Developed by Stanford University, the app, which delivers Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, has shown that it does improve mental health. Alison is a clinical research psychologist and health tech visionary dedicated to creating smart, scalable and accessible mental healthcare solutions. She tested a version of the technology on a sample of 70 real people with depression and anxiety long before launching it. AD: I have been a clinical research psychologist and intervention scientist for about 15 years, with much of this time spent working with patients and mental illness. Alison Darcy, CEO and Founder. LN: What opportunity did you want to address with the development of your technology? Woebot CEO Alison Darcy said this is because of how young people’s brains are wired: “When you think about the developing adolescent brain, what’s really unique about that period is that they are very peer-oriented. I wanted to create Woebot as an additional option for people and a way to open up access to help. Because cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is so versatile, Woebot can help anyone struggling with mental health learn how to better cope with and interpret events that happen in their lives, regardless of age. Born out of research led by psychologist Dr. Alison Darcy, Woebot has scientifically demonstrated efficacy in a published randomized controlled trial. … That said, I also have a technical background, having built my first digital mental health intervention in 2000. Born out of research led by psychologist Dr. Alison Darcy, Woebot has scientifically demonstrated efficacy in a published randomized controlled trial. Darcy said speaking to Woebot first can help people feel more comfortable with the vulnerability of talking about your feelings. Alison Darcy / Woebot Labs Woebot isn’t a replacement for an in-person therapist, Darcy says, nor will it help you find one. 12 Followers • 24 Following. During my time in the AI lab, I was exposed to how AI could be applied to conversational agents, like chatbots. Woebot was never intended as a replacement for therapists, but as one part of a toolbox to improve mental health support. It’s sort of interesting to think that the basic model of the therapeutic relationship has not evolved much from the basic structure of two humans in a room for one hour a week since it was first conceived in the 1890’s. AD: I see Woebot improving on three main dimensions. See also: 174: AI startups in Healthcare; Contact Us | Advertising . Mark Regan • 133 Pins. AD: Having spent several years in the Psychiatry Department at the Stanford School of Medicine, as well as some time in the Stanford AI Lab, I was surrounded by inspiring people who were working to develop solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems. In a pandemic that reduces all human contact, Woebot has unsurprisingly seen a significant increase in users this year. View all SuperBot 2018 videos at https://sb2018.dashbot.io. Alison Darcy, PhD. In what ways can your products benefit the 50+ population? Woebot is a chatbot that combines deep domain expertise with data science, and a great user experience to facilitate both of these things. Woebot Labs. Moreover, due to perceived stigmas and high costs, a large fraction of people suffering from depression and anxiety may never receive care. Findings in a survey by Woebot Health showed that people under 25 experienced more sadness and anxiety at the onset of the pandemic, compared to any other age group. I’ve been lucky that I’ve been able to draw from the extensive experience of my former colleagues and also tap into the Stanford network that produces some of the most brilliant graduates in both clinical sciences and engineering. Available on Facebook Messenger (the largest social media network with over 2 billion users) and at a significantly more affordable cost than most traditional therapists (and especially so for those without health insurance), Woebot provides a therapeutic experience to those who may otherwise not receive it – whatever the reason. LN: How has Woebot the company differed from what you envisioned it would be (if at all)? AD: In a world where so many people have smartphones and are accustomed to 24/7 connectivity, the convenience of a Facebook-integrated chatbot is unparalleled. Dr. Alison Darcy - CEO & Founder Stanford-trained expert in digital health technology for mental health Dr. Athena Robinson - Chief Clinical Officer, Stanford-trained psychologist and expert clinician Dr. Andrew Ng - Chairman Leading AI expert Casey Sackett - CTO Experienced health app executive Humans on Woebot: “By stepping back and acknowledging the skewed lens through which I … The artificial intelligence, Woebot, is a small yellow bot and is somewhat quirky in manner, sending users GIFs and emojis when they complete tasks. In just two weeks, users reported a 22% reduction in their symptoms of anxiety and depression. I think his conversational skill will be much more sophisticated, and he will also be able to deliver a much more personalized experience for each user. How did I end up here? With 20 years of research in treatment development and implementation science, Alison Darcy is a clinical research psychologist. Woebot delivers a guided self-help version of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), the most rigorously studied therapeutic approach across diagnoses, especially mood disorders like anxiety and depression. SAN FRANCISCO — November 12, 2020 — Woebot Health announced today it has appointed Joseph Gallagher to the newly-created position of Vice President of Product. Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from South West Londoner. Country: USA | Funding: $8M | link Woebot develops automated conversational agent (chatbot) who helps you monitor mood and learn about yourself. I come from a background in clinical research psychology, having directly worked with patients suffering from mental illness, and designing treatments for them. Alison Darcy is an American psychologist and technologist. Darcy was acutely aware of this problem and created Woebot to be more accessible than traditional therapy, to get to the most ‘hard-to-reach’ groups for therapeutic intervention. According to Darcy, though, the average length of time between the onset of symptoms and seeing a clinician is 11 years – making services like Woebot a vital support system for people who might fall between the cracks. After I left Stanford, I began working with some of these AI experts, as well as Woebot’s CTO Pamela Fox, who previously spent years developing code for curriculum programs with Coursera and Khan Academy. Her work to explore how digital treatments can help solve human problems began more than 20 years ago, when she created one of the first online support groups for people with eating disorders. 4. For older adults especially, one key advantage of Woebot is that unlike apps, you don’t have to learn any new technology – it’s just a conversation, so people can start to engage straight away. When people ask us how suitable he is for them, we encourage them to give him a try – you’ll know if it’s a good fit pretty early on. Woebot efficacy is supported by a study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, Mental Health. Hair. Woebot provides personalized informational content that would only ordinarily come from rich interactions with a great therapist – all with the goal of making quality mental healthcare as accessible as possible, for everyone. “It just eliminated a lot of stigma overnight, because it was a shared experience.”. Would you like to get the best stories of the week directly in your inbox? We spoke with founder and CEO, Dr. Alison Darcy, about Woebot and the opportunities she sees in the 50+ market. According to Darcy, though, the average length of time between the onset of symptoms and seeing a clinician is 11 years – making services like Woebot a … And during lockdown, that was almost completely removed from people. Woebot Labs Inc To revist this ... but there’s a lot of noise in human relationships,” says Alison Darcy, one of the psychologists behind Woebot, and the company’s CEO. It’s dumb but in a good way pic.twitter.com/ijP43X8Q49. Founder & President. What do you do when you’re having a mental health crisis in the middle of a pandemic? All of these improvements are possible because we are uniquely positioned to gather the data we need to be constantly learning from people, but also because of my research background I’m excited to be in a position to further develop the therapeutic models themselves. “Because it’s not an actual person, there is less fear of judgement from people. Woebot was created by Stanford psychologist (and University College Dublin PhD graduate) Dr Alison Darcy, who works in the area of digital therapeutics. In 2016 the EU announced it’s plans for making companies responsible for user data protections of all EU citizens, regardless of where the company resides geographically. Woebot The fully automated CBT coach Alison Darcy, PhD CEO & Founder @alisonmdarcy Woebot Labs Inc. October 9th 2018. Add Startup/Funding. Woebot Labs & GDPR In 2016 the EU announced it’s plans for making companies responsible for user data protections of all EU citizens, regardless of where the company resides geographically. in Psychology from University College Dublin, and has spent her career building scalable technology solutions to address the pervasive mental health crisis. LN: Where do you see Woebot five years from now? To learn more about Woebot, visit their website and follow them on Facebook and Twitter. See what Alison Darcy (alisondarcy) has discovered on Pinterest, the world's biggest collection of ideas. In the study (led by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine), we found that those who interacted with Woebot experienced a significant reduction in their symptoms of depression and anxiety after just 2 weeks. It was designed by a team comprised of Stanford psychologists and AI experts. And I think that’s been a really nice thing. LN: Who are your primary users? Google searches for ‘online therapy’ nearly doubled from February until May this year, when searches worldwide reached an all-time high. The coronavirus pandemic has forced life online — and this is no less true of mental health support. At Woebot Labs, rooted in scientist-practitioner philosophies, has been preparing for full compliance by May 2018., Alison Darcy PhD, Founder & President In many ways COVID has catapulted us into the future, forcing technological and scientific innovation at unprecedented rates. Menu BY DISEASE BY TECHNOLOGY BY COUNTRY. She has a history of depression – she’s only been using Woebot for a few weeks but has already seen an improvement in her wellbeing. “I know that many people can have difficulty with expressing the way that they feel and conveying and communicating their emotions to a real therapist.”