CBT without a Therapist: Helpy vs ZenIA

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.

ZenIA is an Android emotional wellness app for emotional tracking, relaxation and self-management. Its AI assistant, Nia, is designed to listen, validate feelings and offer perspectives. Users can record daily emotions, identify patterns, and use grounding and breathing exercises. A community feature supports sharing experiences and reading others’ processes, with posts translated instantly into any language. With a smartwatch, ZenIA can use heart rate, variability and sleep patterns as physical context. With explicit consent, Android Health Connect can provide heart rate, steps and calories. The privacy notice says the chatbot uses Google Gemini models and messages may be processed by Google services. ZenIA says it does not use data for advertising or sell information to third parties, and may store data in Firebase on Google Cloud. Users can access or delete data and accounts; manual deletion requests are processed within 72 hours. The Free plan costs nothing and includes guided breathing and basic Nia access. Premium has no listed price.