CBT without a Therapist: Helpy vs Mithra by MannSetu

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.

Mithra by MannSetu is an AI wellness companion for voice or text conversations and mood support. It offers mood tracking, journaling, progress summaries, and voice emotion analysis alongside CBT-based exercises, behavioural activation, breathing, and grounding practices adapted for Indian contexts. It supports Hindi and English, including Hinglish code-switching, and is available on Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows. MannSetu says each message passes a risk screen and crisis support can surface Tele-MANAS 14416 and emergency number 112. The maker says Mithra does not diagnose or replace professional therapy, and no licensed clinician reviews conversations. MannSetu states that data is encrypted at rest with AES-256 and in transit with TLS 1.3; application-layer encryption remains in progress. Data is currently hosted in AWS us-east-2 in Ohio, with migration to AWS Mumbai in progress and no firm date. The free plan has daily limits for text and voice, plus mood tracking, journaling, and seven-day session history. Student is ₹199 a month plus 18% GST, and Premium is ₹399 a month plus 18% GST. Premium has a 14-day free trial. Campus Shield is ₹50 a year for institutions.