Weekly App Review: Scratchify

Sample image made using the Scartchify app.

This week I’m reviewing the Scratchify app, another app by linkedPIXEL the makers of Scribblify. Scratchify immitates the look of scratch art, a subtractive drawing technique that utilizes a sharpened stylus to scratch away a think layer of dark paint (or pigment) to reveal a lighter color underneath. By carefully scratching away parts of the surface, the artist can create high contrast images.

Intended Use: The app is intended for making art.

Target Audience: The app is listed as appropriate for ages four and up.

Usability: The interface is simple to use and primarily text based. Users are prompted to answer the questions, “What’s worrying you?” They are then prompted to type their response and put it in the worry box. The user reports this process until they have addressed all of their hypothetical worries. Once all of the worries are in the box, the user is prompted burn the box. The app then plays a brief animation of the box of fire.

Cost: The app is free with advertisements. There are in-app purchases of gems which can be exchanged for additional brushes, shapes, backgrounds, etc. The pack of 250 gems ($4.99) removes advertisements.

Technical Requirements: Available for iOS and Android.

Pro’s:

• The app creates bright images with a lot of contrast. This is could be engaging for younger users. It may also be helpful for users who have partial vision loss.

• Users can free draw or use symmetrical drawing tools and stamps. This makes art making more approachable for those who may be insecure about their drawing skills or have motor impairments.

• This tool could be a useful introduction to traditional scratch art in art therapy or classroom settings. Alternatively, this could be a tool for clients to use in between sessions if they do not have access to art materials or a space to work with them.

• Unlike traditional scratch art, users can undo mistakes with the touch of a button.

• The app removes the need to use a sharp tool for drawing. This addresses a safety concern for clients who are at risk for violence, self-harm, or are being seen in secure facilities.

• Users can save their work and continue their pieces later.

Con’s:

• In the free version, users have to watch an advertisement before they can save their work. The frequent ads detract from the overall experience.

• The drawing area is very small on the phone version. It would be best used on a tablet to increase the available drawing space.

• If the app accidentally closes before the work is saved, the progress made on the image will be lost.

Is it worth it? The free version of app is worth trying for personal use. The bright colors are engaging and the interface is simple enough for beginner users. The option to use premade shapes and symmetrical tools makes art making approachable for those who are not confident in their drawing abilities or have physical limitations. In order to use this with clients I would recommend upgrading to the paid version and using it on a tablet.

Weekly App Review: WorryBox

Screenshots from the WorryBox app.

This week I’m reviewing the WorryBox app. Everyone has anxious thoughts or worries from time to time. The feeling of worry can be useful if it prevents us from doing things that are dangerous or motivates us to solve problems. Unfortunately, worries can sometimes become overwhelming or keep us from enjoying life. When you notice your thoughts becoming a series of “what if’s” about things that haven’t happened, worst-case scenarios, or over which you have little or no control (e.g. what if I say something embarrassing, what if the train is late, etc.), what we call hypothetical worries, it can be helpful to set aside worry time to acknowledge these thoughts and let them go. WorryBox is an app that helps users with worry time.

Intended Use: The app is intended for relaxation.

Target Audience: The app is listed as appropriate for ages four and up. It can be used by anyone who can write basic sentences (ages approximately 6 and up independently).

Usability: The interface is simple to use and primarily text based. Users are prompted to answer the questions, “What’s worrying you?” They are then prompted to type their response and put it in the worry box. The user reports this process until they have addressed all of their hypothetical worries. Once all of the worries are in the box, the user is prompted burn the box. The app then plays a brief animation of the box of fire.

Cost: The app is free.

Technical Requirements: Available for iOS.

Pro’s:

• The app is free and easy to use.

• There are no advertisements or in-app purchases.

• It can be a helpful tool to deal with hypothetical worries.

Con’s:

• The app is text based and only available in English.

Is it worth it? The app could be a useful tool for dealing with worrisome thoughts in conjunction with therapy. Specifically, users might need psychoeducation about the difference between practical worries and hypothetical worries as it usually best to deal with the two types in different ways. Problem-solving is generally the best strategy for practical worries as it addresses the problem directly, naturally eliminating the worry. Avoiding the discomfort of practical worries can make things worse by prolonging the problem and leading to an accumulation of unfinished tasks which can become overwhelming.

