Feeling Great's Therapy App: Bridging the Gap Between Psychologist's Experience and AI
Seeking mental health support can be a complex process, but some founders believe that utilizing AI to formalize techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can assist individuals who may not have access to professionals. Dr. David Burns, a seasoned psychiatrist with over 40 years of experience, has developed an app called Feeling Great based on his therapeutic methods.
Burns collaborated with Jeremy Karmel, former growth team leader at Doordash and Reddit, to create Feeling Great, which is also the title of one of Burns's bestselling mental health books.
The company, established in 2022, recently announced raising $8 million in seed funding co-led by Learn Capital and TitleTownTech, along with Lux Ventures, WaveMaker Three-Sixty Health, Pacific Health Ventures, and Treble Capital. Feeling Great is launching its app today after a beta phase with around 3,000 users.
With 14 employees, Feeling Great plans to invest funds into app development and marketing. Rob Hutter, founder of Learn Capital, expressed interest in Burns' work, leading to an investment in the startup due to the combination of Burns' expertise and Karmel's growth mindset.
The App and Technology
Feeling Great's app features interactive mental health courses and emotion management, presented through illustrations, stories, and a chatbot for user engagement. The app utilizes AI models based on Burns' T.E.A.M. approach to deliver empathetic responses and actionable advice to users.
The app primarily aims to transform negative emotions into positive ones and offers guidance for difficult emotional situations. Feeling Great emphasizes that the app is not a substitute for human therapists and provides warnings during onboarding, recommending professional help for suicidal thoughts.
Opportunity and the Road Ahead
In a market with mental health startups like BetterHelp and Talkspace, Feeling Great competes with apps such as Woebot, Wysa, and Sonia. Learn Capital believes in the potential of using proven therapeutic approaches to build transformative products, leveraging computational intelligence to facilitate psychological growth.
Feeling Great and its founders stress the accessibility and convenience of the app compared to traditional therapy, highlighting future developments including voice-based AI, long-term memory, and an anonymous mode. The company aims to pursue FDA approval for clinical conditions and expand its offerings beyond the U.S.
Feeling Great is available on both Android and iOS, offering a seven-day free trial before a $99 annual subscription fee. The app seeks to empower individuals to reach their full potential and transform their mental well-being on a larger scale.
