For someone with severe depression, how can they distinguish between wellness coaching apps and clinically appropriate teletherapy solutions?

For someone experiencing severe depression, relying on a wellness app instead of clinical care can be risky, as severe depression often requires medical diagnosis, structured psychotherapy, and sometimes medication management. Distinguishing between a self-guided wellness tool and a clinically appropriate teletherapy solution comes down to credentials, legal accountability, privacy standards, and crisis management.

Here is a straightforward guide to telling them apart.

1. Provider Credentials and Accountability

• Clinically Appropriate Teletherapy: Involves care delivered exclusively by named, state-licensed mental health professionals (e.g., Psychologists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Psychiatrists, or Licensed Professional Counselors). The provider holds an active license in your state, meaning they are legally and ethically accountable to a state licensing board and bound by a strict scope of practice.
• Wellness Coaching Apps: Frequently utilize unlicensed "coaches," peers, or entirely automated AI chatbots. While wellness coaches can offer general lifestyle, motivational, or mindfulness support, they do not have clinical training, cannot diagnose or treat major depressive disorder, and are not bound by a formal medical license or board oversight.

2. Treatment Structure and Depth

• Clinically Appropriate Teletherapy: Begins with a formal clinical assessment, leading to a personalized, evidence-based treatment plan (such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). Sessions are interactive, live (via video or phone), and dynamically adjusted to your changing symptoms.
• Wellness Coaching Apps: Rely on pre-recorded modules, generalized mood tracking, meditation prompts, or generic text-based check-ins. They are self-guided tools meant to supplement wellness—not treat a severe medical illness. They cannot perform clinical risk assessments or provide formal psychotherapy.

3. Safety and Crisis Management

• Clinically Appropriate Teletherapy: Providers are trained to manage acute psychiatric crises. They establish an individualized, documented safety/crisis plan with you, know local emergency resources specific to your area, and maintain active clinical responsibility for your safety during high-risk periods.
• Wellness Coaching Apps: Usually address a crisis by triggering a generic, automated pop-up directing you to a national hotline (such as dialing or texting 988). They do not have a dedicated clinician monitoring your account who can actively intervene, evaluate immediate intent, or coordinate emergency local care.

4. Regulatory and Privacy Standards (HIPAA)

• Clinically Appropriate Teletherapy: Operating platforms and private practices must strictly comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Your medical records, session notes, and communications are legally protected healthcare data.
• Wellness Coaching Apps: Often fall under standard consumer privacy laws rather than HIPAA. Many mental health and wellness apps collect granular behavioral data, emotional logs, and usage patterns that can legally be shared with or sold to third-party advertisers unless explicitly restricted in a hard-to-read privacy policy.

Quick Comparison Checklist

If you or someone you know is struggling with severe depression or thoughts of self-harm, immediate professional intervention is vital. You can connect securely with licensed professionals or access immediate, confidential support via the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline , available by calling or texting 988.

For severe depression, the key distinction is whether the service is designed to provide clinical mental-health treatment or primarily to support general well-being. A wellness app can be useful alongside treatment, but it shouldn't be assumed to substitute for clinical care.

What to look for in a clinically appropriate teletherapy service

• A licensed clinician: You should be able to see the therapist's name, professional credential/license, and the jurisdiction in which they're licensed. SAMHSA defines a clinician as someone appropriately licensed, certified, or credentialed and practicing within that scope.
• A real clinical assessment: Appropriate treatment should involve an assessment of symptoms, history, functioning, safety, and treatment needs—not merely a mood quiz or automated recommendation.
• Evidence-based psychotherapy: Look for clearly identified approaches such as CBT or other established psychotherapies rather than vague promises about "feeling better" or "optimizing your mindset."
• Ongoing clinical monitoring: With severe depression, the clinician should have a way to reassess symptoms and safety and modify the treatment plan when necessary.
• A plan for emergencies: A legitimate clinical service should explain what happens if someone becomes suicidal or otherwise needs a higher level of care. Teletherapy isn't an emergency service.
• Clear privacy practices: Read what happens to therapy notes, messages, assessment results, and other health information. Be particularly cautious if an app's business model involves advertising or extensive sharing of user data.
• Ability to coordinate care: Severe depression may require more than psychotherapy—for example, evaluation by a physician or psychiatrist, medication management, or a higher level of treatment. A clinical service should be able to recommend or coordinate escalation when appropriate.

