# On Second Thought — Explore your thoughts! > Cognitive behavioral program for children to understand thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. (iPhone/iPad app by Teresa Busto.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/on-second-thought/id975884637 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Teresa Busto](https://appshunter.io/developer/975884636) - Category: Education, Productivity - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 3.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings · 4 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 11.0 · 1.4 GB - Languages: English - Released: 2019-03-26 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/on-second-thought/id975884637/reviews.md ## What is On Second Thought? On Second Thought (OST) is a computerized cognitive behavioral program intended to teach the core principles of CBT to upper elementary school children. OST was originally developed to be delivered on a universal level with prevention aims such as to: raise thought awareness develop a better understanding of the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviors understanding and naming emotions changing unwanted emotions reducing vulnerability of the unwanted emotions reducing vulnerability of the mind managing extreme emotions Research applying the OST program to targeted areas of concern (ie. anxiety and anger), have recently been conducted, lending itself to additional aims in the area of treatment: a reduction in anxiety a reduction in anger to decrease maladaptive behaviors while increasing healthy ways of self-regulation a reduction in automatic negative thoughts an improvement in adaptive skills an improvement in interpersonal relationships an improvement in problem solving an improvement in academic achievement Who developed OST? The OST program was developed by Dr. T. Busto, a NYS licensed elementary school psychologist and a private practitioner. The program is based on the work of Dr.’s Albert Ellis, Aaron Beck and David Burns, who are pioneers in researching the relationship between unhelpful thoughts and how they affect our feelings and behaviors. Dr. Busto has adapted these concepts and turned them into a kid friendly program. How many activities are included in the entire OST program as well as the separate volumes? The entire OST program consists of 19 activities, each one is a complete 30-45 minute lesson plan. These activities are separated into four volumes: Volume 1: Tossing Around More Than a Thought: 8 activities (232 screens) Volume 2: Tossing Around Iffy Thoughts: 4 activities (112 screens) Volume 3: Tossing Around Witty Thoughts: 4 activities (104 screens) Volume 4: Tossing Around Even More Iffy and Witty Thoughts: 7 activities (243 screens) As an elementary school psychologist, school guidance counselor, social worker or private practitioner, how can I deliver this program to my clients? This program can be delivered in several ways. For example, you may choose to teach the entire OST program, once a week for 30-45 minutes, or you may choose one or more volumes as needed, according to the skill level of your audience. How can I access materials used with the OST Program? Visit the website at www.onsecond-thought.com to download printable documents used with the program. Do I need any special preparation of teach the OST program? No special preparation is needed to teach this program. Each lesson is carefully laid out so there is no preparation on the part of the facilitator. Although, it helps to have some knowledge of CBT principles, it is not necessary. As a parent, how can I encourage my child to use this program? Have your child complete the activities with you. OST is designed to be completed with your support. Is OST evidence based? OST is based on CBT, widely accepted by mental health practitioners and has underlying data to support it. Also, small independent studies have demonstrated a reduction in anxiety and anger in children Unlock all sections of the game by subscribing to the application. Our subscription grants access to all game content, ensuring a comprehensive gaming experience with continuous updates and features. ## Key features - Thought awareness raising - Understanding thoughts, feelings, behaviors - Emotion identification and management - Reducing negative emotions - Developing adaptive skills - Improving problem-solving ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Part 1 | $24.99 | one-time | | Part 1 of on second thought | $24.99 | one-time | | Part 3 of on second thought | $24.99 | one-time | | Part 4 of on second thought | $24.99 | one-time | | One Year Subscription | $99.99 | one-time | ## Recent user reviews (4 of 4) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/on-second-thought/id975884637/reviews.md ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2021-01-31* I can’t register. Freezes on title screen and says unable to register at this time! ??? ### 5/5 — This app has amazing educational value! *2020-08-06, version 1.6* I purchased this app after speaking with a colleague about its social emotional benefits for children. After sitting with my child for a few times while using this app, I discovered just how easy it is to navigate. I then noticed how the program is separated into 4 volumes with a number of activities included in each. These activities give an introduction and lots of game like lessons on each of the topics addressed. At the end of each activity, my child receives a score on how many points he’s earned, so I can monitor his progress as well. There’s even an audio and hint button option. After just a short period of time using this program, not only am I convinced that my child could use this app on his own but also that he’s learning important social emotional concepts that will help him in school and beyond. ### 5/5 — Happiness *2020-04-30* This app has been really REALLY good for me and has definitely had a positive impact for me!!! ### 1/5 — Not working??? *2019-12-12, version 1.2* I just tried to create an account. Didn’t go to another screen. Then checked my email, NOTHING there either. All lines I filled in were still filled in!??? I’m not sure what/how this app is supposed to work And of course ya have to leave a star **Developer response:** We apologize for your experience and have corrected for the technical issue. The previous app has since been removed and replaced with this fully functioning one. Thank you for letting us know. We hope that you will reconsider us at a later date. ## Frequently asked questions about On Second Thought ### What is On Second Thought (OST) designed to teach children? On Second Thought (OST) is designed to teach the core principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to upper elementary school children. It aims to raise thought awareness, develop understanding of the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and help children manage their emotions. ### How many activities are included in the OST program? The entire OST program consists of 19 activities, with each activity serving as a complete 30-45 minute lesson plan. These are divided into four volumes, with varying numbers of activities and screens per volume. ### Who developed the OST program? The OST program was developed by Dr. T. Busto, a NYS licensed elementary school psychologist and private practitioner. The program is based on the foundational work of CBT pioneers Albert Ellis, Aaron Beck, and David Burns. ### Can parents use OST with their children? Yes, parents are encouraged to use OST with their children by completing the activities together. OST is designed to be child-friendly and can be used as a collaborative tool. ### What are the potential benefits of using OST? Research suggests OST can lead to a reduction in anxiety and anger, decrease maladaptive behaviors, improve adaptive skills, enhance interpersonal relationships, and improve problem-solving and academic achievement. ### Does OST require special preparation to teach? No special preparation is needed to teach the OST program, as each lesson is carefully laid out. While some knowledge of CBT principles is helpful, it is not necessary for facilitators. ### Where can I find printable materials for OST? Printable documents used with the OST program can be accessed by visiting the official website at www.onsecond-thought.com. ### What is the age rating for On Second Thought? On Second Thought has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for young children and elementary school students. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 3.0 — 2024-09-27 Minor UI bottom text change ### 2.9 — 2024-07-25 Introduce single In-app purchases to buy all the activities. ### 2.8 — 2024-07-23 Introduce single In-app purchases to buy all the activities. ### 2.0 — 2022-12-16 We here at OST want to let you know that we have been working on improving our mental health app to make it easier and more appealing to our customers. More specifically, we’ve added hint buttons throughout the program, improved our scoring and signing-in system as well as the aesthetics of our animations. ### 1.9 — 2021-12-17 Minor Bugs Fixed ## Apps similar to On Second Thought | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [GPA Calculator App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gpa-calculator-app/id1631326500) | 1.0 (2) | Free | Education | | [Redação Nota 1000 ENEM](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/redacao-nota-1000-enem/id1671597780) | — | Free | Education | | [Lilo Chatbot](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lilo-chatbot/id1620018340) | — | Free | Education | | [诸葛七律](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1624854840) | — | Free | Education | | [ICSI Hub](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/icsi-hub/id1627038720) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Education | | [Make flashcards in seconds](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/make-flashcards-in-seconds/id1621898560) | 3.7 (13) | Free | Education | --- *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 2026-06-10.*