My therapy journey
I absolutely love this app. My fiancé found it for me a few days ago when I snapped for no reason while working and it worried me greatly so I started this three days ago. It's got a trove of information. It's easy to use user-friendly. It doesn't rush you to do anything or complete anything and I like that
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Response from developer
Thank you for sharing this. Shoutout to your fiancé for the recommendation! We're glad Voda feels like a safe space to take things at your own pace. - J :-)
Voda Is Functionally Counterintuitive
Downloaded this app after seeing it advertised on Facebook. As an LGBTQ+ person, was desperate to find some mode of self care/therapeutic maintenance for my ongoing social and disability related problems. Instead I found an app that, while helpful at first, didn’t make it clear that it had a paywall after the first day. Or as I saw in another comment, required the use only of random free services on the site. Or even more so the need to apply for a special scholarship to use the app for free.
All of these factors indicate that the creators of the app care more about profit and their bottom line than the people who are needing their services for help. I needed more than the weekly visits my disability insurance covers for offline therapy. And navigating the complicated and difficult to read well system Voda employs caused me the kind of cognitive stresses I actually sought out this app to try to manage. This app is a very important service. And really needs to be more user friendly and less concerned with profit. And take into consideration the complicated economic and cognitive issues of its users.
All of these factors indicate that the creators of the app care more about profit and their bottom line than the people who are needing their services for help. I needed more than the weekly visits my disability insurance covers for offline therapy. And navigating the complicated and difficult to read well system Voda employs caused me the kind of cognitive stresses I actually sought out this app to try to manage. This app is a very important service. And really needs to be more user friendly and less concerned with profit. And take into consideration the complicated economic and cognitive issues of its users.
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Response from developer
Hi there again - thank you for this review. Accessibility and cognitive load are exactly what we should be getting right for our community, and you've shown us where we're falling short. We do offer a free tier and free Voda+ scholarships (voda.co/scholarships, approved for everyone), I'd love to make this right personally, please message me at jaron@voda.co. — Jaron
Different is good!
This is my first app review. I have tried other self care apps and find this one the best so far and very positive. A very cleaver use of AI that responds to your journaling thoughtfully and the guided meditations are helpful. I would recommend trying this! I appreciably loved the lgbtq+ content and will explore that more soon
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Individualized
This app is wonderfully tailored to meet your individual needs. Not only can you receive guidance based on your personal goals, you also receive support based on your daily journal entries!
Great App for Self-Care
I’ve been using this app for a while and I’m really happy with it. It’s relaxing, supportive, and thoughtfully designed. Highly recommended!
Super amazing app!!!!
So I randomly found this on the app store one day and immediately loved it, I’m a non-binary lesbian who struggles with OCD, Autism, Anxiety and Tourettes and this app makes me feel really seen. The developers are super nice and are always open to feedback and Jaron reads and responds to every message. So glad to have started my journey with Voda 😊✨💕
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I think this would be helpful if there wasn't a paywall
I really think this could be a great tool for queer people and queer youth, but I see this as a cash grab if you want to help the community get rid of the paywall please or figure out a system to make it cheaper than other subscriptions. I think this could be something great but right now it's just irritating, especially since there's a struggling with finance thing on the worry setting a lot of people don't have the money for this, but need the help
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Response from developer
Thank you, this clearly comes from caring about our community, and we feel the same. Cost should never be the barrier to support. That's why there's a free Voda tier with daily content, self-care resources on coming out, journaling, and a scholarship that gives full Voda+ free to anyone who can't afford it. You can write in at voda.co/scholarships. We're a small queer team trying to keep this sustainable so it's still here for the next person who needs it - but no one should go without in the meantime. -Jaron
Fantastic app, really helpful for LGBTQIA people in all stages
Really enjoying the app. Helping me find words and validation. Helping sort through emotions and feelings.
So Helpful
As a queer,trans and disabled person it has been so hard to find a space that is safe and understands my mental health needs. Voda has been that for me and I was gifted with a free subscription and it has helped me so much! Thank you Voda for being a safe space! 💕🌈🏳️⚧️✨
Proud and Empowered: Thanks to Voda!
Using the Voda app has profoundly helped me become more aware and accepting of my queer identity. The app’s personalized affirmations, paired with actionable strategies grounded in evidence-based approaches, have strengthened my confidence and challenged unhelpful thoughts and limiting beliefs that I once held about myself. Its daily advice and mindfulness exercises offer practical tools that make it easier to buffer minority stress and cultivate self-compassion. I especially appreciate how the app creates a supportive, affirming space where my experiences feel validated and normalized.
