The Evolution of Digital Wellness Technologies
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“As a therapist, I love recommending mobile health technologies to complement treatment. The therapeutic relationship must be protected, but using apps like BetterHelp, Headspace, or Calm can complement skill building and coping mechanism generation that happens between sessions with a therapist.”
Jessica Gaddy, MSW, Founder of Nia Noire Therapy + Wellness
Digital wellness technologies refer to various tools and applications designed to promote and improve holistic well-being in the digital age. These technologies encompass various platforms, including mobile apps, wearable devices, and online programs specifically developed to monitor and enhance physical, mental, and emotional health. By leveraging data analytics, artificial intelligence, and user-centric design, digital wellness technologies aim to empower individuals to better manage aspects like stress, focus, sleep, and overall lifestyle choices.
From guided meditation apps to fitness trackers, these technologies provide users with personalized insights and recommendations, creating opportunities for healthier and more balanced lifestyles amidst the demands of modern life. “I refer to it a lot as mHealth or mobile health technology,” says Jessica Gaddy, licensed clinical mental health therapist and founder of Nia Noire Therapy + Wellness.
“It can consist of anything from wearable devices to mobile apps that track your sleep patterns. The more popular ones are Apple Watches, Oura Ring, Garmin, and Fitbit, but many are also synced to mobile apps like Noom or My Fitness Pal. Ultimately, we are accessing our health information on our phones through various modalities. It can be both a prevention mechanism or a way to monitor our health more proactively.”
Embracing new technology, especially in the realm of digital wellness, offers numerous advantages that can enhance our quality of life. Integrating these innovative tools into our daily routines opens doors to a more informed and proactive approach to health management. New technologies provide a level of convenience and accessibility that was previously unimaginable, allowing us to track our well-being metrics in real time and make data-driven decisions. “Be open to exploration,” encourages Gaddy.”It can be a great tool. Use it as a means of prevention. Use it as a compliment to your regular treatment. Allow it to benefit your life in the ways that it can. Find the apps that work for you and integrate them into your daily routine. You will see results.”
Continue reading to learn more about how digital wellness technologies have evolved, how they can be critical in prevention, and where the future of these tools is headed.
Meet the Expert: Jessica Gaddy, MSW
Jessica Gaddy is a licensed clinical social worker and founder of Nia Noire Therapy + Wellness. She has over a decade of professional experience in acute mental health, outpatient mental health program management, team leadership, clinical licensure supervision, and interdisciplinary healthcare coordination. She aims to improve community health and wellness through technology and digital innovation, with a lens on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
She is currently researching the intersection of culturally sensitive, evidence-based mental health practices and mobile health (mHealth) technology for marginalized populations to develop strategies and products aimed at making mental health more equitable and accessible for all. She holds a master’s in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University and a bachelor’s of art in psychology from California State University, San Bernardino.
Digital Wellness Technology Is A Complement, Not Substitute
Digital wellness technology is a vital complement to traditional health care, enhancing the ability to maintain and improve well-being in our everyday lives. While these technologies offer remarkable capabilities, such as real-time physical activity monitoring and mental health indicators, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.
“As a therapist, I love recommending mobile health technologies to complement treatment. The therapeutic relationship must be protected, but using apps like BetterHelp, Headspace, or Calm can complement skill building and coping mechanism generation that happens between sessions with a therapist,” says Gaddy.
People who use apps should do so with the support of a team. “The interdisciplinary approach really comes into play here. Many of my clients have a primary care doctor and a psychiatrist, if necessary,” explains Gaddy. “It’s really helpful to work together as a team. Say I notice a pattern with sleep for a client who hasn’t had a full night’s sleep in the last three months. This might be an opportunity to consult with the primary care provider so that you can explore some different options. Maybe there is something medical there, and we want to be able to rule that out as well.”
