DBT Smartphone Apps: Your Therapist is Always On Call

By: Carly DeCotiis, GenPsych Livingston DBT Coordinator, MA, NCC, LPC

These days, it seems like there’s a smartphone app for just about everything.  Why not DBT therapy?

It’s no surprise that there are a lot of smartphone tools out there claiming to help people cope. From informational resources to interactive mental wellness programs, there’s plenty out there to choose from.

A phone should never replace the role of a therapist, but some mental health professionals, like myself, are encouraging their patients to use mobile apps as a way to supplement their care and augment the work between sessions.

One DBT app I’ve recently been using with clients is “DBT Self-Help” app for Android and iPhone(http://www.dbt-app.com/).

DBT Self-Help app helps manage overwhelming emotions and maladaptive behaviors more effectively, navigate relationships, and cultivate mindfulness. It contains skill descriptions complete with rationale and practice tips that enable users to develop and practice the needed skills.  DBT is a treatment that takes sincere commitment, which includes filling out a diary card and completing other homework assignments. Sometimes patients–especially teens–struggle with completing assignments between sessions, however, following the program and fully committing to treatment will yield the best results.

In addition to the DBT Self-Help app, there are a host of other DBT apps out there.  Just visit:  http://www.dbtselfhelp.com/html/instant_access_dbt.html to browse the app line-up.