Online Wellness Resources

Please note that these resources are not associated with Cal State East Bay Student Health and Counseling Services. SHCS does not endorse any particular provider, agency, or resource. 

The following websites, apps, and podcasts support self-help for a variety of specific communities. Please note that none are a substitute for a relationship with a professional counselor. Descriptions are taken from the resources themselves.

Issues and Conditions

Start Your Recovery

Get information about substance misuse and treatment resources. Search for recovery programs in California

 Narcotics Anonymous

Substance abuse information and support.

 Alcoholics Anonymous

AA has a simple program that works. It's based on one alcoholic helping another.

Meeting Guide (Android / iPhone app) 

 Al-Anon

For people who are worried about someone with a drinking problem.

 Adult Children of Alcoholics

For people who grew up in dysfunctional homes.

SAMHSA Behavioral Health 

Find substance use treatment centers 

Ujima Family Recovery Services 

Get support with substance addiction: residential and outpatient programs, prevention programs for children 

Second Chance Inc

Offering individual and group counseling to provide treatment and recovery services for substance use disorders.

Bay Area Center for ADHD

We work collaboratively with psychiatrists, medical doctors, tutors, school counselors, and others to help create a supportive team to treat ADD/ADHD and help our clients become successful with managing all aspects of life.

Children and Adults Living with ADHD (CHADD) of Northern California

Your resource for helping you and your child learn what attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is and what it isn’t. We will provide you with the tools and information that your child needs to fully develop his/her potential.

Insight Timer (App)

Free meditation app.

Pomodoro Technique  (App)

This technique uses a timer to break down work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks.

Forest  (App)

Forest is a popular productivity app that helps people beat their phone addiction and manage their time in an interesting and pleasant way.

StayFocusd  (App)

StayFocusd is a productivity extension for Google Chrome that helps you stay focused on work by restricting the amount of time you can spend on time-wasting websites.

Freedom  (App)

Freedom is a productivity platform that blocks digital distractions on all your devices and allows you to focus on what matters most.

Weekly Planner: 30-minute Intervals (App)

Plan your week out in 30-minute intervals. Includes a downloadable Word document.

Time Management and ADHD: Day Planners (App)

Information and tips for using a day planner, from Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).

ADHD reWired (Podcast)

Eric Tivers interviews ADHDers about their experience.

Cortex (Podcast)

With podcasts covering technology and creativity, Relay FM brings together some of the most influential — and unique — voices on the Internet to create powerful content, each and every week.

Focused (Podcast)

A productivity podcast about more than just surface-level quick tips and tricks. 

Nested Folders (Podcast)

A lot of Getting-Things-Done podcasts push blanket strategies that aren’t helpful many, but Rose and Scotty aren’t afraid to talk about the ups and downs of trying to be more productive and the pitfalls you may need to navigate.

ADHD Cosmic Takeover! (Comics about the ADHD Experience) (Web comic)

Through comics, 28 artists share their deeply personal experiences of living with ADHD. With each comic focusing on one aspect of it, we hope that the CosmicTakeover will give you a wide range of insights into how different ADHD can look for everyone.


ADDitude (Website & Magazine)

Self-Help Anxiety Management (Android / iPhone app)

Offers a range of self-help methods for people who are serious about learning to manage their anxiety. Developed by a university team of psychologists, computer scientists and students, users are encouraged to build their own Anxiety Toolkit that they find helpful and to draw on this for regular practice.

Stop Panic & Anxiety Self Help (Android app)

Use Panic Assistance audio to coach you when you experience a panic attack and to help you learn to tolerate and control the anxiety symptoms.

Mindshift (Android / iPhone app)

There are things you can do to stop anxiety and fear from controlling your life.  MindShift can help you change how you think about anxiety.  Learn how to relax, develop more helpful ways of thinking, and identify active steps that will help you take charge of your anxiety.

Hardcore Self Help Podcase with Duff the Psych (iTunes/Stitcher)

A weekly podcast that answers questions about mental health without the psychobabble.  Information about everything from how to deal with anxiety and depression, to relationships, addiction, and life in general. Hosted by psychologist Dr. Robert Duff.

Anxiety.org

Information about anxiety disorders and treatments.

