Psychotherapy Apps: Is Your Next Therapist the iPhone?

First, there was Aristotle. Then, there was Freud. And now, there's...the iPhone? The last may seem an unlikely candidate to revolutionize the field of psychotherapy, but  if Harvard Psychology Professor Richard J. McNally and other researchers have their way, the smart phone could revolutionize the field of psychotherapy.

According to The New York Times, researchers have been developing therapy apps designed to help those who suffer from chronic anxiety and depression. The apps focus on reprogramming the brain to avoid potentially harmful stimuli. For example, some apps train people to skip over angry faces in a crowd, which, research suggests, could alleviate severe social anxiety.

Not only do these apps have the potential to help millions of smart phone owners who might otherwise not seek out treatment, but they also have the potential to help them in only minutes a day—some apps require under an hour of use per week.

So for anyone who has ever wanted psychotherapy on the go, you may be in luck—these apps could be efficient and effective without cutting into your Angry Birds time.