I’m sure you’ve heard this before. Or maybe you’ve even said it yourself, when someone drops that now trendy and overused word: mindfulness. “I’m not very good at mindfulness. I can’t meditate very well.”
 
Oh, trust me. I know this feeling too. I've had this thought. Many times.
 
That's why, when I talk to clients about mindfulness, I’ll be totally honest - I do it with hesitation. Mainly, because I know how misunderstood this powerful little word can be. So I want to break this word down and simplify it for you, so you can start experiencing the benefits of being present without hitting these pitfalls.

Oh, technology. It’s no secret that all the technological advances we’ve seen in our lifetime have taken a toll on our overall wellbeing. We are constantly distracted, addicted to games and social media, and feeling more and more disconnected in our lives. And yet, technology is here, and smart phones aren’t going anywhere. But this isn’t necessarily bad news.

The thing is, if we use our phones wisely, technology can actually be a huge asset to us.

For a long time I’ve been passionate about mindfully exploring the role technology can play in improving our mental health. For example, here in San Francisco, the first mental health hackathon recently took place, and I was honored to be there as a consultant to assist teams of brilliant designers manifest tech-based solutions to solve some of the most pressing mental health challenges facing society today (See here for more about the event and one of the teams I worked with that day).

One area where you can find some great mental health tools is in mobile apps. I use apps with my clients all the time, and it has been a game changer. Long gone are the caveman days where the only option was pen and paper worksheets and handouts that easily get lost in a notebook or under a stack of mail. My clients find using apps is a great way to stay engaged on their goals between sessions, and it gives me more real time data so we can make strides in our work together faster and more efficiently. Here are three apps that you can integrate into your psychotherapy that will level up your experience in the chair: