logo
episode-header-image
May 12
10 m

My 7 Favorite Free Apps to Improve Menta...

Therapy in a Nutshell -Emma McAdam
About this episode

Join Therapy in a Nutshell’s membership and get instant access to all 10 life-changing courses, live weekly Q&As, and a supportive community for just $27/month. Learn how to manage anxiety, process trauma, regulate emotions, and build lasting resilience. Take small, powerful steps toward healing and a richer, more meaningful life. Start your journey today! https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership

Check out the Therapy in a Nutshell App: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/app

Smartphones often get a bad rap when it comes to mental health, but they can also be powerful tools for emotional well-being when used intentionally. In this guide, we explore some of the best apps for mental health—many of which are free or already on your phone—that can help with stress, anxiety, self-care, and habit-building.

Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional from the comfort of your own home. Try it now for 10% off your first month: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanutshell

Learn more in one of my in-depth mental health courses: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com

Support my mission on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/therapyinanutshell

Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.therapyinanutshell.com

Check out my favorite self-help books: https://kit.co/TherapyinaNutshell/best-self-help-books 

Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger Institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.

And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe

If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services.

Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC

Up next
Aug 22
Emotional Flashbacks - 13 Strategies for Childhood Trauma from Pete Walker's book on CPTSD
Learn to manage emotional flashbacks, a key symptom of PTSD and Complex PTSD CPTSD, or Childhood Trauma with these tools from Pete Walker. Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership Check out the FREE Groundi ... Show More
17m 57s
Aug 15
When it feels like Anxiety, but it's actually ANGER w/ Dr. Sarah Michaud
Anger can be a hidden root cause of Anxiety. sometimes suppressed anger comes out as anxiety especially when you've been conditioned to believe that anger is unacceptable. Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/memb ... Show More
51m 1s
Aug 7
Harm OCD - Intrusive Thoughts that I Might Hurt Someone
It’s normal that intrusive thoughts are about things that you consider “Bad” but just having a thought won’t hurt you and it doesn’t mean you’re dangerous. Harm OCD is common. Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/ ... Show More
18m 40s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
Bad Anxiety and Mental Health Advice | Episode 297
Send in a question or comment via text.The Internet is packed with anxiety and mental health advice, but not all of it is useful or helpful.  Some of it can be harmful. This week I'm joined by Emma McAdam, the therapist behind the Therapy in a Nutshell YouTube channel, to di ... Show More
38m 19s
Nov 2024
245 | "I've been in fight / flight my whole life, now what?!": 2 Psychology & Nervous System Based Tools to Start Healing Your Nervous System so You Feel Less Overwhelm & Anxiety & More Calm & Regulat
Today's episode is for the woman who is realizing that "holy moly, I've spent so much of my life in fight/flight, what the heck do I do now? how do I fix this?"I've been there & so have many of my clients. Today's episode is a love letter encouraging you that it i ... Show More
18m 17s
Nov 2024
244 | Trying to Be More Consistent With Your Daily Habits? 2 Unique, Psychology Backed Practices to Help You Stick With Your Healthy Routines
ACTIVATE: THE MEMBERSHIP |November's theme is ACTIVATING HIGH LEVEL DAILY HABITS! If you're ready to create healthy daily habits to step into your best self, join us!ACTIVATE is your all-in-one resource hub & spunky community of support, connecting a collective of women o ... Show More
18m 16s
Feb 2024
81 — Country Singer Madeline Merlo: Confronting Mental Health Issues, Healing, and Growing Stronger
It's easy to tell other people to seek help or take charge of their mental health, but much harder to take those steps when you need to do so for yourself. But struggles with your mental health don't mean you're mentally weak. Accomplished singer and songwriter Madeline Merlo has ... Show More
48m 12s
Apr 2023
What Parents Need to Know: Addressing the Rising Trend of Teen Mental Health Issues - a Put It into Practice Episode
In this Put It into Practice episode, I'm giving an overview of Jonathan Haidt's article "The Teen Mental Illness Epidemic is International, Part 1: The Anglosphere", https://jonathanhaidt.substack.com/p/international-mental-illness-part-one. I'm also sharing signs to be on the l ... Show More
15m 54s
Mar 2025
259 | Moving Through a Challenging Season? What's Been Helping Me - Prayer, Fasting & Life Updates (🎙THE PODCAST WILL BE BACK WEEKLY IN APRIL)
ACTIVATE: THE MEMBERSHIP |ACTIVATE is your go to hub for tools & community to help you regulate your nervous system, create healthy daily habits & become your best self through faith & mental wellness.Throughout the month, we have a live journaling call to map out your month' ... Show More
21m 5s
Feb 2025
258 | "No, Self Compassion Won't Make You Lazy" & 3 Journal Prompts to Reach Your Top Personal Growth Goals With Less Stress & Anxiety
ACTIVATE: THE MEMBERSHIP |ACTIVATE is your go to hub for tools & community to help you regulate your nervous system, create healthy daily habits & become your best self through faith, mental wellness & yoga.Throughout the month, you get journal prompts, audio trainings, breathing ... Show More
19m 57s
Jan 2023
The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health: What to Know and What to Do - a Put It into Practice Episode
In this week’s Put It into Practice episode I'm sharing how social media affects our mental health. And I'm also discussing what to do when we find ourselves dealing with anxiety and depression due to being on social media. Have a question about therapy, mental health or relation ... Show More
12m 9s
Mar 2025
How To Control Your Inner Voice & Fix Your Negative Self-Talk | Dr. Ethan Kross
Ethan Kross is a Professor in the University of Michigan’s Psychology Department and Ross School of Business. He is the director of the Emotion & Self-Control Lab. His research examines how people can control their thoughts, feelings and behaviors to improve their lives.Today on ... Show More
46m 31s
Sep 2024
233 | 3 Daily Healthy Routines & Mental Wellness Habits to Reduce Overwhelm & Stress For Women in Their Twenties: Psychology Backed & Nervous System Infused
Hey sweet friend, have you been feeling overwhelmed and stressed? In today’s episode, I’m sharing 3 psychology backed, mental wellness & nervous system support habits that I’d highly recommend to feel less stressed in your day to day. As a therapist & yoga teacher, I have found t ... Show More
23m 44s