Sonia (YC W24)

Our blog is now on LinkedIn! 💙 Dive into our first article, which explores the emerging world of AI-assisted therapy. Learn how technology is making mental health support more accessible and the potential impact on traditional care models. Stay tuned for more on AI innovations, industry trends, and insights on mental health coming soon. We'd love to hear your thoughts! 💌 #MentalHealth #AITechnology #HealthcareInnovation #DigitalWellness

We'll pay 1% of your rent in NYC... All you need to do is hang up a Sonia “artwork” outside of your apartment. I’ll personally deliver the artwork and bring you your favorite coffee. We have all sorts of different dimensions and slogans (“listens better than your ex” is my favorite). You’ll obviously also get a free Sonia subscription. Reduced rent + free therapy sessions is the ultimate mental health combo we all need living in this city. Side benefit: your neighbors might become less anxious after using Sonia and actually start saying hello when you walk past them :) Only available as long as supply (aka funding) lasts!

It’s here. Sonia 2.0 has arrived. 🚀 Today marks a new era in accessible mental health support. We're thrilled to introduce the new and improved Sonia – a major leap forward in our mission to make professional-grade mental wellness tools available to everyone, anytime, anywhere. The Sonia team has poured our hearts into this update, and we could not be more excited to share it with you. Our goal is to help bring happiness and well-being to as many people as possible, at a scale that truly makes a difference. 💙 What’s New in Sonia 2.0?  ✨ 🌍 World’s First AI-Assisted Program for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): We’re introducing the first AI-driven CBT program designed specifically for GAD. This series of six structured sessions is based on evidence-based treatments, offering you practical support to manage anxiety at your own pace. 🎨 Redesigned Interface: Sonia 2.0 features a completely overhauled design with a focus on user experience. Switching between chat and voice modes is now smoother, and navigating the app is more intuitive, making it easier to engage with your therapy sessions. 🎯 Personalized Onboarding: From your very first session, Sonia 2.0 adapts to your needs. Choose your focus areas, preferred therapeutic style, and session structure to ensure the support you receive is tailored specifically to you. 💬 Community Canvas: We’re introducing a new way to connect with others through our Community Canvas. Share your thoughts on the “Question of the Day” and engage with a supportive community focused on mental wellness. ⏱ Short Sessions for Busy Lives: We’ve added new session types—structured advice for problem-solving and open-ended sessions for emotional release. These are designed to fit into your day, providing support whenever you need it. 🔔 Enhanced Notifications & Scheduling: With Sonia 2.0, you can now set reminders that help you stay consistent with your therapy. Schedule sessions when it’s convenient, or jump into one whenever you’re ready—flexibility is built-in. 🎙 New Therapist Voices: We’ve expanded our range of therapist personas and voices, allowing you to choose the one that best suits your comfort level, making your sessions more personalized and engaging. ... among other improvements, but we'll leave that for you to explore 😊 This new version of Sonia is just the beginning. While we have a long journey ahead of us, we hope it marks a meaningful step toward greater happiness and well-being for all our users! Download Sonia 2.0 today on the App Store: https://lnkd.in/eUMvdp2M #MentalHealth #AI #Therapy #SoniaApp #CBT #HealthTech #Innovation

Happy Birthday to Our Co-Founder, Chris Aeberli! 🎉 Chris, your passion for helping people find happiness and balance is what drives Sonia’s mission every day. You’re the reason we’re all a bit more inspired to spread positivity—and maybe even smile a little more! 😊 Let’s celebrate Chris by sharing some joy in the comments—whether it’s a quick birthday wish or a moment when Sonia made your day brighter. 🎂 #HappyBirthday #MakingPeopleSmile #TeamSonia

Something Big Has Arrived…✨ We’ve been hard at work behind the scenes, and we’re excited to finally share that Sonia has just taken a major leap forward. Introducing Sonia 2.0 – our most innovative update yet, designed to elevate your mental health journey even further. 🌟 With new features and enhanced tools, including something special for managing anxiety, Sonia is now more equipped than ever to be there for you. Curious? Stay tuned for the full reveal on Monday – trust us, you won’t want to miss this! Full Details Coming Soon… 💙 #MentalHealthMatters #AI #TalkToSonia #ComingSoon