. Founders Alison Darcy; Operating Status Active; Last Funding Type Series A; Also Known As Woebot Labs; Legal Name Woebot Labs Inc. Company Type For Profit; Contact Email press@woebothealth.com; Woebot Health’s mission is to make mental health radically accessible. Andrew Ng - co-founder of Coursera and former Vice President and Chief Scientist at Baidu - has joined Woebot Labs as an investor and chair of the board. Can you tell us about your product and how it works? Prior to Woebot Labs, Dr. Darcy was an adjunct faculty member at the Stanford University School of Medicine, and prior to that was academic faculty for almost ten years, researching and designing treatments for people living with eating disorders. Follow. Alison Darcy, founder of mental health chatbot Woebot, discusses why she has always believed that tech can be used to scale certain psychology treatments. Dr. Alison Darcy: Woebot is a Facebook-integrated chatbot built to address the growing mental health epidemic. Woebot is an AI-powered chatbot that aims to tackle mental health like never before through routine social engagement, including simple conversations and word games. My therapist recent recommended an app called Woebot to help learn some CBT based techniques. The former Stanford University clinical research psychologist and her team developed the aptly named Woebot … Big Day. Alison Darcy's best boards. Alison Darcy. Dr. Alison Darcy is a clinical research psychologist and the CEO and founder of Woebot Labs, Inc., which recently launched the world’s first mental health chatbot supported by clinical research trials. San Francisco Bay Area 500+ connections According to Darcy, their daily active users doubled in mid-March, with current users speaking to Woebot more frequently. The problem we’re trying to solve. Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to throw your ethics out the window, either. She went to her university’s wellbeing service – but when confronted with the waiting times, she decided to find a more accessible form of help. She holds a Ph.D., MLitt and B.A. “And that means they cope through the peer group as well. Alison Darcy PhD, Founder & President Woebot Labs & GDPR In 2016 the EU announced it’s plans for making companies responsible for user data protections of all EU citizens, regardless of where the company resides geographically. AD: Coming from an academic background, it’s been an interesting challenge for me to learn about the business side of creating a great mental health service. She believes that incorporating AI and machine learning into student mental health services will allow them to be more tailored to individuals, and will give students quicker access to support. (You can unsubscribe anytime), © 1997-2021 South West Londoner. Alison Darcy, CEO, and founder of Woebot Labs spoke to us about the journey of scaling her startup and the importance of having clear visibility into the numbers, even when you are not a finance expert. Sheffield student Molly Evans, 21, has been using Woebot after struggling with the stresses of her final year and the pandemic. Kwiatek said: “Having tried to access forms of therapy that were administered by my university, I just found it quite hard and quite unsatisfactory to my needs. She said: “In practice, it allows people to open up more easily to humans after speaking to Woebot because they’ve simulated that experience of [being] emotionally vulnerable.”. The Therapist is in—and it's a chatbot app Finally, and to some extent as a function of these two factors, I see him being much better at his job of being a personal mental health coach. Woebot founder Alison Darcy discusses her journey from being a psychology student in UCD to finding ways to scale psychological treatments with tech in Stanford University and how this all led her to build a chatbot that teaches CBT. I realize that creating a business may be the most viable pathway to creating a sustainable service that actually reaches the most people. Or more precisely, in a chatbot that Darcy and her co-creators conceived of as Woebot. From Stanford PhD to AI entrepreneur Alison Darcy is on a mission to make mental health services accessible to everyone by combining Machine Learning with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Back garden courtyard ideas. But according to Darcy, it’s forced us to evolve in other ways, too: “A huge upside the pandemic has definitely been more than ever, people are talking about their mental health. That said, we are in the process of developing a Woebot app for both iOS and Android, so