Utilizing ACT daily as a self-guided app for clients waiting for services at a college counseling center: A pilot study

• Published in: Journal of American college health Vol. 70; no. 3; pp. 742 - 749
• Main Authors: Haeger, Jack A., Davis, Carter H., Levin, Michael E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 03-04-2022; Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subjects: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Anxiety; Coaching; college counseling centers; College Students; Cost analysis; Counseling; Counseling - methods; Counseling Services; depression; Depression (Psychology); Guidance Centers; Handheld Devices; Humans; Information Technology; Mental depression; Mental Health Programs; Mental health services; mHealth; Mobile Applications; Pilot Projects; Psychological distress; Psychological processes; Student health services; Student Personnel Services; Students - psychology; Symptoms (Individual Disorders); Therapy; Universities; mHealth; anxiety; college counseling centers; depression; Acceptance and commitment therapy
• ISSN: 0744-8481; 1940-3208
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2020.1763366

Objective
Considering increasing demands for mental health services at college counseling centers (CCCs), there is a need for cost-effective solutions that avoid depleting stressed CCC resources. This study examined if ACT Daily, a mobile application based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), could serve as an effective self-guided intervention. Participants: 11 individuals on a CCC waitlist suffering from anxiety/depression participated in the study over 2 weeks. Methods: This study implemented a pre-post, open trial design of ACT Daily. Assessments were completed at baseline and 2-week post assessment. Results: Results indicated that ACT Daily was acceptable and that participants improved on depression and anxiety symptoms as well as psychological inflexibility processes over the 2 weeks. App data further indicated significant in-the-moment improvements on depression, anxiety and psychological inflexibility immediately following skill coaching, with these effects becoming larger over time. Conclusions: Mobile apps like ACT Daily could serve as an effective, pre-therapy tool for depressed/anxious students.