Service User and Therapist Perspectives on a CBT App: Therasize
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring Service User and Therapist Perspectives on a CBT Therapy-Enhancing Mobile App (Therasize)
IRAS ID
365164
Contact name
Gary Brown
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Holloway University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 29 days
Research summary
This project looks at how mobile phone apps might be used to support talking therapies, especially Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). During the COVID-19 pandemic, many therapy sessions moved online, and this highlighted the potential for digital tools to help people and therapists work together. Research suggests that apps can be useful for things like tracking mood, practising self-help exercises, and reminding people to do therapy homework between sessions—something that is very important in CBT but often hard to keep up with. However, these tools are not yet a regular part of NHS services, and many existing apps do not fit well into everyday therapy.
To address this, the project will involve both patients and therapists in shaping an app to make sure it is helpful, easy to use, and suited to real-world needs. Therapists and experts by experience will first share their views in small group discussions. Patients will be asked about their preferences and what might make using an app easier or harder.
A subsequent group of patients will be asked if they wish to test the app (Therasize) during their actual therapy. They will be then invited to join a focus group to feed back on how well it worked, what was useful, and what could be improved.
By combining the views of both patients and therapists, the study aims to design a digital tool that genuinely supports therapy. The long-term aim is to see how mobile apps could become part of usual NHS care, helping people with conditions like anxiety and depression get more out of therapy and making the process better for both patients and therapists.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/NW/0347
Date of REC Opinion
20 Nov 2025
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion