A new Halifax based startup hopes the app will help users deal with anxiety. Halifax based Tranquility Online aims to help its users manage stress with its app. The app uses Cognitive behavioural therapy.
Cognitive behavioural therapy is a psycho-social intervention that aims to improve mental health. CBT focuses on challenging and changing unhelpful cognitive distortions and behaviours, improving emotional regulation, and developing personal coping strategies that target solving current problems.
“At Tranquility, our mission is to help those living with anxiety get access to adequate help in a way that is: Affordable, Timely, Stigma-free, Personal and Accessible,” the company website said.
The app lists two ways to conquer anxiety, one on one coaching for a personalised experience and self-help for others. One-on-One Coaching allows clients access to a coach trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Active Listening and Motivational Interviewing via webcam, phone or email.
“Together with your coach, you will make definable and reachable goals that you will surely be able to achieve. Getting help for your anxiety is only a few clicks away!” the company said.
The self-help method is for people who want to move at their own pace. If you’re highly motivated and don’t need help from a coach, then maybe a self-directed approach is for you. You’ll have unlimited access to all the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy tools online and can move through our program at your own pace.
“I know how much anxiety has negatively affected my life. The end goal of this is to allow people to live the best life they want to live, without having anxiety stop them from doing the things they want to do.”, CEO Joel Muise said.
He adds that His own experiences inspired Tranquility. After graduating from SMU and working in the stock market for six years, Muise found himself burnt out.
The Tranquility app tries to replicate the experience of practising CBT with a licensed psychologist.
“In real life, at the end of a session, a psychologist would give you a piece of paper, and that’s like a worksheet that you do your homework on, for us, because we’re going to have an app on your phone, it will always be with you, so it’ll make it a lot easier to do the homework.” He added.
Tranquility is structured so that clients unlock new modules as they go along. Users can select from four different types of anxiety: social anxiety, phobias, panic disorder, and generalised anxiety.
Although Tranquility’s one-on-one coaching costs $99 per month, the company says it’s still significantly cheaper than seeing a psychologist, and most people can work through all the modules in three months.
