CBT without a Therapist: Helpy vs Dr. Riya by Mindtalk

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.

Dr. Riya is an AI mental health guide in the Mindtalk app. It explains WHO-5, PHQ-9 and other screening results in plain language, then suggests a guided journey, journal or human specialist based on assessments and how a user feels. It can help users organise topics for a therapist session and track mood, sleep and journal records between appointments. The wider app lists 99 clinically validated assessments, 100+ worksheets, 18 guided journeys, 26 journals and 155+ guided audio sessions. Mindtalk describes the app as self-help for general wellbeing, mild-to-moderate anxiety and low mood, sleep improvement, stress management and mental-health habits. Users can book a Mindtalk psychiatrist or clinical psychologist in the app and choose to share assessment scores and worksheet responses with a therapist. Mindtalk says account information is encrypted, not sold and private unless the user explicitly permits sharing. The free plan is free on Android, iOS and web. Dr. Riya does not diagnose, prescribe, provide therapy or offer emergency or crisis support.