Apps are not a replacement for therapy

Apps should be viewed as a supplement to therapy, especially for people who have serious mental health disorders, said psychologist Charmain Jackman, founder of InnoPsych in Massachusetts. “They’re not designed to provide that level of care.”

Even those seeking help with more mild conditions could benefit from human support, said Stephen Schueller, an associate professor of psychological science and informatics at the University of California at Irvine.

Research has shown that when apps are used by themselves without human support, they tend to have “consistent but small effects,” Schueller said. “On average, people get a little bit of a boost in their mental health from using these if they’re used by themselves. If they’re used in conjunction with a human supporter, we actually see benefits that are as large as those seen in traditional face-to-face therapy.”