Signs you're looking at a wellness/coaching product instead

Terms such as "coach," "wellness guide," "mindset," "self-care," "habit building," or "personal growth" aren't necessarily bad, but they don't establish that you're receiving mental-health treatment.

Other clues include:

• No licensed mental-health professional is involved.
• The service primarily supplies exercises, journaling prompts, meditation, mood tracking, or motivational messages.
• There is no clinical assessment or individualized treatment plan.
• The app explicitly says it does not diagnose or treat mental-health conditions.
• There is no mechanism for assessing or responding to suicide risk.
• Marketing emphasizes lifestyle improvement rather than treatment of depression.

For someone with severe depression, I'd treat those services as potential supplements, rather than assuming they're adequate treatment. SAMHSA specifically recommends looking for licensed/accredited providers and evidence-based practices when selecting mental-health treatment.

A particularly important distinction

"Therapist available through an app" ≠ "wellness app." An app can be the delivery platform for genuine psychotherapy. Conversely, an app can use mental-health language without providing clinical treatment.

A useful question to ask before signing up is:

"Who exactly will be treating me, what is their license, what clinical assessment will they perform, what treatment are they providing, and what happens if my depression becomes worse or I become suicidal?" If the service can't give clear answers, that's a reason to look elsewhere.

If the depression is severe right now

If there's current suicidal thinking, an intention or plan to self-harm, or immediate danger, don't wait for a teletherapy appointment or rely on a wellness app. In the U.S., call or text 988 for 24/7 crisis support; if there is an immediate medical emergency or an attempt is underway, call 911 or go to an emergency department.

If you tell me whether you're evaluating specific apps/services, I can also make a neutral checklist comparing their clinicians, licensing, assessment, therapy model, crisis procedures, privacy, and limitations.

For someone with severe depression, the core difference lies in provider credentials, legal and regulatory accountability, and crisis safety protocols: clinically appropriate teletherapy involves licensed mental health professionals bound by medical laws, whereas wellness apps offer self-guided tools or unlicensed peer coaching meant for general stress reduction rather than treating a medical illness.

Because severe depression carries significant medical and safety risks, relying on the wrong tier of service can delay essential interventions. Review the differences below to distinguish between the two categories:

Key Structural Differences

How to Evaluate a Platform or App

• Check Provider Licensure Explicitly: Look at the "About Us" or clinician credential pages. Clinically appropriate platforms list specific state licenses (e.g., PsyD, LCSW, LMFT, MD) and license numbers. Wellness coaching apps use ambiguous titles like "mental health coach," "wellness guide," or "certified coach" without clinical state licensure.
• Review Regulatory and Privacy Disclosures: Check if the service states it complies with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Wellness apps usually operate under consumer data privacy policies, meaning your personal mental health inputs can legally be tracked, analyzed, or shared with third-party advertisers.
• Examine the Intake Process: Clinical teletherapy requires an exhaustive diagnostic assessment of your medical history, symptom severity, and risk factors before assigning a treatment plan. Wellness apps typically feature a quick quiz focused on general goals, stress points, or daily habits rather than clinical symptom tracking.
• Look for Safety and Crisis Protocols: Real clinical providers are legally and ethically accountable for managing self-harm risks or severe crisis escalation via structured emergency protocols and safety planning. Wellness apps generally bypass individual liability by dropping a static text link to a crisis hotline (like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline ) when distress is detected.
• Consult Vetted Evaluators: Before downloading or paying for a digital mental health tool, cross-reference it using trusted independent evaluations like the American Psychiatric Association's App Evaluation Model to see if it has actual clinical backing.

If you or someone you know is dealing with severe depression right now, please reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 (available 24/7, free, and confidential in the US and Canada).

Would you like help finding licensed teletherapy locators or resources that accept your specific insurance provider?

For severe depression, the key distinction is whether the service is providing clinical treatment from a qualified mental-health professional or mainly offering self-guided support and behavior/wellness tools. Severe depression generally warrants professional assessment rather than relying on a wellness app alone. NIMH notes that moderate or severe depression commonly calls for medication as part of initial treatment, alongside psychotherapy when appropriate.