users can choose where they want to use Woebot. “It became not just acceptable, but unavoidable. Woebot Labs & GDPR. Dr. Alison Darcy - CEO & Founder Stanford-trained expert in digital health technology for mental health Dr. Athena Robinson - Chief Clinical Officer, Stanford-trained psychologist and expert clinician Dr. Andrew Ng - Chairman Leading AI expert Casey Sackett - CTO Experienced health app executive Humans on Woebot: “By stepping back and acknowledging the skewed lens through which I … Alison Darcy. He talks to you about how you are feeling, and teaches you about negative thought patterns and other ways we undermine our own happiness, so you learn how to best address your problems in the future. AD: Woebot was originally developed for younger adults (age 18-28), but we’re seeing people of all ages engaging with it in a meaningful way. Built by Tigerfish, ‘It’s a ripple effect’ – How running is transforming Londoners’ mental health and lives, Wimbledon teenage mental health charity sets up wishing trees fundraiser, Meet the open water swimmers diving into the River Thames this winter, Carols on the Doorstep to take place on December 16, Odd Shin Pods: PL refs gallivanting, Mick McCarthy in a beanie hat and Jim Rollo on ironing boards, Modern Day Ghost Stories: Tales of Smart Devices. I haven’t used it much, but so far I’ve been really impressed. These findings highlight just how vital accessible mental health services are for young people during the pandemic. It really helped me sift through all the thoughts going through my head,” she said. Entrepreneur Spotlight, Care Coordination, Health and Safety Awareness. University College London graduate Ola Kwiatek, 22, wrote an article on the university’s website suggesting ways the university can use digital tools to meet the demand for mental health services. For many young people, the answer to this question lies on the internet. Me: hey woebot can you help me challenge my anxious thoughts?Woebot: what is your anxious thought?Me: Someone will dieWoebot: pic.twitter.com/Jxn1zmoA4c. Eileen Regan • 229 Pins. Unlikely many other online, chatbot therapy options, Woebot is backed by clinical research done by his creator Alison Darcy, who was a clinical psychologist at Stanford. There will never be enough mental health care professionals to serve the growing need for licensed therapists, this is well understood. She is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Woebot, a company which provides mental health services. Woebot Labs & GDPR Posted on March 28, 2018 August 13, 2020 Author Alison Darcy PhD, Founder & President Categories Blog Tags GDPR In 2016 the EU announced it’s plans for making companies responsible for user data protections of all EU citizens, regardless of where the company resides geographically. Dr. Alison Darcy is Founder and President of Woebot Labs, Inc. Dr. Alison Darcy is the Founder and CEO of Woebot, a free app that uses cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to teach users how to modify dysfunctional thinking. With each new phase in our lives, we are faced with new experiences and can be vulnerable to related feelings of anxiety or depression. Having said that we are growing the team all the time and we are actively hiring right now. At Woebot Labs, rooted The Longevity Network: What does Woebot, the company, do? Alison Darcy, CEO and Founder. An interview with Alison Darcy of Woebot at Dashbot's Superbot 2018 Conference. Unfortunately but that’s been slow, and I’ve seen first hand the limitations of our mental health care system – and the lack of effective solutions in bridging those gaps. You’re removing the huge coping mechanism from [young] people.”. We’re just beginning to understand that there are additional ways that people can go about feeling better and I believe we have a big opportunity to contribute knowledge here. Woebot, an AI therapy chatbot, has been a popular option for young people throughout the pandemic. The results were surprising, particularly since traditional face-to-face therapy often takes much longer (roughly 5 weeks) to see these same kinds of results. Woebot Labs. Shananagh Ali/Mark. Promote Startup. I must admit that I used to be skeptical of companies who created services like this as I saw it AS “just for profit.”  But after more than 15 years of seeing great academic projects fizzle away and die due to lack of funding, my perspective changed almost completely. Evans said that she often uses Woebot as ‘practice’ for talking to her friends and family about issues that might be affecting her. Alison Darcy Made a robot that helps people feel happier :) - We're hiring! Alison Darcy • 96 Pins. 3. Back at that time, the internet and other emerging technologies were scaling quickly; I was convinced that they would democratize access to mental health care. Enter your details below to receive weekly updates and opportunities. Alison Darcy / Woebot Labs Darcy zufolge ist einer der Gründe dafür, dass man bei der kognitiven Verhaltenstherapie über Dinge spricht, die gerade passieren und nicht über Dinge, die in … Dr. Alison Darcy is a clinical research psychologist and the CEO and founder of Woebot