Untangle

Overview

Summary

This self-care app integrates different learning models with a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) framework to help college students in high-pressure academic environments recognize and reframe cognitive distortions. The team identified three key opportunities:

1. Lack of knowledge about cognitive distortions and CBT as a tool

2. Difficulty in recognizing different cognitive distortions and knowing when and how to reframe them

3. Challenges with commitment, time, and follow-through.

Year

2024

Methods

Learning model design, design research, UX / UI design, art direction

Links

Medium Process

Reframing Cognitive Distortions

How might we help undergraduate college students become aware of their unhelpful thought patterns and reframe them to reduce the negative effects that follow?

Interactive Storytelling

In order to identify user’s subconscious thought pattern, users identify thoughts, feelings, and actions from a fictional story showcasing different problems occurring in the daily life of a young professional.

Game Goal

1. Alleviate the burden of confronting personal thought patterns by introducing an anonymous character and relatable scenarios.

2. Build awareness and recognition skills for cognitive distortions through engaging “thought demon” characters.

3. Encourage practice of reframing skills by inviting users to write reflections and earn rewards as reminders of their progress

Playtesting

Each team member conducted multiple virtual play testings to assess the gameplay mechanics, content, and flow of the game.