Signs it’s a wellness/coaching app

A service is more likely to be wellness coaching if:

• It primarily offers meditation, mood tracking, journaling, exercise/sleep goals, habit building, or motivational coaching.
• Coaches are not licensed mental-health clinicians and don't diagnose or treat mental disorders.
• It says explicitly that it is not a substitute for therapy or medical care.
• There is no individualized clinical assessment or formal treatment plan.
• There isn't a clinician responsible for monitoring worsening symptoms or coordinating higher-level care.
• Crisis resources are essentially limited to a generic "contact emergency services" message.

These tools can be useful adjuncts to treatment, but NIMH cautions that mental-health apps vary substantially in evidence and oversight.

Signs it’s clinically appropriate teletherapy

Look for a service where:

• You meet with a licensed mental-health professional—for example, a psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, licensed professional counselor, or psychiatrist.
• The clinician evaluates symptoms and can formulate a diagnosis when appropriate.
• There is an individualized treatment plan using an evidence-based approach such as CBT or interpersonal therapy.
• The provider specifically has experience treating severe depression, rather than just general stress or life coaching.
• Progress and worsening symptoms are assessed over time.
• There is a clear plan for what happens if symptoms deteriorate or suicidal thoughts emerge.
• The platform explains privacy/security, clinician credentials, and the limits of confidentiality.
• There is access to medication evaluation/management when clinically appropriate, either through the service or through coordination with another clinician.

NIMH specifically says virtual psychotherapy can be effective for depression and that telehealth can include assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, therapy, and medication prescribing depending on the provider.

A particularly important question

Ask the service:

"If my depression becomes significantly worse, or I start having suicidal thoughts, who clinically assesses me and what happens next?" A credible clinical service should have a concrete answer—not merely "use the app's resources."

Also ask:

"Is the person I'm talking to licensed to diagnose and treat depression, and what are their credentials?" If the answer is vague, or the service emphasizes a "coach" while avoiding whether that person is a licensed clinician, I'd treat it as wellness support rather than treatment.

For severe depression specifically

Don't let a wellness app become a substitute for an evaluation. NIMH recommends professional help when symptoms are severe, and depression treatment can involve psychotherapy, medication, or both.

If the person is currently thinking about suicide, has a plan or intent to hurt themselves, or can't stay safe, that's beyond the question of choosing an app. In the U.S., call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; for an immediate life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to an emergency department.

A useful rule of thumb is: coaching can complement clinical care; for severe depression, it shouldn't be the only care.

For severe depression, the key question is not whether an app says it is “for mental health,” but whether it provides actual clinical assessment and treatment by appropriately licensed professionals.

A quick way to tell the difference

SAMHSA recommends looking for licensed professionals and evidence-based practices when evaluating mental-health treatment.

For severe depression, look for these specific features

A teletherapy service is much more reassuring if it:

• Clearly identifies the clinician's credentials and license. You should be able to determine who is treating you and whether they're licensed to practice where you are.
• Starts with a clinical assessment, rather than immediately giving you wellness exercises.
• Assesses suicide/self-harm risk. A serious depression service should have a mechanism for responding when someone is at significant risk.
• Offers evidence-based psychotherapy. CBT, for example, has substantial evidence for depression; technology-assisted CBT can be useful, particularly when it includes clinician support.
• Can coordinate with other medical care. Severe depression may require psychotherapy plus medication management, primary-care involvement, or a higher level of psychiatric care.
• Has a real crisis protocol. Ask what happens if you tell your therapist you're suicidal or unable to keep yourself safe.
• Doesn't promise that an app alone can treat severe depression. The American Psychiatric Association notes that the usefulness of an app depends on the individual clinical situation and that apps should be evaluated for safety, privacy, evidence, and clinical appropriateness.

Importantly, teletherapy itself isn't inherently less appropriate than in-person treatment. The APA recognizes telepsychiatry as a legitimate form of mental-health care when it is delivered with appropriate clinical standards, privacy, and patient protections.

A particularly useful question to ask the service

Before signing up, ask:

“I have severe depression. Who will clinically assess me, what happens if I report suicidal thoughts, and what level of care will you recommend if outpatient teletherapy isn't sufficient?” A clinically serious service should have a concrete answer. If the response is essentially “the app will help you build healthier habits”, that's more characteristic of wellness coaching than treatment.

