Online Resources Vol. 4


Online Resources Volume 4


If you haven’t seen them, here are Volumes 1, 2, and 3!

  • The Reveri app  – It’s free (of course!) and the BEST actual hypnosis app I’ve ever come across. (And I’m ASCH certified in clinical hypnosis). I’ve previously recommended Comfort Talk, and stand by it, but Reveri is also excellent and covers a lot of great, specific topics – e.g., sleep, anxiety, chronic pain, smoking cessation – the kind of stuff it’s probably ok to work on by yourself without a therapist. 
  • Greater Good Magazine – Honestly, this isn’t a great resource for therapists, as far as I can tell. But I think it’s one of the better lay-accessible internet resources.  It’s mostly research-based and comes out of Berkeley, and has lots of different kinds of content, all focused on well being. Worth a look. 
  • Andrew Huberman Podcast – For nerdy therapists (and maybe clients), Huberman is a neurobiologist and does a lot on mental health related topics – sleep, depression, addiction, stress, etc. – as well as some stuff that’s more like “optimizing wellness.” Easy to listen to, extremely knowledgeable, great sources, smart occasional guests. Honestly, his mental health series was not my favorite, but when it’s outside my direct area, I learn a lot. 
  • Kardia Deep Breathing App – FINALLY!!!! I finally found an app that lets you control the timing of the breathing! Remember the cardinal rule – breathe out longer than you breathe in. The end. But finally, there’s an app that will let clients personalize that, rather than putting them on a strict 5-minute, 5 seconds in, 5 seconds out, rigid program! THANK YOU! It’s $0.99 for the full functionality, but the free version works perfectly well for my personal use and for how I use it with clients.  
  • Spanish & Mandarin relaxation tracks – offered by the University of Texas Counseling Center, There’s a 3-minute breathing and a body scan available in both Spanish & Mandarin – I have a hard time finding resources for clients who, even though they may do their therapy with me in English for various reasons, might prefer or better utilize resources in their native language. These are free and you don’t need to be a student to access them. 
  • Various Downloadable Workbooks – The Govt of Western Australia has a resource that includes free, downloadable self-help workbooks on lots of issues – body image, depression, procrastination, distress tolerance, panic, health anxiety, etc. I haven’t gone through the whole workbook on all the topics, but the ones I have looked at are pretty legit. Maybe a good option for clients who want to work outside of session, or for your own use as smaller handouts or in-session activities if you break them up.

Comment below: As always, if you know of great, free, online resources, let us know, too! These things are out in the world to be shared and used!  

 

 

 

 

Online Resources Vol 3


Online Resources Volume 3


Here’s a new set of interesting, free, potentially useful online mental health stuff I’ve run across for clients or clinicians! If you haven’t, check out Vol 1 and Vol 2

 

  • Project Y.E.S. ​(Youth Empowerment & Support) is an anonymous program evaluation project being run by scientists at Stony Brook University in partnership with University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio – UT Teen Health. Free 30-minute stress-mgmt activities for teens! The idea here is that evidence-based mental health support can be SO much more widely available than it currently is!
  • These online  “pocket” memory aids  cover the basic ideas from several different types of therapy. They’re probably not useful if a client hasn’t engaged in that therapy with you, but after you’ve taught the basics, these can be a good reminder as they practice throughout the week.
  • I know there are a million CBT worksheets out there, but I quite like these from Andrew Grimmer (who I don’t know, btw! This is not a shoutout – I just came across them and find many of them more useful than resources from other, more common websites). Some are printables, others are online forms (like a chain analysis that can be filled out by a client midweek and emailed to the therapist!).
  • If you’re already familiar with ACT, these are pretty helpful technique explanations/reminders. 
  • I’m not 100% sure that I haven’t posted this before, but Now Matters Now has some great resources around suicidal ideation.
  • And here’s a great little video by Andrew Huberman describing the  “physiological sigh” – which is a great quick stress/anxiety tool. On par with the face-in-cold-water technique, but easier to do anywhere! 

Comment below: As always, share the cool, free resources you’ve found online, too! 

 

 

 

Online Resources (Vol 2)


Online Resources (Vol 2)


Here’s another installment of some free, evidence-based online resources and apps I’ve stumbled upon lately… (here’s Vol 1 if you didn’t see it)

 

  • An ebook about Getting The Most Out of Brief Therapy – could be great for clients really early on, or if they are feeling stuck.
  • This is an incredible introduction to sleep, sleep hygiene, and common sleep issues by the AMAZING Dr. Jade Wu. 
  • I like this little explanation of the R.A.I.N model of radical compassion, and it includes a 20 minute meditation. 
  • These are easy and evidence based screeners for multiple mental health conditions, like depression, anxiety, psychosis. 
  • I’m loving Dr. Russ Harris’ videos about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy! 
  • For therapists, I really like Jeff Zeig’s 5 minute therapy tip s, esp if you’re kind of existential or experiential. 
  • And here is an abnormal psyc textbook that is completely open source – it’s not my favorite abnormal book ever, and of course it’s at the undergrad level, but could be a good resource for clients

And some apps!

  • FITZ – Functional Imagery Training is an evidence based blend of imagery and motivational interviewing that shows tremendous benefits over standard habit-changing models. 
  • SmilingMind – This is an Australian meditation app – it’s really good, especially compared to the for-profit apps! 
  • UCLA Mindful – This doesn’t have the kind of sleek, fancy feeling that some of the other apps do, but it’s really good and accurate and useful, with mindfulness exercises and meditations that are similar to the ones used in research protocols. 
  • Mindfulness study – an app based on the Palouse school’s resources, which are Top Notch! Note – they mean for you to do the whole 8 week program, but who wouldn’t want to do that? It’s amazing! 

Comment below: Have you seen any of these? What do you think? Have any new, other recommendations to post?