Balanced Mind vs Akesa

Feeling stuck on something — a memory, a worry, a knot in your chest that won't loosen? Balanced Mind gives you a five-minute, self-guided EMDR session you can do right now, on your phone, with no appointment and nothing to learn first. Pick what you want to feel calmer about, rate how intense it feels, and follow the moving dot with your eyes. That's it. Most people notice the intensity drop within a session or two, and the app tracks it so you can see the change. EMDR THERAPY Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Psychological Association (APA) as an effective treatment for trauma and emotional distress. Balanced Mind provides self-guided bilateral visual stimulation sessions based on protocols developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro. • Customizable visual stimulation (speed, color, pattern) • Multiple session modes and durations • Session history with progress tracking • Built-in safety timers and session reminders BINAURAL TONE THERAPY Stereo audio tones designed to support different mental states. Choose from five research-backed frequency presets: • Delta (0.5–4 Hz) — Deep relaxation & sleep • Theta (4–8 Hz) — Meditation & creativity • Alpha (8–14 Hz) — Calm focus & stress relief • Beta (14–30 Hz) — Alertness & concentration • Gamma (30–100 Hz) — Peak cognitive performance Requires stereo headphones for full effectiveness. ENCRYPTED JOURNALING Process your thoughts with a private, encrypted journal. Your entries are encrypted on your device before they ever leave it — not even we can read them. • End-to-end encryption (AES-256) • Mood tracking alongside journal entries • Search and revisit past reflections • Export your data anytime PROGRESS & INSIGHTS Track your wellness journey over time with clear, meaningful analytics. • Session frequency and duration trends • Mood patterns and emotional insights • Weekly and monthly progress summaries • Data export for sharing with your therapist PRIVACY FIRST Your mental health data deserves the highest level of protection. • End-to-end encrypted journals — only you can read them • No selling of personal data, ever • GDPR-compliant data export and account deletion • Minimal data collection — we track product analytics, not you BUILT WITH RESEARCH Every therapeutic feature in Balanced Mind is grounded in peer-reviewed research. The app includes a full citations page so you can explore the science behind EMDR and binaural therapy. CRISIS SUPPORT If you or someone you know is in crisis, the app provides immediate access to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and other mental health resources. IMPORTANT: Balanced Mind is a self-guided wellness tool and is NOT a replacement for professional therapy. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please contact 988 or your local emergency services. EARLY ACCESS Balanced Mind is in Early Access: every feature — unlimited EMDR sessions, binaural therapy, encrypted journaling and progress tracking — is free, with no card required. Paid plans will come later and early members will hear about them first.

Stress often appears when there is a gap between what you need, what you value, and the way you are currently living or acting. Rather than trying to calm stress away, Akesa helps you slow down, listen, and work with it in a deliberate and structured way. Akesa is a self-guided, science-based process designed to help you transform stress into insight and realign with what matters. Akesa is built for daily use. It offers a structured rhythm you can return to whenever stress, uncertainty, or misalignment shows up. STRESS AS A SIGNAL In Akesa, stress is understood as a signal that something important deserves attention. It may point to misalignment, uncertainty, or a need for change. By engaging with stress rather than avoiding it, Akesa helps bring clarity about what matters and what to do next. THE AKESA PROCESS Akesa follows a structured process that supports reflection, awareness, and action. Each session invites you to check in, make sense of what is present, and choose a deliberate response. The process is flexible and can be used daily or whenever clarity is needed. THE SEVEN-PHASE JOURNEY Akesa is organized around a seven-phase journey that reflects how people naturally move through change. You return to these phases many times, within a day and across longer periods. The phases support decreasing stress, clarifying direction, moving through resistance, building resilience through daily experience, confronting limiting patterns, integrating insight, and restoring your system through rest and recovery. You can enter the journey at any phase, depending on what you need in the moment. TOOLS FOR DIFFERENT MOMENTS Akesa offers a set of tools designed to support different states and needs, including: • structured reflection and guided journaling • breathing and grounding practices • lateral eye movement inspired by EMDR • CBT-informed prompts that support clarity and decision-making • binaural beats to support regulation, focus, and rest • prompts that support clarity and decision-making • sleep and recovery support You choose the tools that fit the moment. GROUNDED IN SCIENCE Akesa is grounded in established principles from psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science. These include stress regulation, self-awareness, belief updating, and behavior change. The focus is on practical use in everyday life, through a simple structure that supports consistency and integration over time. PRIVATE AND SELF-GUIDED Akesa is a personal space designed for self-guided use. Your reflections remain private, and the experience is intentionally quiet and contained. The process supports autonomy and agency, allowing you to engage at your own pace and on your own terms. A PREVENTIVE WELL-BEING APPROACH Akesa supports preventive well-being through a self-guided, non-clinical process focused on awareness, resilience, reflection, and alignment in daily life. It does not provide medical advice or treatment and is not a substitute for professional care. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please seek support from qualified professionals or local emergency services. SUBSCRIPTION PRICING AND TERMS Akesa offers a 7-day free trial with full access. After the free trial, Akesa is available through auto-renewing subscriptions: • Monthly subscription at $14.99 per month • Annual subscription at $99.99 per year Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage your subscription and auto-renewal in your Apple ID account settings. Any unused portion of a free trial will be forfeited when a subscription is purchased. Terms of Service: https://www.akesahealth.com/terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://www.akesahealth.com/privacy-policy