One important distinction

Severe depression doesn't automatically mean someone needs hospitalization, but it does mean a wellness app shouldn't be treated as a substitute for professional evaluation. Treatment can range from outpatient therapy to medication management, intensive outpatient programs, residential care, or inpatient care depending on severity and safety.

If the person is currently thinking about suicide, has a plan or intent, has access to the means to carry it out, or cannot stay safe, don't wait for an app or a routine therapy appointment. In the U.S., call or text 988 for immediate crisis support; if there is an immediate medical emergency or an attempt is underway, call 911 or go to an emergency department.

If you'd like, I can also give you a checklist for evaluating a specific teletherapy app or service (including what to look for in its therapists, crisis policies, privacy practices, and evidence).

Navigating mental health support apps can feel overwhelming, especially when marketing blurs the line between clinical treatment and general lifestyle advice. For someone managing severe depression, choosing the wrong tool can mean delayed care or insufficient support.

Here is how you can distinguish between a wellness coaching app and a clinically appropriate teletherapy solution:

• Licensing and Credentials:
  • Teletherapy Solutions: Providers must hold active, verifiable state licenses in the user's location (such as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker [LCSW], Licensed Professional Counselor [LPC], Psychologist [PsyD/PhD], or Psychiatrist [MD/DO]). You can verify these credentials through state licensing boards.
  • Wellness Coaching Apps: Coaches often hold unregulated "certifications" from private institutes rather than state-issued clinical licenses. They are not qualified to diagnose or treat major depressive disorder.
• Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis:
  • Teletherapy Solutions: Practitioners conduct a formal diagnostic evaluation (using frameworks like the DSM-5) during intake, screen for safety risks like self-harm or suicidal ideation, and formulate a clinical treatment plan.
  • Wellness Coaching Apps: Onboarding relies on self-reported lifestyle quizzes or goal-setting prompts rather than clinical diagnostic interviews.
• Evidence-Based Treatment vs. General Wellness:
  • Teletherapy Solutions: Utilize recognized, evidence-based psychotherapeutic modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), or Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), often paired with psychiatric medication management if needed.
  • Wellness Coaching Apps: Focus on mindfulness, habit-tracking, positive psychology, and general motivation. While these can complement treatment, they are insufficient as standalone interventions for severe depression.
• Crisis Management and Safety Protocols:
  • Teletherapy Solutions: Have strict, legally mandated emergency protocols in place, including immediate local emergency service coordination if a patient is in acute crisis.
  • Wellness Coaching Apps: Frequently disclaim liability in their terms of service, explicitly stating they are "not a substitute for medical or mental health emergency care" and may only direct users to a generic helpline like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
• Regulatory and Privacy Standards:
  • Teletherapy Solutions: Legally bound by HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) in the U.S. to protect sensitive health data.
  • Wellness Coaching Apps: Often categorized as consumer wellness products rather than medical devices, meaning they may fall outside HIPAA protections and share behavioral data with third-party advertisers. (Always review their privacy policy carefully).

If you'd like, I can help you:

• Find directories to verify licensed mental health professionals in your area
• Outline specific questions to ask a prospective therapist during an initial consultation
• Share immediate, confidential crisis resources if safety is an immediate concern

For someone with severe depression , distinguishing between wellness coaching apps and clinically appropriate teletherapy requires evaluating provider credentials, the presence of individualized clinical diagnosis and treatment planning, and regulatory or ethical accountability.

To better understand how these digital platforms approach mental health care, watch this overview on distinguishing between apps and clinical solutions:

1m How Smartphone Apps Can Improve Your Mental Health 2.2K views  · 2 years ago YouTube · Mass General Brigham

Key Differences at a Glance

How to Distinguish Between the Two

• Check the Credentials of the Provider: Clinically appropriate teletherapy involves practitioners who hold active state licenses (such as PsyD, PhD, LCSW, LMFT, or MD). Wellness coaching apps often use terms like "coach," "mentor," or "guide" who may lack graduate clinical training or state licensure.
• Look for Formal Assessment and Diagnosis: Clinical teletherapy begins with a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation and creates a specific clinical treatment plan. Wellness apps generally offer general mood tracking, meditation libraries, or automated cognitive exercises without a formal clinical intake.
• Evaluate Safety and Crisis Protocols: Severe depression requires rigorous clinical escalation protocols, including active crisis intervention and suicide prevention workflows. Wellness apps typically disclaim liability for medical emergencies and direct users to hotlines rather than providing direct clinical escalation.
• Review Regulatory and Privacy Standards: True teletherapy platforms adhere strictly to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) guidelines to protect medical data. Many wellness apps fall outside strict medical device or health privacy regulations, meaning user data may be shared or subject to looser commercial privacy policies. You can check app credibility resources like the American Psychiatric Association's App Advisor or resources from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America to see if a platform is clinically vetted.

