Cass vs CBT without a Therapist: Helpy

Cass is a web-accessible AI mental-health assistant offering wellness chatbot support around the clock. People can use SMS or Facebook Messenger without downloading an app, creating an account, or joining a waitlist. Its knowledge engine covers 800 topics and more than three million variations. Cass offers personalised conversations, recommendations, resources, surveys, guided exercises, follow-ups, goals, referrals, and self-assessments including GAD-7 and PHQ-9. It flags crises, verifies severity, and can engage a crisis professional within 20 seconds. Users may connect on demand with 5,000 coaches across all 50 states, and the service supports seven languages. Cass can be embedded in websites, portals, Google Home, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other channels. It provides an insights dashboard with database or EHR integration. Cass states HIPAA compliance and SOC 2 certification, with encryption and daily server audits, but communications through SMS, Messenger, and WhatsApp are outside HIPAA coverage except Signal.

CBT without a Therapist: Helpy is a self-help platform centered on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), with materials drawing on DBT and ACT. Its thought journal helps users distinguish facts from assumptions, identify cognitive distortions, and assess how well thoughts fit reality. Helpy’s AI assistant asks clarifying questions and may suggest a thought record, grounding, or breathing practice. The service offers audio and written exercises, along with screening questionnaires for anxiety, mood, sleep, and burnout; results are not diagnoses. An anxiety program is available, with its first module free, while other programs are described as forthcoming. Helpy runs on Android, iOS, and the web. The free plan includes unlimited journal use, limited AI chat replies, the full exercise library with audio, and the first module of every course. Full Access costs $29.00 USD as a one-time payment and includes unlimited conversations and journal entry analysis. Optional end-to-end encryption is off by default. When users request an entry review, its text is decrypted on their side and sent to the AI. Helpy is not medical care, therapy, or a substitute for professional care.