Wysa: Anxiety, therapy chatbot (Android / iPhone app)

Talking to Wysa is empathetic, helpful, and will never judge. Your identity will remain anonymous and your conversations are privacy protected.

Many individuals wonder if they might be on the autism spectrum.  Student Health and Counseling Services does not provide an initial assessment for this diagnosis, but here are a few resources students may want to explore.
For an initial screening, you can do an online assessment like this one: Autism Spectrum Quotient
Please keep in mind that this is a screening tool for autistic traits, and does not provide a diagnosis of ASD or neurodivergence. 
 
For a formal neuropsychological assessment, please contact your health insurance directly to find a covered provider who diagnoses, assesses, and/or treats ASD. 
 
Below are some options for ASD assessment and diagnosis. This is not an endorsement for a particular agency or provider but rather a place to get your started. Please research each agency carefully, and confirm your exact out of pocket cost before scheduling an appointment or agreeing to services:

Regional Center of East Bay

Breathe2Relax ( Android / iPhone app)

A portable stress management tool which provides details information on the effects of stress on the body, and instruction to help users learn diaphragmatic breathing.

Tactical Breather ( Android / iPhone app)

Using techniques developed by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, learn to gain control of your heart rate, emotions, concentration, and other physiological and psychological responses to your body during stressful situations.

Stress Management: Breathing Exercises for Relaxation

Information about stress management and breathing exercises for relaxation.

Anxiety Management Tips and Resources for Covid-19

Tips from Cal State East Bay Counseling about managing the stress and relational challenges of Covid-19.

Self-Help Videos

Cal State East Bay counselors walk through specific techniques for managing anxiety, reducing stress, and developing healthy coping strategies.

Love is Louder

Tips from the JED Foundation for college students on staying in, safe, calm, kind, active and connected while practicing social distancing.

Public Support Group to Manage Covid Anxiety - Free group therapy led by a Talkspace therapist volunteering their services. Website also includes videos and resources about Covid related topics.

Staying in Podcast with Emily and Kumail (Stitcher, Apple Podcasts)

Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani support listeners through sheltering in place. Emily was a therapist and currently is a chronically sick person (see: The Big Sick) who often has to quarantine herself, and Kumail is her main caretaker.

For Trauma Survivors

Infographics in a variety of languages with coping tips, self-care strategies, and grounding techniques for trauma survivors to use during this time.  All resources are from the National Resource Center for Reaching Victims.

Thinkladder

App to help you rewrite the script in your subconscious mind. When we replace our limiting beliefs it changes our old thought patterns which helps us feel better and do better. As we practice these new beliefs and actions with focused concentration and perseverance, they become our new normal.  Right now we have turned our attention to working on specific insights and practices for those suffering due to Covid19.

Pleasant Activities

A list of self-care ideas specific to physically distancing. Check here for ideas and inspiration.

Resilience Summit

Series of free webinars by mental health leaders about strengthening your body, mindfulness and self-compassion, addressing childhood adversity, recovering from loss and trauma, and finding strength in relationships.

Simple Habit

Series of audio reflections around coping with anxiety about Covid-19.

Growth Mindset and Mental Health for Coping with Covid-19

Free course series to help maintain mental health and psychological wellbeing during isolation, quarantine, stress and anxiety due to Covid-19, as well as make good use of your time at home, including doing things that help you learn, grow, and thrive.

JED Foundation 

A website offering Information about understanding and coping with grief and loss 

Grief.com

Dedicated to help everyone deal with the often unknown terrain that comes along with all kinds of grief. Through education, information and other helpful resources we hope to make the challenging road of grief a little easier.

What's Your Grief

A place for grief education, articles, sharing, support & more.

Healthy Mind Platter 

Seven daily essential mental activities to optimize brain matter and create well-being.

Mind My Peelings Worksheets & Infographics

For understanding and assessing general anxiety, depression, and overall mental health

Daily DOSE of Happiness Chemicals

The Happy Brain Chemicals that Makes You Feel Good

The Unspoken Complexity of Self-Care

“Self care” gets thrown around a lot, but what does it actually mean?

Greater Good Magazine

Learn about key areas that support wellbeing through articles, podcasts, self-assessments and more. 

