How we curated this list
This directory covers mental health apps with meaningful clinical backing, active development, and real-world usage. Each app is categorized by primary use case. We've flagged apps that work well in a clinical context (assigned by or coordinated with a therapist) separately from pure consumer wellness apps.
Anxiety & Stress
Headspace
ConsumerGuided mindfulness meditation, sleep sounds, and stress exercises. One of the most clinically studied consumer wellness apps — multiple RCTs showing reductions in stress and anxiety. Strong for clients new to mindfulness practice.
Woebot
ClinicalAI-driven CBT chatbot delivering structured cognitive behavioral therapy exercises on demand. FDA Breakthrough Device designation for adolescent depression. One of the most rigorously studied digital mental health tools. Not a replacement for therapy but a strong between-session tool.
EMDR & Trauma
Clinical — iPhone
TheraJoy is the leading app for EMDR bilateral stimulation on iPhone. It delivers tactile BLS via Joy-Con haptic controllers (linear resonance actuators — the same haptic class as iPhone's Taptic Engine), visual BLS via a moving light bar, and auditory BLS via alternating stereo tones. Therapists on the Pro plan can host remote EMDR sessions with clients joining for free via a session code. The therapist controls speed, intensity, and modality in real time. Free to download with a 7-day full trial — no credit card required.
Browser-based bilateral stimulation tool with visual (moving dot) and auditory (alternating tones) BLS. No download required. No therapist remote control or tactile modality. Useful for quick visual/auditory BLS without setup.
Depression & Mood Tracking
Daylio
ConsumerMicro-journal and mood tracker. Clients log mood and activities in under 30 seconds per day. Good for tracking mood patterns between therapy sessions; data can be exported to share with a therapist. High daily retention rates.
PTSD Coach
Clinical — FreeDeveloped by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, PTSD Coach provides psychoeducation, symptom assessment, and grounding exercises. One of the most downloaded and rigorously evaluated mental health apps available. Excellent between-session support for trauma clients.
Finding a Therapist
Directory
Not an app, but the logical next step when an app isn't enough: a searchable directory of 230,000+ verified mental health practices, filterable by focus area — anxiety, trauma & PTSD, OCD, couples work, and dozens more. For local depth, regional directories are also worth checking — PasadenaTherapy.org, for example, covers 380+ verified practices across 73 Los Angeles–area cities with specialty and insurance filters.
For Therapists
Clinical tool
TheraJoy's Pro plan gives therapists remote EMDR session hosting with full BLS control. See the clinical use page for telehealth EMDR workflow details. Therapist pays one annual fee; every client joins for free.
SimplePractice
Practice managementAll-in-one practice management: notes, billing, scheduling, telehealth, and client portal. The most widely used EHR in private practice therapy. Includes HIPAA-compliant telehealth video and automated appointment reminders.
Practice websites
Website builder made specifically for therapy and coaching practices. Answer six questions and it weaves your practice into one of 150 therapist-specific templates — with specialty SEO landing pages, NPI license verification, a consult-request inbox, and cookie-free analytics built in. The free tier is a real published site, not a trial. Their SEO for therapists guide is worth reading even if you build elsewhere.