Weekly App Review: Doodle Drawing Pad

Doodle made with the Doodle Drawing Pad app.

This week I’m reviewing the Doodle Drawing Pad app. There are many simple drawing app on the market but what sets this one apart is the ability to narrate and screen-record within the app (rather than using separate tools). This could be a valuable feature for art therapists and art therapy researchers as it will allow for stroke by stroke recording of the client’s creative process as well as their verbal comments.

Intended Use: The app is intended for art and productivity.

Target Audience: Both apps are listed as appropriate for ages four and up.

Screen shot showing the tools in the Doodle Drawing Pad app.

Usability: The interface is primarily visual and there are minimal text labels. Users can choose from pen, marker, and pencil tools in a variety of colors. Simply draw with a finger to make curved lines or use the ruler tool for assistance drawing straight lines. The selection tool allows users to move portions of their drawing around the screen. There are also tools to undo mistakes (e.g. an eraser tool to selectively remove portions of the drawing and a garbage can to start over).

Cost: The app is free.

Technical Requirements: Available for iOS.

Pro’s:

• The app is free and easy to use. This can be especially useful for beginners or during research as the user can learn to use the app relatively quickly.

• Users can selects colors from a preset palette or choose their own from the entire spectrum.

• Users can choose to record their process through the screen only or include voice narration.

• The selection tool could be used to create cut outs for animation during the screen recording process. For example, a client might draw a character then use the selection tool to move the character around the screen while telling a story.

Con’s:

Playback (sped up x4) of the drawing process on Doodle Drawing Pad app.

• If your phone is in Dark mode, the drawing and screen recording process will have a black background but drawings exported to the camera roll will have a white background. This means that the finished product might not look like what the user sees when they are creating it. The work around for this is to switch your phone to Light mode.

• Once the app is closed, the drawing space is cleared. This means that the drawing must be completed in a single session. It also means that if the app closes unexpectedly during the drawing process, that the drawing is lost and the user will need to start all over again.

• Users have to remember to press the record option before they begin drawing. It doesn’t happen automatically.

• The types of tools and customizations for those tools are limited. While this is good for beginners, it may not be robust enough for more experienced artists who appreciate a greater degree of control.

Is it worth it? While there are more robust drawing programs available (e.g. Procreate, Krita, etc.) this could be a valuable tool for beginners and researchers. Having a record of the art making process as well as the processing allows the therapist to review the session as many times as needed. It also creates opportunities to review the footage with the client if needed.

One of the critiques other reviewers have made is that this app is essentially a duplicate of the native Notes app on the iOS system. In my opinion, this is a fair critique. The Notes app actually has more tools available (e.g. ink pen, brush marker), supports switching between light and dark mode within the app, and allows the user to save and revisit their drawings within the app. In order to make recordings, however, the user would need to use the operating systems record function (outside of the app). The familiar interface might actually be a benefit to new clients as they may already know how to use the app and have access to it outside of sessions.

Weekly App Review:

This week I’m reviewing Smiling Mind, a mindfulness and meditation app. The premise of the app is that approximately ten minutes per day of mindfulness exercises can help reduce anxiety and stress while promoting greater health and wellness. There are specialized programs within the app for youth, adults, classrooms, families, and workplaces.

Intended Use: The app is intended for relaxation and wellness.

Target Audience: The app is listed as appropriate for users age four and up. The kids program is for children ages three to twelve, the youth program is for adolescents between 13 and 18 years of age, and the family program is designed for the whole family to listen together.

Usability: The interface is easy to navigate with text and supporting graphics. Users start with a well-being check-in, selecting their age group, and selecting the area they want to focus on (e.g. sleep, mindfulness, sports, school, stress management, relaxation, etc.). The app automatically keeps track of the user’s progress in the program so they can develop their skills in a logical progression. Users can also set up reminders to use the app at certain times of the day.

Cost: Free, there are premium programs available for the workplace (requires contact with the developers).

Technical Requirements: Available for iOS and Android.

Pro’s:

• The app is free and there are no ads or in-app purchases.

• Users can select light or dark mode. Users may prefer dark mode if they are using the app for help with sleep.

• The app supports both guided and unguided meditation. It focuses on brief meditation (under ten minutes) which can be easily incorporated into a busy day which is good for beginners. There is also a section of extended meditations (15 to 45 minutes).