On a scale of 1-100, what percent happy are you right now? In today’s largely data-driven world, we’ve unsurprisingly managed to turn happiness into yet another metric to optimize. Apps track our moods, algorithms suggest how to boost our spirits, and we're constantly urged to maximize our "happiness score." But as Jessica Grose questions in her recent article “Are We Happy Yet?” published in the New York Times: Is this obsession truly making us happier, or could it actually be making us feel worse? The pursuit of perpetual positivity might be creating a new kind of anxiety – the stress of not feeling happy enough. In reality, true mental health isn't about reaching a happiness high score. As Grose puts it, “Feelings aren’t the same as other kinds of health metrics, like steps and heart rate and liver function…the user experience of being alive cannot be graphed.” Perhaps the path to genuine well-being lies not in relentless self-optimization, but in fostering self-acceptance and human connection. As so many of us attempt to navigate and make sense of this era of digital emotion, let’s consider: What if the key to a fulfilling life isn't about maximizing happiness, but about finding meaning in our full range of experiences? At Sonia, we're inspired by these insights to rethink how technology can support mental health. Our goal isn't to graph your emotions or optimize your happiness score, but to provide accessible, empathetic support that honors the full complexity of the human experience. Because at the end of the day, in our pursuit of the perfect emotional state, we might just be missing the beautiful intricacy of simply being human. Read the full article by Grose here: https://lnkd.in/dRb4C_Kq #mentalhealth #happiness #technology

If your idea of “finding your center” involves locating the least chaotic corner of your living room, you’re not alone. We've compiled 6 mindfulness techniques for those of us who can't touch our toes or sit still for more than 30 seconds. Highlights include: - Breathing: You're doing it anyway, might as well pay attention - Thought observation: Procrastinate on your own anxiety - Five senses check-in: Remind yourself you're not actually living in a simulation - Body scan: Like a TSA pat-down, but for your own tension - Gratitude moment: 60 seconds to appreciate life before returning to your existential crisis - Mindful eating: Pretend you’re a food critic who gets paid by the adjective, minus the pretentious vocabulary No lifestyle overhaul required. Just practical ways to avoid that mental breakdown you've been scheduling for next Tuesday. 💙 Read our new blog article here: https://lnkd.in/eyTnVaqW

Greetings from the Swiss Alps! 🏔️🇨🇭 The Sonia team is hard at work during our retreat in beautiful Switzerland. We’ve been putting in long hours to bring you an exciting major update coming very soon! While we can't reveal all the details just yet, we're incredibly eager about the new features that will make mental health support even more accessible and personalized 💙 As a little sneak peek: one of these features we're building is a structured program, with detailed session topics and engaging exercises tailored for each user 🤗 Stay tuned for more updates, and in the meantime enjoy these snapshots of our team in action :) #startupjourney #SoniaApp #mentalhealth #staytuned  

As the 2024 Paris Olympics kick off, many of us suddenly feel inspired to trade our Netflix marathons for actual marathons. Of course, this inspiration often fizzles out somewhere between the couch and the fridge. But what if we could channel that fleeting motivation into something more sustainable? Olympic athletes don't achieve greatness overnight. Their success is built on strategic goal-setting and unwavering mental resilience. In our latest article, "Achieve Like an Olympian: Goal Setting Strategies for Peak Performance," we explore how we can apply these same principles to our personal and professional lives. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/esCm-aDu #GoalSetting #PersonalDevelopment #OlympicMindset #ProfessionalGrowth 

14 Stress-Busting Techniques That'll Make You Question Your Sanity (And Maybe Find It) 🤷♀️ Does the phrase "just eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep" make you want to scream into a pillow? You're most definitely not alone. In our latest blog post, we take a stress-relieving journey through the wisdom of Reddit (because where else would you get life advice?), and uncover some truly life-changing techniques: 🎣 Fishing in Desolate Areas: Because nothing says 'relaxation' like sitting alone for hours, outsmarted by creatures with pea-sized brains. 🧩 The Stress Block Theory: Tetris, but make it therapy.  😮💨 The Physiological Sigh: Because sobbing at your desk isn't socially acceptable. 🌿 Touch Grass: No, not that kind. The real, outside stuff.  🌊 Scream into the Waves: Ocean therapy, now with 100% more yelling and catharsis.  🚶♂️ The Angry Walk: Take an aggressive walk to combine exercise with emotional release. It’s a two-for-one deal! 🍬 The Starburst Solution: Engage your senses with a strong flavor to redirect focus away from stressors. ...and 7 more techniques that may make your therapist raise an eyebrow. 👀 Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ekh_wZ8K Which technique is your favorite? 🤔