The Emergence of New Digitial Wellness Tools
Digital wellness technologies have significantly evolved over the past decade, with advancements largely driven by the rapid development of mobile technology, data analytics, and artificial intelligence. Initially focused on basic fitness tracking and step counting, these technologies have expanded into comprehensive platforms that can monitor various health metrics, including heart rate, sleep patterns, and mental health indicators. The integration of AI has enabled more personalized user experiences by analyzing individual data to provide tailored health insights and recommendations.
While this evolution has meant more services for consumers, it has also presented some challenges, particularly when it comes to diversity: “Apps and technology have gotten more advanced. However, I’ve noticed that larger companies are starting to buy out the smaller independent companies. What I’m seeing a lot now is a lack of diversity in terms of content and cultural sensitivity. The smaller apps tend to be more nuanced, and that’s getting lost in these mergers,” shares Gaddy.
Many apps don’t tend to stay on users’ devices for more than three months, so many developers have worked on ways to increase value and keep users engaged. “App development is expensive, and it’s tough to maintain a mobile app. The big challenge in digital health is the consistency of the users. Users may use an app for about three to four months before discontinuing,” notes Gaddy. Digital wellness apps are only good for you if you use them.
Despite the challenge of usership, digital wellness technology is here to stay. “A lot of users were reliant on mobile health technology during the pandemic because we couldn’t see providers in person. Mobile health was instrumental during the pandemic, but I think there’s still so much more opportunity for growth in the upcoming years,” says Gaddy.
Mental Health And Digital Wellness Technology
Mental health is an integral part of overall wellness, and digital wellness technology can play a vital role in supporting our mental well-being. With apps that offer guided meditation, mood tracking, and virtual therapy sessions, these technologies are opening up avenues for people to take control of their mental health. “It can be incredibly helpful when you’re looking at mental health disorders like depression and anxiety, especially going through seasonal changes,” notes Gaddy. “Sleep patterns can often be affected by the seasons, and they can be indications of an increase in anxiety or an increase in depression. Having an external tool helps track that can be huge.”
In addition to tracking sleep and noticing upcoming issues, apps can also help users fall asleep. “I have had many clients have success with apps like Headspace or Calm to help them sleep. They have sleep medications or stories you can listen to, which can help you fall asleep and stay asleep,” says Gaddy.
Meditation apps have become powerful tools for enhancing mental wellness by providing accessible and user-friendly platforms for practicing mindfulness and relaxation techniques. These apps often offer a variety of guided meditations, breathing exercises, and calming soundscapes designed to reduce stress and promote emotional balance. By incorporating meditation into their daily routines, users can experience reduced anxiety, improved focus, and better sleep quality.
Gaddy notes that there are meditations for a variety of uses, including anxiety, depression, and even increased energy. “Using a meditation app for even five to ten minutes a day can help you feel grounded and decompress. I love guided meditation because you don’t have to think about it,” Gaddy encourages.
Future of Digitial Wellness Technology
As digital wellness technology continues to evolve, the future looks promising for more advanced and personalized health monitoring tools. With AI and data analytics advancements, these technologies will become even more sophisticated in tracking and analyzing individual health metrics. There is even the potential for further integration of virtual reality and augmented reality into wellness apps, providing immersive experiences that can aid in mental health therapies.
However, with this advancement comes the responsibility to ensure diversity and cultural sensitivity are not overlooked. As Gaddy highlighted earlier, smaller independent companies often offer nuanced approaches to addressing wellness needs from diverse backgrounds, but they can easily get lost in larger mergers. Developers need to prioritize inclusivity in their products. “I hope we see more culturally specific digital wellness technology come onto the market in the next few years. Racial and ethnic minorities are being missed in this space, and I hope it’s an opportunity that gets filled,” says Gaddy.
Apps won’t be the only place we see innovation. “In the next five years, I think there is going to be an influx of a lot of wearable devices. I think it will become kind of a primary way people are going to track their health information and sync it to their phones, versus solely relying on an application where they have to input information,” speculates Gaddy.