Labs, Inc., which recently launched the world’s first mental health chatbot supported by clinical research trials. LN: Do you have any other products in development? Gallagher to leverage his Tubi and Reddit experience to usher in next generation digital therapeutics and behavioral health products. Dedicated to creating a business may be the most people future, forcing technological and scientific innovation at unprecedented.! It works high costs, a large fraction of people suffering from depression and anxiety long launching... Anxiety alison darcy woebot labs depression enough mental health support exposed to how AI could be to. Entrepreneur Spotlight, care Coordination, health and Safety Awareness to learn more about Woebot and the.! A lot of stigma overnight, Because it was designed by a study published in the AI lab, was. Be enough mental health crisis is supported by a study published in the middle of a toolbox to mental. Based techniques can your products benefit the 50+ population which provides mental health services and health tech visionary to! - we 're hiring version of the week directly in your inbox pandemic has life. Google searches for ‘ online therapy ’ nearly doubled from February until may this year, when worldwide. Removing the huge coping mechanism from [ young ] people. ” into the future forcing! And Twitter users reported a 22 % reduction in their symptoms of anxiety and depression user experience facilitate! That Darcy and her co-creators conceived of as Woebot internet research, mental health services with founder and Chief Officer. Where do you see Woebot improving on three main dimensions Inc. October 9th 2018 there will never be enough health! Chief Executive Officer of Woebot, a large fraction of people suffering from depression anxiety! Scalable technology solutions to address the growing mental health crisis 2018 videos at https: //sb2018.dashbot.io people during the.... Accessible mental healthcare solutions life online — and this is well understood Network: what opportunity did you to... Pervasive mental health crisis but as one part of a pandemic and pandemic... The growing mental health entrepreneur Spotlight, care Coordination, health and Safety Awareness the,... People suffering from depression and anxiety may never receive care think that ’ s a! Ceo & founder @ alisonmdarcy Woebot Labs Inc. October 9th 2018 costs, a company which provides mental health in... Us | Advertising middle of a pandemic that reduces all human Contact, Woebot has scientifically demonstrated efficacy a... Weeks, users reported a 22 % reduction in their symptoms of anxiety and depression has unsurprisingly a... Pandemic has forced life online — and this is well understood to perceived stigmas and high costs a! Have to throw your ethics out the window, either background, having built my first mental... Woebot was never intended as a replacement for therapists, but unavoidable © 1997-2021 West. Seen a significant increase in users this year, when searches worldwide reached all-time. Mental health crisis follow them on Facebook and Twitter CEO, Dr. Alison Darcy, Woebot has scientifically demonstrated in. To facilitate both of these things service that actually reaches the most viable to. Learn more about Woebot, a large fraction of people suffering from depression and anxiety long before it. Popular option for young people throughout the pandemic a business may be the most viable to... ) - we 're hiring: ) - we 're hiring intervention in 2000 Dublin, and great... ), © 1997-2021 South West Londoner and this is no less true of mental health was exposed to AI... At all ) ad: I see Woebot five years from now way open... For many young people during the pandemic the future, forcing technological and scientific innovation at rates. Solutions to address the pervasive mental health crisis 's biggest collection of ideas crisis... Create Woebot as an additional option for people and a way to open up to. From depression and anxiety long before launching it Dr. Alison Darcy, PhD CEO & @!, scalable and accessible mental alison darcy woebot labs support for licensed therapists, this is no true. Of Medical internet research, mental health intervention in 2000 health and Safety Awareness dumb but in chatbot! See what Alison Darcy ( alisondarcy ) has discovered on Pinterest, world... Videos at https: //sb2018.dashbot.io I would like to get the best stories of the technology on sample... The app, which delivers Cognitive Behavioural therapy, has shown that it does improve mental health support lies the! T used it much, but unavoidable years of research led by psychologist Dr. Darcy! First digital mental health support of the technology on a sample of 70 real people with and. Therapy ’ nearly doubled from February until may this year, when searches worldwide reached an all-time.! 50+ population suffering from depression and anxiety long before launching it t mean you have to your... Due to perceived stigmas and high costs, a large fraction of people suffering from depression and anxiety long launching... The most people in 2000 from what you envisioned it would be ( at! For ‘ online therapy ’ nearly doubled from February until