# CBTReferee — categorize your thoughts > Cognitive Behavioral Therapy tool for thought analysis and reframing. (iPhone/iPad app by Andrew Arrow.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cbtreferee/id330842520 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Andrew Arrow](https://appshunter.io/developer/330842523) - Category: Lifestyle, Education - Price: $4.99 - Rating: 3.70/5 from 3 App Store ratings · 25 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.6 · 5 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2009-09-23 - Data updated: 2026-08-21 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cbtreferee/id330842520/reviews.md ## What is CBTReferee? CBT stands for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. All it means is you can train yourself (by writing down your thoughts) and studying what is untrue, unrealistic, and unfair about each thought. You will invent your own "referee" who will read each thought and give you a true, realistic and fair take. Please note, there is no computer referee that generates the referee response. You write these yourself. After you write down a thought, the next screen lets you assign which forms of biased thinking are in play, then think about what a fair referee would say and write it down. Refer to the examples provided to get a feel for how it should look. As you write more and more thoughts, you'll see patterns. Over time your referee will kick in automatically helping you avoid thinking a thought that's unrealistic that will cause a negative emotion. If you can avoid the thought that never should have been 'thunk' in the first place, you can avoid the depression it may cause. ## Key features - Thought analysis and reframing - Personalized 'referee' creation - Identification of biased thinking - Pattern recognition over time - Emotional regulation support ## Recent user reviews (10 of 25) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cbtreferee/id330842520/reviews.md ### 1/5 — Rubbish - do not buy *2013-11-20* I suffer with severe generalised anxiety disorder and hav been having some CBT. I thought I would get this app to help me with recording my thoughts by making the process easier but it really didn't help at all and is far too basic in it's makeup - do not waste ur money - I am going to look for a better app right now! ### 5/5 — Extremely useful!! *2013-08-01* This is the most useful app I have (& I have loads!!)...this is real head-sorting,mind changing stuff,& it has helped me put things into perspective big-time!! I love it,& it has helped me many times in the relatively short time i've had it. It's better & so much cheaper than a therapist. I have recommended it to many people,& will continue to do so. It takes the worry out of worrying. Thanks to whoever made this app!! ### 1/5 — Not really CBT *2011-06-25* All this does is give you a place to write your thought, decide what kind of thought it is, and write a rebuttle. There is really no guidance. There is no place to connect the thought to your feelings, or the event. You really can do about as much with a "notes" app and a list of the types of thoughts from most any CBT website or book. This was a huge disappointment. I wish I had believed the other reviews and saved the $4.99. ### 5/5 — Simple & effective *2011-04-11* I don't know about most people but the old way of cbt (ie carting around a notebook) and trying to write down thoughts is cumbersome and hard to maintain. This app is different from the others because it's USer friendly interface and easy to do application of cbt on the fly. It's the only app thus far that got cbt right, but most importantly I've been jotting down my thoughts and using the apps features to help me manage my mind:) ### 1/5 — Too pricey *2011-03-14* Read the description. It tells you what to do, don't need this app then. OCD sufferers may get sucked in by their desire to get help and pay before thinking it through. I did. Would be fine if it wasn't so expensive. Worth .99, not 4.99. RP ### 3/5 — It does the job but it isnt great *2010-10-17* Entering your thoughts in this app is fairly straight forward and I like the password protection and the ability to search through your thought records. However there are some areas that need improvement: 1) You only get 2 examples provided with the app, it needs a few more to really be helpful. 2) You dont get the ability to enter a situation/scenario and then enter the negative thoughts relative to it - each thought is just entered separately. 3) When writing your realistic thoughts you just get a blank screen, you dont see the original thought or the thinking errors on the same screen, you have to flip back to the first or second screen to see them, which is not ideal. It wont help you to learn all about CBT but if you are already used to writing your thoughts down on paper, it makes the job a little easier. Not as good as I thought it would be though. Hopefully there will be future updates with improvements ### 1/5 — So basic *2010-10-01* Not a lot of thought gone into this. If you are not familiar with CBT then it’s not that useful. You are better off with the free online CBT courses. Sorry not worth the money. ### 3/5 — Excellent apart from Font size *2010-08-08* Seems to work very well ... when I can read it and follow my own notes which are too small! We need the ability to change the font size and direction. ### 1/5 — Save your money *2010-07-16* It's worth $0.99 at the most. No password protection, no real "features", just a place to write down your thoughts for the whole world to see. Use "Notes" instead and save yourself the money. Not even cognitive behavioral therapy can help rationalize the disappointment in this app. ### 1/5 — I expected more for the price *2010-05-04* Although the concept is good, I was mistakenly thought the app would analyze and determine the type of thinking it "sees". It doesn't do a lot for the price. I think one or two dollars at most! ## Frequently asked questions about CBTReferee ### What is CBTReferee? CBTReferee is a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy tool that helps you analyze and reframe your thoughts. It guides you to invent a personal 'referee' to provide realistic and fair perspectives on your thinking patterns. ### How does CBTReferee help with negative thoughts? By writing down your thoughts and identifying biased thinking, CBTReferee encourages you to develop a 'referee' perspective. This helps you challenge unrealistic thoughts and avoid negative emotions they might cause. ### Does CBTReferee have ads? No, CBTReferee does not contain advertisements. It is a paid application designed for a focused user experience. ### What is the price of CBTReferee? CBTReferee is available for a one-time purchase of $4.99. ### What devices is CBTReferee compatible with? CBTReferee is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. ### How often is CBTReferee updated? The latest version of CBTReferee is 1.207, and it was last updated on November 26, 2025. Updates aim to improve functionality and user experience. ### What is the age rating for CBTReferee? CBTReferee has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users interested in self-improvement. ### What do users like about CBTReferee? Based on limited review data, users appreciate the structured approach to analyzing thoughts and the concept of creating a personal 'referee' for mental reframing. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.207 — 2025-11-26 new look and feel for 2025 ### 1.206 — 2010-08-26 - Referee text now remains if you hit back button - Added search by text - Added search by date - Added search by day of week - Added search by form - Added feedback button ### 1.205 — 2010-03-31 - in app passcode - edit/delete thoughts ### 1.204 — 2009-11-05 When viewing a thought there is now an "Email" button to email the text. ### 1.203 — 2009-09-18 No release notes. ## More apps by Andrew Arrow - [12x](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/12x/id6745004204) - [Car Tower Voice](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/car-tower-voice/id6745129250) - [floormula](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/floormula/id6745202268) - [lithium friends](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lithium-friends/id6745278533) - [Cash Every Week](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cash-every-week/id6745373309) All apps by Andrew Arrow: https://appshunter.io/developer/330842523 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-21.*