Online Resources Vol 5


Online Resources Vol 5


 

Of course, if you haven’t seen Volumes 1, 2, 3, or 4, check them out!

 

  • An online intro psyc textbook – fun reading for therapists to catch up on new developments in the basic areas (the knowledge half life of psyc (apparently about 7 years) is getting shorter all the time!). Good for helping savvy or “book smart” clients who feel empowered with more knowledge. 
  • A good written resource for Autogenic Training produced by the VA. I can’t ever find a good YouTube version – they’re all so “meditative” and awash with harps and binaural beats and stuff. My experience has been that people who want to do autogenic training want that because meditation feels too “woo woo” for them and they consider themselves to be practical, no-nonsense folks. I was going to make one, and I might still, but this is not a bad substitute for now. 
  • Here’s a great little workbook a colleague of mine found (Thanks, Sana!), and it references Gendlin’s Focusing as a primary tool in emotional work! It’s written more like a flowy graphic novel, or kind of like a series of infographics – easy to read! 
  • This is just super fun, and I can imagine it having therapy homework possibilities, too. Make mandalas!  
  • A resource for clients (and maybe clinicians, depending on how much this was a part of your training!) in reading scientific studies when you’re not a professional scientist! 
  • I have a sad update on the Reveri App (mentioned in Volume 4) – it’s no longer free. It’s now subscription-based. And it’s still worth it. I will tell you, though, if you have clients who can’t afford it, and they write to the Reveri folks, they’ll usually still offer a free year! 

Comment below and add any free online resources or apps that you use! 

 

 

 

 

 

Online Resources and Apps (Vol 1)


Online Resources and Apps (Vol 1)


Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of online resources. Let me make a caveat – we’ve known for a decade that things like internet-delivered CBT can be effective for depression and anxiety (e.g., Farrer et al., 2011), and that can be a life saver for someone who doesn’t have easy access to therapy. It’s just that when I have in-person clients, I much prefer for them to have resources that we have created together or that I have made personalized for them. 

BUT… it’s 2021 and I’d have to be living under a rock to not engage with some of the really good stuff that available online and on apps. But… it’s 2021, which means the problem isn’t the availability of mental health resources/apps, but sifting through which ones are actually good! 

My requirements for resources/apps that I’ll suggest to clients are that they are (1) FREE, (2) EVIDENCE BASED (as appropriate), and worthwhile based on my actually trying them. (Like recommending books, I have an ethical problem with recommending something I haven’t fully tried). 

That said, here we go, in no particular order: 

Online resources:

Ali Mattu’s videos – You’ll have to browse around a bit to find the topic you client needs, but these are very well done and super on point from a research-based standpoint. The dive reflex episode is one of my favorites. 

Kristen Neff’s Self Compassion exercises – exactly what you think, better researched and less saccharine than Brene Brown, totally free. 

This free online course in Acceptance and Commitment therapy from Public Health Wales is pretty cool and comprehensive!

Now Matters Now is a great resource related to suicidal ideation, for clients and clinicians. 

I’m looking for some good DBT resources, btw. These videos are ok, but I’d like something more personable and more interactive. Please comment below if you know of any! 

Apps: 

Comfort Talk – this is an all-business, nothing-woowoo trainer in self hypnosis. Great research evidence! 

All of the VA apps are empirically supported and they’re nicely done. I like the CPT  and substance use apps as an adjunct to therapy sometimes, but the CBT-I (insomnia) is the one I recommend most. You don’t have to be a veteran to use them! 

Insight Timer – I’ve liked this one for a long time, mostly because of the variety of meditations that are available and the ability to search based on how much time you have. Great free alternative to apps like Calm and HeadSpace. 

Fluid – This is just a little app that lets you play with fluid dynamics (with lots of customization for time, color, etc.) It’s great for mindfulness work, and nice for clients who might otherwise fret while waiting in a line. It’s entrancing! You can see a screenshot above. 

Done– I searched HIGH and LOW for SO LONG looking for a simple, free app that would allow clients to easily track how often they do XYZ – whatever we’re working on. The free version of done is more than adequate – it’s perfect! 

 

 

 

Comment Below: What online resources or apps have you found to be helpful? Bonus if they’re free and evidence based!