Through Voda, I’ve gained skills to better regulate my emotions and cope with challenges specific to LGBTQIA+ life, all while continuously affirming my identity. The tailored content and community-driven approach make me feel understood and empowered to implement changes in my self-care routine. Overall, Voda has been invaluable in helping me embrace and celebrate my queer self with greater resilience and self-love.
Through Voda, I’ve gained skills to better regulate my emotions and cope with challenges specific to LGBTQIA+ life, all while continuously affirming my identity. The tailored content and community-driven approach make me feel understood and empowered to implement changes in my self-care routine. Overall, Voda has been invaluable in helping me embrace and celebrate my queer self with greater resilience and self-love.
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Good app
I like its format a lot. It’s helpful but I think there should be a journey for affirming identity for trans not just gay or lesbian.
Works when other approaches haven’t
I’d tried this app a couple of years ago for a day or two, and like most wellbeing apps it just didn’t stick with me at all. I’d forgotten all about it until someone mentioned it to me again recently and I’m so glad I gave it another go. It’s improved massively.
There’s something about the mini modules that just works with my brain. You can move through them quickly, but you still need to pay attention to select the right option. To start with I was tapping past the quote screens, but I actually find myself wanting to read them now.
I don’t really like the AI summary that’s generated after a journal entry, but understand it might help others. I think getting into the habit of actually completing the journal has helped me. I’d maybe find it helpful to have the ability to add a 1-10 mood score for the day too. Just so I didn’t have to track this elsewhere
The colours, short bursts of information, and being able to speed up the recordings all help to make this app feel more engaging to me. It sparks something in my brain that others don’t. I’ve never had a 16 day streak on anything before. It doesn’t even feel like a chore to maintain that. I want to do it!
Most importantly, you can tell the app is made for the community by the community. Allowing full free access to the trans+ library is an extremely thoughtful and helpful gesture at a time where it’s really needed.
There’s something about the mini modules that just works with my brain. You can move through them quickly, but you still need to pay attention to select the right option. To start with I was tapping past the quote screens, but I actually find myself wanting to read them now.
I don’t really like the AI summary that’s generated after a journal entry, but understand it might help others. I think getting into the habit of actually completing the journal has helped me. I’d maybe find it helpful to have the ability to add a 1-10 mood score for the day too. Just so I didn’t have to track this elsewhere
The colours, short bursts of information, and being able to speed up the recordings all help to make this app feel more engaging to me. It sparks something in my brain that others don’t. I’ve never had a 16 day streak on anything before. It doesn’t even feel like a chore to maintain that. I want to do it!
Most importantly, you can tell the app is made for the community by the community. Allowing full free access to the trans+ library is an extremely thoughtful and helpful gesture at a time where it’s really needed.
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Highly Recommend!!
This is such a wonderful app that provides such credible and useful therapeutic techniques for anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community. This is the app & resource you need in your life no matter where you are in your journey!!
Great app
This app is great and would highly recommend . I like the lesson modules and their personalized ones that you can enjoy alongside your journey . I like writing in the journal daily and look forward to that .
Response from developer
Thanks so much, Kristen! We’re glad you’re enjoying the lessons and the daily journaling. Love hearing that it’s part of your routine. - J x
Such a wonderful tool!
This app is so helpful and has a variety of tools to support mental health and wellbeing. It’s engaging and affirming. The paid version has a lot of great features and it’s definitely worth the fee. The design team is very personable and open to feedback too.
Response from developer
Thanks so much for this lovely feedback. We’ll keep building with your feedback and support in mind! :-)
An amazing app
Has helped me so much recently and I use it daily - love its functionality
Amazing App!
I was originally intrigued by this app when I heard about it on social media. I host and produce a queer news podcast, and I wanted to check it out as a possible story. What I found was an incredibly useful app that has helped me in my own therapeutic journey.
I am a late diagnosed ADHD person—too old for the stimulant drug treatments. So yeah, I’ve been trying to work with a therapist and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) workbooks. I was having some limited success with that, but then VODA really boosted my practice. I don’t think of it as a substitute for my therapist, but it gave me a better experience of CBT and interactive “workbooks” tailored to my queer identity and specific needs.
VODA has an AI core, but it is not AI therapy. There are very real and responsive trained human beings behind the app. CBT is featured prominently, but other therapeutic approaches also inform the app’s content. The AI part helps shape feedback and recommendations to what I share in journal entries. And then, I believe the AI identified aspects of my issues in the first 10 day course I took to recommend a second. The second was particularly helpful and has literally changed my life in a few weeks.
At every stage of the process, the app gives opportunity for feedback. I have experienced the creators as incredibly responsive to that feedback.
