CBT AppIntroducing

By Michelle Robson

Sophia Amber Aitchison

Student Wellbeing Service

BACKGROUND As a university we are committed to the health and wellbeing of its students.

The Student Wellbeing Team (SWS) are constantly trying to increase the accessibility of the service and foster relations with academic units.

This pilot project enabled us to develop effective technology to assist and compliment the ongoing work of SWS. It was also a way of building a relationship with the department of computer science in a way that had not been done before.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a therapy of choice for many common mental health difficulties experienced by students. SWS currently provide 1:1 , Computerised and group therapy using CBT.

OFCOM identified that 92% of adults in the UK own / use a mobile phone (2012 figures). Likelihood that this % higher in student population.

Proposal would see CBT techniques become more easily available to students via their mobile devices in the form of an APP.

Enable students to access evidence based techniques at a time when they most need them, enabling them to continue with studies.

Cognitive Restructuring

The pilot focused on the CBT Technique; Cognitive restructuring.

APP would look at ways of challenging negative cognitions in the “here and now” .

Computer Team

Daniel JamiesonDavid EastonPatrick McCorry

Along the way we had a lot of help…

Who was involved along the way?

The Computing Science department

Made sure the team had all the resources we needed to work

at our best.

The TherapistGave us invaluable help on

getting accurate CBT methods in the app.

The Students Gave us important feedback to make it more accessible to our

target audience.

Physical work sheet

Client is given a document to fill in during their free time

About the CBT App

So how does this app benefit others?

Why was it required?

Improve the support available to clients

To solve many problems in one…

Allow students to record their thoughts at any time and place

Improve communication between students and therapist

The new method

• Users can record important events at any time or place – as it is instantly accessible on their smartphone

• Users can record as many records as they like, and access them wherever they are

• Able to transfer their records to a therapist during meeting

Outcomes

• New relationship between Comp Sci & Wellbeing service,

• Application works!

• New skills for the developers involved,

• Future expansion is possible (e.g. analyse records and prompt better thought challenges)

Questions?

Thank you very much for listening!