tried this has been the most helpful.

This app is informative & engaging. I use it when I need it, which is whenever I am feeling a particularly strong emotion, such as anxiety, stress, or frustration. I wanted an app where I could practice the CBT techniques I read about in Dr. Burns’ Feeling Good & apply them to my own life — that’s what you get with this app. The UI is a lil funky, but nothing big enough to hinder my use of it. If you’re looking to practice CBT concepts in your own life, this is the app to help you do it!

One of the things I first noticed when opening the app was the explanation on how cognitive behavioral therapy works. Which is great, because I’ve tried a lot of different apps out there and most of them don’t explain. It also has information about when to use the app, automated negative thoughts, cognitive distortions, reframing negative thoughts, why journaling helps and journaling tips. That helps out especially when you are journaling by yourself rather than with a therapist to guide you. It dives deeper into the different types of cognitive distortions, and how to recognize and fix irrational thinking. It asks you how you are feeling with a range of 5 different emotions and then brings you to a journal to track why you feel that way. That helps to figure out triggers and what keeps you happy. The last thing I want to add is the healing exercises. It gives you different ways to challenge your thoughts depending on what type of cognitive distortions you are experiencing, and helps you turn them around. It is also free! 10/10 would recommend!