The app is for the LGBTQ community and highlights our common challenges with coming out, gender dysphoria, relationship challenges, family issues, etc. As an older, out queer academic and activist, I am glad it addresses those concerns, but they aren’t really my dominant issues. Nonetheless, the app’s LGBTQ focus and awareness is refreshing and confirming as I work through ADHD and social networking issues in my life.
After just a few days of the free trial I opted for a year’s subscription. It remains a daily tool I continue to use after almost two months. In fact, I had to take a break from it when I went on a silent meditation retreat (no phones or internet!), and I really missed it. So yes, I highly recommend this app. It does have a few minor presentation glitches, but they are finding and fixing those quickly. I think this app is only going to grow and get even better, quickly. This app can be a really excellent addition to your mental health self care.
I am a late diagnosed ADHD person—too old for the stimulant drug treatments. So yeah, I’ve been trying to work with a therapist and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) workbooks. I was having some limited success with that, but then VODA really boosted my practice. I don’t think of it as a substitute for my therapist, but it gave me a better experience of CBT and interactive “workbooks” tailored to my queer identity and specific needs.
VODA has an AI core, but it is not AI therapy. There are very real and responsive trained human beings behind the app. CBT is featured prominently, but other therapeutic approaches also inform the app’s content. The AI part helps shape feedback and recommendations to what I share in journal entries. And then, I believe the AI identified aspects of my issues in the first 10 day course I took to recommend a second. The second was particularly helpful and has literally changed my life in a few weeks.
At every stage of the process, the app gives opportunity for feedback. I have experienced the creators as incredibly responsive to that feedback.
The app is for the LGBTQ community and highlights our common challenges with coming out, gender dysphoria, relationship challenges, family issues, etc. As an older, out queer academic and activist, I am glad it addresses those concerns, but they aren’t really my dominant issues. Nonetheless, the app’s LGBTQ focus and awareness is refreshing and confirming as I work through ADHD and social networking issues in my life.
After just a few days of the free trial I opted for a year’s subscription. It remains a daily tool I continue to use after almost two months. In fact, I had to take a break from it when I went on a silent meditation retreat (no phones or internet!), and I really missed it. So yes, I highly recommend this app. It does have a few minor presentation glitches, but they are finding and fixing those quickly. I think this app is only going to grow and get even better, quickly. This app can be a really excellent addition to your mental health self care.
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Response from developer
Wow, thank you so much for such a thoughtful review! Reading about how Voda has supported your daily practice means a lot to our small LGBTQIA+ team. We put our heart into making sure the app is grounded and relevant to our community, so hearing how it’s resonated with you is incredibly encouraging for us. We know there are glitches to smooth out, and your trust and patience while we keep improving is so appreciated. Thank you!
build bravery and focus :)
Even after using this app for only a few weeks, I have already noticed feeling more grounded and intentional. The journeys they send you on help you recognize your thoughts and all the voices that may want to have a say in who you are and how you present and interact with the world, and you have a chance to pause, reflect, and reframe. They help build inner strength so you can reshape your view of the world into one of boldness, acceptance, and being enough. They give you practical examples of little ways to start being braver, and there’s a space to give feedback if you have questions or suggestions on a journey. It’s clear that the people who created this app care deeply about those of us on the other side of the screen, and they want to create a space for LGBTQIA people to flourish. Thank you, Voda!
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Response from developer
This means a lot to our little team. Thank you for such thoughtful words. We’re so glad the journeys are helping you feel grounded and braver :-)
Robotic
I like the idea of the app but I hate that all the responses seem robotic and when I pick an option and it just says “wrong” and that made me feel worse about myself, you could at least say why it was wrong, like “wrong, while it may feel that way, being unique to yourself is both healtheri and happier” or something
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Response from developer
Hi Aiden, it's been close to a year but we're following up because this one mattered. A flat "wrong" has no place in an app meant to support you, and the fact it made you feel worse about yourself is exactly what we never want. Since your review, responses now explain the why with warmth: much closer to the affirming example you wrote (which we genuinely used as a reference). You made the app gentler for everyone who comes after you. Thank you for that!
“Affirm identity”
Hello I noticed that for “affirm” identity there was only lesbian and gay male. I’m bisexual and I often feel invalidated misunderstood
And pressured to pick a side. And I often question if I’m bisexual or lesbian due to peer pressure and I would really appreciate it if you added more categories for “affirm identity”
And pressured to pick a side. And I often question if I’m bisexual or lesbian due to peer pressure and I would really appreciate it if you added more categories for “affirm identity”
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