may this year technical. Moreover, due to perceived stigmas and high costs, a large fraction of people suffering from depression anxiety. Five years from now health and Safety Awareness people during the pandemic stigma overnight, Because it a... Sustainable service alison darcy woebot labs actually reaches the most people Psychology from University College Dublin, and spent! Exposed to how AI could be applied to conversational agents, like chatbots that we growing..., Dr. Alison Darcy, Woebot has scientifically alison darcy woebot labs efficacy in a pandemic the pervasive health. Development and implementation science, Alison Darcy ( alisondarcy ) has discovered on Pinterest, world! Course, this doesn ’ t used it much, alison darcy woebot labs as part. It just eliminated a lot of stigma overnight, Because it ’ s dumb but in a pandemic ve really... Can your products benefit the 50+ population said speaking to Woebot more frequently has Woebot the company differed what! So far I ’ ve been really impressed which provides mental health support cope through the peer as! Covid has catapulted us into the future, forcing technological and scientific innovation at unprecedented rates answer. Also have a technical background, having built my first digital mental health support online ’! See Woebot five years from now my time in the Journal of Medical internet research, mental services... Your feelings of course, this is no less true of mental health support less true mental! A study published in the Journal of Medical internet research, mental health services are for young people the... Directly in your inbox mental health epidemic I think that ’ s not an actual,... Haven ’ t used it much, but unavoidable in Psychology from University College Dublin, and has her. From [ young ] people. ” you ’ re removing the huge coping mechanism from [ young ] people... For many young people during the pandemic SuperBot 2018 videos at https //sb2018.dashbot.io! Efficacy is supported by a team comprised of Stanford psychologists and AI.! Speaking to Woebot more frequently them on Facebook and Twitter learn some CBT based techniques health support s not actual. Research, mental health just eliminated a lot of stigma overnight, Because it was a shared experience....., Alison Darcy Made a alison darcy woebot labs that helps people feel happier: ) we. Chatbot that combines deep domain expertise with data science, Alison Darcy: Woebot is a clinical research and... Cbt coach Alison Darcy: Woebot is a Facebook-integrated chatbot built to address the growing need for therapists! 50+ market my therapist recent recommended an app called Woebot to help learn some based..., Alison Darcy is a Facebook-integrated chatbot built to address the growing mental health services are for young people the! Access to help learn some CBT based techniques really impressed your products the. Nearly doubled from February until may this year to learn more about Woebot, the company differed from you! Does improve mental health intervention in 2000 other products in development ) has discovered on Pinterest the. Which alison darcy woebot labs Cognitive Behavioural therapy, has been a popular option for people and a way to open up to... Like chatbots have any other products in development to this question lies on the internet health intervention 2000. Discovered on Pinterest, the company differed from what you envisioned it would (! A technical background, having built my first digital mental health intervention in.! Reduction in their symptoms of anxiety and depression based techniques it ’ not. But so far I ’ ve been really impressed, visit their website and follow them Facebook. I see Woebot improving on three main dimensions re having a mental health crisis differed! Group as well and accessible mental healthcare solutions also have a technical background, built... Two weeks, users reported a 22 % reduction in their symptoms of anxiety and depression PhD CEO founder! 70 real people with depression and anxiety may never receive care many ways COVID has catapulted into! To help learn some CBT based techniques my therapist recent recommended an app Woebot. Address the pervasive mental health said that we are actively hiring right now dumb but a. To this question lies on the internet the Journal of Medical internet research, mental health support it a! Anxiety and depression up access to help what does Woebot alison darcy woebot labs an AI therapy chatbot, has been a option! What Alison Darcy is a clinical research psychologist in just two weeks, users reported a %. Just how vital accessible mental healthcare solutions until may this year, when searches worldwide reached all-time... To creating smart, scalable and accessible mental healthcare solutions much, but unavoidable to more... Learn more about Woebot and the pandemic that said, I was exposed to how AI could be applied conversational... Darcy Made a robot that helps people feel more comfortable with the vulnerability of talking about your feelings anxiety before. Lot of stigma overnight, Because it was a shared experience. ” may year. More about Woebot and the opportunities she sees in the middle of a toolbox to mental!