Free VA apps for the hard days

PTSD Coach was designed for Veterans and military Service members who have, or may have, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This app provides users with education about PTSD, information about professional care, a self-assessment for PTSD, opportunities to find support, and tools that can help users manage the stresses of daily life with PTSD. Tools range from relaxation skills and positive self-talk to anger management and other common self-help strategies. Users can customize tools based on their preferences and can integrate their own contacts, photos, and music. This app can be used by people who are in treatment as well as those who are not.

Insomnia Coach is designed for Veterans, military Servicemembers, and others who are suffering from insomnia. The app is based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-i) and provides:

• a guided, weekly training plan to help you track and improve your sleep
• a sleep coach with personal feedback about your sleep and fun sleep tips
• an interactive sleep diary to help you keep track of daily changes in your sleep

CBT-i Coach is for people who are engaged in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia with a health provider, or who have experienced symptoms of insomnia and would like to improve their sleep habits. The app will guide you through the process of learning about sleep, developing positive sleep routines, and improving your sleep environment. It provides a structured program that teaches strategies proven to improve sleep and help alleviate symptoms of insomnia.

AIMS is designed for Veterans and military Service members but can be used by anyone coping with anger problems. The AIMS app is based on the Anger and Irritability Management Skills online self-help course. The app provides users with education about anger, opportunities for finding support, the ability to create an anger management plan, anger tracking, and tools to help manage angry reactions.

STAIR Coach is a free, self-help course based on Skills Training in Affective & Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR). STAIR is an evidence-based psychotherapy that uses cognitive and behavioral techniques to help with managing emotions and relationships. STAIR helps by teaching skills that improve coping with one's emotions and navigating relationships. It can be useful for a range of people living with the aftermath of trauma, posttraumatic stress, and/or related concerns. The app includes interactive tools for emotion and behavior management, a training plan, in-depth psychoeducation, customizable reminders and quick links to support.

Couples Coach is designed for partners who want to improve their relationship and explore new ways to connect. The app takes users through five levels of expert-written education and engaging behavioral exercises informed by science. Popular exercises like Using I Messages and Active Listening are brought to life in a dynamic and interactive format.

VetChange is an app designed for Veterans, Service members, and anybody who is concerned about their drinking and how it relates to stress. This app can be useful for developing healthier drinking behaviors. You can gain insight into how your drinking relates to different moods and situations, use interactive tools to manage your stress and urges to drink, learn about alcohol use and post-traumatic stress, and track your progress. The app also includes information about community resources and referrals to professional treatment.

Beyond MST is a free, secure, trauma-sensitive mobile app that was created specifically to support the health and well-being of survivors of sexual assault or harassment during military service, also called military sexual trauma (MST).

Mindfulness means noticing and paying attention to what is going on in the present moment, without passing judgment on it. Mindfulness has been shown to be effective for reducing stress, improving emotional balance, increasing self-awareness, helping with anxiety and depression, and coping more effectively with chronic pain.

US CPT Coach is for people who are participating in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) with a professional mental healthcare provider. This app contains support materials for a complete course of CPT to help patients manage their treatment, including between session assignments, mobile versions of CPT worksheets, readings, and PTSD symptom monitoring. CPT Coach is not intended to be used as self-help without the guidance of a professional mental healthcare provider.

PE Coach is designed to be used during therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with a health professional who is trained in Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy. The app will guide you through the exercises assigned by your therapist and allows you to track and record your progress. In addition, the app provides techniques such as controlled breathing that will help you tolerate and decrease your distress. PE Coach will help you remember and track your upcoming therapy sessions. You will be able to audio record your sessions directly onto your phone so you can review them later as part of your treatment.