• Although the app is in English there are meditations available in Arabic as well as native Australian languages (Dari, Kriol, Ngaanyatjarra, and Pitjantjatjara).

Con’s:

• The library of meditations is more limited than some of the other apps on the market.

• The meditations are audio only whereas other apps offer a video or other visualization on the screen. Depending on how you meditate, this may not necessarily be a negative.

Is it worth it? This is a great app for developing mindfulness practices. Unlike many apps that are on the market now, this one is free and appropriate for both children and adults.

Weekly App Review: Finch

Screenshot from the Finch app showing some of the features of the app including goals, mindfulness activities, quizzes, and reflections.

Happy New Year and welcome to 2023! A new year means a new opportunity to reflect and develop better habits. This week I’m reviewing Finch, a habit tracking and wellness app, which might help you with your resolutions.

If you grew up in the 1990’s or early 2000’s you might be familiar with Tamagotchi (a handheld video game which required users to take care of a digital pet). The Finch app uses the idea of the tamagotchi and applies it to self-care activities. Users help their pet gain energy by setting goals, completing mindfulness activities, tracking their emotions, and developing healthy habits. Your pet grows and develops a unique personality by going on adventures and interacting with the user. The developers based Finch on research about the benefits of writing about stressful events (Baikie & Wilhelm, 2005; Koopman et al, 2005; Krpan et al., 2013; Ullrich & Lutgendorf, 2002), putting feelings into words (Lieberman et al, 2007), counting blessings (Froh et al, 2008), and writing to-do lists (Scullin et al, 2018).

Intended Use: The app is intended for health and wellness.

Target Audience: The app is listed as being appropriate for ages four and up. The interface is animated and cute which would be welcomed by children, however, most of the prompts require literacy skills (both reading and writing). The coping strategies are appropriate for all ages but actually geared towards older teens/adults.

Usability: The interface is straightforward to use. The welcome screen features an emotional check-in and motivational quote. Users can select a journey (group of habits and goals to cultivate) such as feeling more adventurous, having a tidy space and tidy mind, staying connected with friends, improving sleeping, getting more physically active, appreciating the moments in life, or even just surviving the day. Each day, the app will give the user a set of goals to complete for the day. Completing goals give your digital pet energy to go out on adventures and in-game currency to purchase outfits and decorations.

Cost: The app is free to use. Users can upgrade to Finch Plus for $5.99 per month or $39.99 per year. There is a seven day free trial for Plus. The Plus version includes access to more outfits, decorations, longer meditation/grounding activities, more control over goals, and access to all trend data (free version stores one week at a time).

Technical Requirements: Available for iOS and Android.

Pro’s:

• The app is simple to use and adds a game-like element to habit tracking and self-care. Users can choose to set reminders/notifications for check-in’s and goals as frequently as they choose. If you cannot finish a goal on a given day, you can set a reminder to do it later. Gamifying self-care can help a person be more accountable (even if its just to an animated bird) and something to look forward to.

• The app provides positive modeling for building empathy and compassion to one’s self by giving users supportive and encouraging language to use with their digital pet.

• The graphics are well-rendered and visually appealing.

• Users also have access to several helpful grounding and mindfulness tools which can be accessed through the first-aid section. This is useful to users who may be using the app to help support existing mental health treatment by reinforcing coping strategies learned in therapy.

• The only advertising in the app is for the subscription option and this is only an occasional reminder (not obtrusive).

Con’s:

• Some users might find the cartoonish style of the app to be childish.

• The app is only available in English.

Is it worth it? I have been using the free version of app for the past several months and have found it be a positive addition to my routine. As I’ve been using the app I appreciate the prompts to reflect on things I’m grateful for, express worries I’m concerned about, and vent frustrations to be helpful in appreciating what is going well and letting go of (or at least not dwelling on) things that are bothering me. I get so busy with work that I find it helpful to have gentle reminders to do small things around the home to keep my space (and mind) tidy so they don’t pile up. It doesn’t hurt to get a little encouragement for doing it too. I think that the app is definitely worth trying. I’m happy with the free version so far (I don’t really need access to all of the outfits for my little finch, Sunshine). The Plus version is worth considering, however, as this is a solid app and it supports the developers to continue maintaining/improving the app and making it free for other users.