LifeArmor (iPhone app)

A comprehensive tool to assist members of the military community with common mental health concerns.  Browse information on 17 topics, including sleep, depression, relationship issues, and post-traumatic stress.  Brief self-assessment helps the user measure and track their symptoms, and tools are available to assist with managing specific problems.  Videos relevant to each topic provide personal stories from other service members, veterans, and military family members.

Youper

Your own personal assistant for taking control of your emotional and behavioral health.

Shine Meditation (android/apple app)

Free daily meditations and self “check-in” questions: Woman/BIPOC owned/run

#selfcare (android/apple app)

Get support/suggestions on improving/addressing self-care 

Color Puzzle: Hue Match Game (android/apple game app) 

A beautiful and calming puzzle game

Secret Cat Forrest (android/apple game app) 

A relaxing game that involves befriending cats and making items for them (eg. furniture)

Insight Timer (Android / iPhone app)

Insight Timer is the largest community of regular mediators on the planet.  Every day more than 1,200 of the world's best meditation teachers upload new content including free guided meditations, beautiful meditation music, talks and podcasts.

Calm (Android / iPhone app)

The perfect meditation app for beginners, but also includes hundreds of programs for intermediate and advanced mediators and gurus.  Guided meditation sessions are available in lengths of 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25 minutes so you choose the perfect length to fit with your schedule.

Headspace (Android / iPhone app)

Get the most of your day with the Headspace app.  We'll help you perform at your best through the life-changing skills of meditation and mindfulness.

Meditation Oasis (Podcast)

Features guided meditations, instructions for meditation, and music.

Mindful.org

The place to go for insight, information, and inspiration to help us all live more mindfully.

Free Guided Meditation (Audio)

Downloadable guided meditation ranging from 3-15 minutes long, in English and Spanish.  From UCLA.

Take a Break! (iPhone app)

Featuring two popular meditations from the Meditation Oasis podcast, the app gives you the option to listen with or without music or nature sounds. You can also listen to the relaxing music and nature sounds alone.

Stop, Breathe, Think (Android / iPhone app)

Take a break from the stress and anxiety of daily life to relax with meditations for the body and mind. Tune in to how you are thinking and feeling, and select emotions that guide you to recommended meditations. Emotions like happiness, stress and anxiety can be tracked pre and post meditation, and you can even share your favorite calming exercises with friends!

Mindful Self-Compassion Practices and Exercises 

Guided meditation and exercises to practice mindful self-compassion. Research shows that the more we practice being kind and compassionate with ourselves the more we’ll increase the habit of self-compassion.

Attitudes of Gratitude Journal (Android app)

This simple app will help you to develop and maintain a daily attitude of gratitude.  At the end of each day you can list the things you are grateful for.  You will soon see that your list is much longer than you expected.  By focusing on gratitude, we shift the focus away from the things we may feel are missing in our lives.

T2 Moodtracker (Android / iPhone app)

T2 Mood Tracker is designed to help you track your emotional experience over time and to provide you with a tool to share this information with your healthcare provider.  You can add customized scales on any topic. You use simple sliders to rate yourself on these behavioral categories and the app automatically graphs your inputs. You also make notes describing things that happened during the day that may have affected your moods.

ACT Coach (Android / iPhone app)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) aims to help you live with unpleasant thoughts, feelings, and impulses without avoiding them or being controlled by them. In ACT, you are encouraged to commit to actions so that you can live your life by your values, even in the face of these unpleasant experiences.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) 

DBSA provides hope, help, support, and education to improve the lives of people who have mood disorders.

Thought Diary (Android / iPhone app)

Do you feel like you're stressed, anxious, sad, frustrated, or unmotivated? Thought Diary will help you evaluate, understand, and change your thoughts and feelings.

The Hilarious World of Depression (Podcast)

Depression is an incredibly common and isolating disease experienced by millions, yet often stigmatized by society. The Hilarious World of Depression is a series of frank, moving, and, yes, funny conversations with top comedians who have dealt with this disease

Stop, Breathe, Think (Android / iPhone app)

Take a break from the stress and anxiety of daily life to relax with meditations for the body and mind. Tune in to how you are thinking and feeling, and select emotions that guide you to recommended meditations. Emotions like happiness, stress and anxiety can be tracked pre and post meditation, and you can even share your favorite calming exercises with friends!