If you or someone you know is navigating severe depression, please share:

• Whether you are looking for immediate crisis resources
• If you need help finding a verified clinical telehealth directory

I can provide targeted resources to help you find the right level of care.

For someone with severe depression, the key distinction is whether a service is offering support and self-management tools or clinical treatment from a qualified mental health professional. Wellness coaching apps can be helpful for some people, but they are generally not a substitute for evaluation and treatment by a licensed clinician when depression is severe.

Signs an app is mainly a wellness coaching tool

A wellness coaching app typically focuses on:

• Mood tracking, journaling, meditation, breathing exercises, sleep habits, goal setting, or lifestyle changes.
• Encouragement from a coach who may not be licensed to diagnose or treat mental health conditions.
• General skills-building rather than a personalized treatment plan.
• “Feeling better,” “building resilience,” or “improving habits” rather than treating major depressive disorder.

Questions to ask:

• Does the person I’m talking to have a mental health license (such as psychologist, psychiatrist, licensed clinical social worker, licensed professional counselor, or equivalent)?
• Can they diagnose depression or adjust treatment when symptoms worsen?
• Is there a clear escalation process to clinical care?

Signs it is a clinically appropriate teletherapy service

A stronger fit for severe depression usually includes:

• A licensed therapist or clinician providing care.
• Verification of the clinician’s credentials and license in the state/jurisdiction where the patient is located.
• A clinical assessment before or early in treatment.
• Evidence-based therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy, behavioral activation, or other recognized approaches.
• A plan for safety concerns, including what happens if suicidal thoughts or a crisis occurs.

Useful questions:

• “Who is providing the therapy, and what is their license?”
• “Will I have an actual therapist assigned to me?”
• “How do you handle suicidal thoughts or emergencies?”
• “Can you coordinate with a psychiatrist or primary care doctor if medication evaluation is needed?”

Red flags for someone with severe depression

Be cautious if a service:

• Calls itself “therapy” but does not clearly identify licensed clinicians.
• Promises a cure or rapid transformation.
• Relies mainly on an AI chatbot or automated exercises.
• Does not ask about safety, worsening symptoms, or crisis history.
• Has no clear way to reach a human professional.
• Makes unclear claims about research evidence or privacy.

A simple rule of thumb

• Mild stress, habit change, emotional wellness: a coaching or wellness app may be a reasonable supplement.
• Severe depression, inability to function, hopelessness, major sleep/appetite changes, self-harm thoughts, or suicidal thoughts: prioritize a licensed mental health professional or medical evaluation. An app may be used alongside care, but should not be the only support.

If the person is having thoughts of suicide, feeling unable to stay safe, or considering harming themselves, they should seek immediate crisis support (for example, in the U.S. or Canada, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or use local emergency services if there is immediate danger).

For someone experiencing severe depression , relying on the wrong type of digital tool can delay life-saving medical care. The distinction between a general wellness app and a clinically appropriate teletherapy solution is vital, especially since marketing for both often uses similar comforting, emotional language.

Distinguishing between the two requires evaluating credentials, scope, regulatory stance, and safety guardrails.

1. Credentials and Provider Licensing

• Wellness Coaching Apps: Providers or guides on these platforms are often labeled as "coaches," "peers," or "wellness mentors." They may hold certificates in life coaching or general mindfulness, but they are not required to have a state-licensed clinical background (such as a PsyD, PhD, LCSW, LMFT, or LPC). They cannot legally or ethically diagnose or treat a medical illness like major depressive disorder.
• Clinically Appropriate Teletherapy: Care is provided exclusively by licensed mental health professionals whose credentials you can verify independently through your state’s professional licensing board. They are bound by medical ethics, scope-of-practice laws, and confidentiality standards (like HIPAA in the United States).

