‘The Glue Between Therapist and Patient’: Can Silicon Valley Fix Mental Health Care?
Apps are changing the industry, but experts warn against dispensing with human therapists entirely
By Elena Kadvany
The road to therapy is often inscrutable, windy and unsatisfying, with availability, cost and fit frequently preventing people from getting the care they need.
A new wave of Bay Area startups is turning to tech to change that, using algorithms and automation to take the guesswork out of finding the right therapist. At a time when mental health care is rapidly moving from clinics and hospitals on to our phones, they’re building software to enhance the human relationship at the heart of successful therapy. But the speed at which this shift has occurred is sparking as much concern as excitement about technology’s potential.
The mental health industry has come to an inflection point with tech. Thousands of smartphone apps promise real-time relief from anxiety and stress through mindfulness techniques, meditation and mood tracking — all accessible in the palm of your hand rather than embarking on the maze-like, expensive process of finding a therapist. While many of the most popular mental health apps are geared toward improving day-to-day wellbeing…