Remember the Milk (Android / iPhone app)

The smart to-do app for busy people. You'll never forget the milk (or anything else) again.

My Life Organized (Android / iPhone app)

MyLifeOrganized (MLO) is the most flexible and powerful task management software for getting your to-dos finally done.

Fabulous Daily Routine Planner (Android / iPhone app)

Fabulous is not just your average habit tracker! We’re a science-based app that will motivate you to improve your fitness & achieve your weight loss goals, reboot your sleep cycle, and discover mindfulness to reduce your anxiety.

Psych Drugs and Medications (Android / iPhone app)

Learn important and useful information about various psychotropic medications such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and anti-anxiety medications.

Finch: Self Care Widget Pet (Android / iPhone app)

Meet your new self care best friend! Finch is a self care pet app that helps you feel prepared and positive, one day at a time. Take care of your pet by taking care of yourself!

5 Love Languages (Android / iPhone app)

What if you could say or do just the right thing to make your special someone feel loved? The secret is learning the right love language! You and your loved one can take the profile within the app to find out what love language you speak, as well as the Love Language Challenge, which guides couples through a 5-week challenge.

Where Should We Begin (Podcast)

Live couples therapy sessions with Dr. Esther Perel, designed to learn, explore, and experience alongside the couples who have been gracious enough to let us in.

The Gottman Relationship Blog

The Gottman Relationship Blog publishes compelling and relevant science-based articles and personal stories about contemporary relationships, marriage, dating, parenting, and mental health.

Free Guided Meditation (Audio)

Downloadable guided meditation ranging from 3-15 minutes long, in English and Spanish.  From UCLA.

Take a Break! (iPhone app)

Featuring two popular meditations from the Meditation Oasis podcast, the app gives you the option to listen with or without music or nature sounds. You can also listen to relaxing music and nature sounds alone.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Guided Imagery (Audio)

Audio files to stream or download from Dartmouth University.

Sleep Pillow Sounds (Android / iPhone app)

Provides an advanced set of high quality ambient sounds, mixed for perfect sleep enhancement. The sounds are recorded and enhanced to relax and make you sleep. They isolate, create a relaxed environment and put you into a cyclical sleep pattern.

Sleep Time (Android app)

Sleep Time uses the sensitive accelerometer in your Android to detect movements during the night. Our advanced algorithm determines your phase of sleep, and sets off the alarm at the perfect moment. You will never wake up from a deep sleep feeling groggy again.

Nature Sounds Relax and Sleep (Android app)

Made to help lull you into a calm, soothed state.  The different options include waterfall, night in the jungle, bird sounds, and thunder.

QualityTime App (Android app) or App Usage (android app)

Discover and track your smartphone habits and carve more time for yourself and your relationship with others [away from phone use] 

Time to Log Off 

"The home of digital wellbeing." Time To Log Off has a mission to investigate what a healthy use of screens looks like, and to discover the joys of regularly fully disconnecting from technology and reconnecting with the real world.

Press Pause 

Strategies to pause online and social media use in the service of better mental health.

Virtual Hope Box (iPhoneapp)

Simple tools to help students with coping, relaxation, distraction, and positive thinking

Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-825)

We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. We understand that every struggle is different. Experience the stories of people like you, and how they overcame crisis to find hope and recovery.

Study Tips (iPhone app)

Easy-to-use but powerful tips to complete assignments, perform well on tests, and submit papers or projects on time. "A Study Tip a Day Gets You an A” provides 365 tips and quotes based on decades of research in the fields of education and psychology.

iProcrastinate Podcast (Podcast)

Dr. Timothy A. Pychyl, associate professor of psychology and director of the Procrastination Research Group, provides a series of short talks, interviews and question/answer podcasts that explain why we procrastinate and what we can do about it.

Rescue Time (Android app)

Wonder where your day went? RescueTime is an automatic time and attention tracker that helps individuals and teams propagate good processes and eliminate bad habits.

NAMI - 7 Tools for Managing Traumatic Stress

Tools for managing traumatic stress from the National Alliance on Mental Illness

Window of Tolerance

Have difficulty dealing with trauma, anxiety, or demands of life? Learn to recognize your window of tolerance.