CBT without a Therapist: Helpy vs Psychia

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.

Psychia is an AI-powered mobile app for everyday emotional support and a private place to talk through personal concerns. It is available at any time, and conversations do not require an appointment. Its assistant draws on psychologists’ and psychotherapists’ knowledge and uses Solution-Focused Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy methods. Text conversations are included on every plan; voice conversations are available with Max. The free Lite plan offers unlimited text conversations, but may queue during busy periods and stores up to five conversations in history. A free account includes a three-day trial, and guests can start a conversation with a limited number of messages. Psychia supports Polish, English, and Ukrainian. The maker says information is stored in an AWS database and encrypted using AES-256, and that conversations are private and accessible only to the user. The maker also says the app does not replace psychotherapy or psychiatric help. It is closing its browser version and directs users to the iOS and Android apps; browser subscriptions cannot be transferred.