Snapping Out of It: How a Wearable for Self-Tracking Assisted Psychotherapy Bridges the Gap Between Thoughts and the World

This case study explores the use of the One Button Tracker (OBT), a wearable self-tracking instrument, by a refugee diagnosed with complex PTSD, in personalized self-tracking assisted psychotherapy. The OBT differs from traditional mHealth methods, which typically rely on predefined tracking parameters, by empowering the patient to focus on their own subjective experiences of phenomena selected during treatment. This approach fosters patient-therapist collaboration, tailoring the therapeutic process to individual needs. Here, the patient chose to track flashbacks, a grounding intervention, and anger experiences. Findings reveal a multifaceted relationship between the patient and the instrument, underscoring the instrument’s significance in supporting the therapeutic process. The patient’s consistent engagement with the OBT, demonstrates its ability to bridge the gap between daily life and psychotherapy. This study underscores the relevance of integrating personalized self-tracking in therapy demonstrating that such instruments can serve multiple roles, from data collection to therapeutic companions in patients’ lives.