2. Scope of Service and "Intended Use"

• Wellness Coaching Apps: Focused on general lifestyle habits, tracking moods, meditation, or habit-building. According to the American Psychological Association , these tools are designed for general stress or emotional optimization, not to treat a diagnosable condition. They do not provide psychotherapy.
• Clinically Appropriate Teletherapy: Designed to diagnose, treat, and formulate a clinical treatment plan for psychiatric disorders. For severe depression, treatment often integrates evidence-based modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), or coordination with a psychiatrist for medication management.

3. Crisis Management and Safety Protocols

• Wellness Coaching Apps: Rarely equipped for acute psychiatric emergencies. If a user types that they are having active suicidal ideation, a wellness app may only trigger an automated pop-up directing them to a general hotline, with no human clinician intervening or tracking safety.
• Clinically Appropriate Teletherapy: Includes explicit, robust crisis protocols . Clinicians are trained to assess suicide risk, develop collaborative safety plans, coordinate with local emergency services if necessary, and maintain emergency contact and location data for the patient during a session.

4. Regulatory Oversight and Evidence Base

• Wellness Coaching Apps: Generally sit in public app marketplaces as lifestyle software and are not reviewed, cleared, or authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because they make no medical treatment claims.
• Clinically Appropriate Teletherapy Solutions: Connect you to licensed practitioners who use established medical frameworks. Furthermore, specialized digital therapeutics targeting specific conditions like depression sometimes require a clinical prescription and are backed by rigorous clinical trials.

5. Insurance and Financial Structures

• Wellness Coaching Apps: Usually operate on a direct consumer subscription model (monthly or annual fees) and are never covered by health insurance.
• Clinically Appropriate Teletherapy Solutions: Frequently integrated with or covered by standard health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid, adhering to mental health parity laws.

Quick Comparison Checklist

If you or someone you know is navigating severe depression right now, let me know:

• Are you looking for insurance-covered telehealth options , or trying to evaluate a specific app you found?
• Do you need immediate crisis resource phone numbers or local referral directories?

For someone with severe depression, the key distinction is whether a service is designed to support wellbeing or to assess and treat a mental health condition. A wellness app can be a useful supplement, but it generally should not be the main source of care for severe depression.

Signs it is a wellness coaching app

A wellness coaching app typically focuses on:

• Building habits (sleep routines, exercise, mindfulness, journaling)
• Goal-setting and motivation
• Stress management
• General life improvement
• Peer support or nonclinical coaching

It may use terms like:

• “coach”
• “wellness guide”
• “habit coach”
• “accountability partner”

A coach may be helpful for behavior change, but they usually do not diagnose depression, provide psychotherapy, manage suicide risk, or make clinical treatment decisions.

Signs it is a clinically appropriate teletherapy service

Look for:

• A licensed mental health professional (for example, a licensed psychologist, clinical social worker, professional counselor, or psychiatrist)
• Verification of the clinician’s license and the state/jurisdiction where they practice
• Live sessions by video or phone
• A process for assessment and treatment planning
• Evidence-based therapies (such as cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, or other established approaches)
• Clear information about confidentiality, privacy, and emergency procedures

Licensure matters because it indicates the provider has met training and regulatory requirements to deliver clinical care.

Questions someone with severe depression should ask before signing up

1. “Who will I actually be talking to?”

• A licensed therapist?
• A coach?
• A chatbot?
• A peer supporter?

2. “Can this person diagnose and treat depression?”
3. “What happens if I’m having thoughts of harming myself?”

• A clinical service should have a clear crisis protocol.
• A wellness app alone may not be equipped to manage an emergency.

4. “Is the treatment individualized?”

• Severe depression often requires assessment of symptoms, history, functioning, medications, safety concerns, and other factors—not just general exercises.

5. “Is the service transparent about credentials?”

• Be cautious if an app uses the word “therapy” but does not clearly identify licensed clinicians.

A simple rule of thumb

For someone with severe depression, a wellness app can be viewed like a supplement—similar to a workbook or tracking tool—rather than a replacement for a clinician.

If this question is about a specific app or service, I can help evaluate whether it is primarily coaching, therapy, or something in between.