FAQ
Questions and honest answers about PsychPal
We only publish answers we can verify. If something is unclear, we say so.
What is PsychPal?
PsychPal is a Canadian self-help mental-wellness app for iOS and Android. It lets you talk by text or voice with an AI companion, journal privately, track your mood, use grounding and breathing tools, and keep trusted people close through Support Circle. It is designed for everyday self-reflection and support between appointments.
Is PsychPal a self-help mental-wellness app?
Yes. PsychPal is a self-help wellness and self-reflection tool. It draws on CBT- and DBT-informed approaches to help you reflect, regulate and move forward. It is not therapy, does not diagnose conditions and is not a medical service.
Is PsychPal therapy?
No. PsychPal is not therapy and does not provide clinical treatment. It is a self-help tool designed to support reflection between appointments — not to replace a licensed mental-health professional.
Can PsychPal diagnose a mental-health condition?
No. PsychPal cannot diagnose anxiety, depression, PTSD, grief, burnout or any other condition. It does not assess the severity of symptoms or create a treatment plan. If you are concerned about your mental health, please speak with a qualified professional.
Is PsychPal available on iPhone and Android?
Yes. PsychPal is available on Apple's App Store and Google Play. Download it free and start a 7-day trial with full access — no credit card required.
Is PsychPal built in Canada?
Yes. PsychPal is built by a Canadian team. Primary account and wellness records are stored in Canada (Montreal, Quebec). Some processing occurs outside Canada through named service providers such as OpenAI and Stripe. Full details are in the Privacy Policy.
Can I talk by voice instead of typing?
Yes. PsychPal supports voice input. You speak, the app transcribes your words using OpenAI Whisper, and the AI responds. Voice recordings are discarded after transcription — only the text is retained.
Does PsychPal remember previous conversations?
Yes. PsychPal can retain context from earlier sessions so you can continue a reflection without re-explaining your situation. You control what is saved and can delete it at any time from within the app.
Can I journal and track my mood?
Yes. PsychPal includes a private encrypted journal (text or voice), daily mood check-ins, wins tracking and pattern reflection over time. These tools are for self-awareness — not medical assessment.
What is Support Circle?
Support Circle is a private section of PsychPal where you can store supportive photos and voice messages from people you trust. It gives you access to familiar encouragement when you need it, without having to reach out in real time.
What is the difference between Support Circle and Safe Contacts?
Support Circle stores comforting content from trusted people — it is private to you and those people are not notified or contacted by PsychPal. Safe Contacts are separately configured contacts connected to the safety workflow. In a Mass-tier safety event, Safe Contacts may receive an SMS after a 90-second opt-out window.
Does PsychPal offer grounding and breathing exercises?
Yes. PsychPal includes guided breathing exercises, grounding techniques and cognitive reframing prompts to help you settle an anxious moment or shift perspective.
Can I use PsychPal between therapy sessions?
Yes. PsychPal is well suited for capturing thoughts, organizing questions and preparing notes between therapy appointments. It supports your work with a professional — it does not replace it.
Can PsychPal help me find a therapist?
PsychPal includes a therapist-finding capability. Please verify the current state of this feature in the app, as availability may change.
Is PsychPal intended for veterans and first responders?
PsychPal is available to anyone who wants a private place to reflect. It may be useful for veterans, first responders and frontline workers who want a low-barrier option between human supports. It is not a PTSD treatment, trauma therapy or crisis intervention service.
What happens if I mention suicide or immediate danger?
PsychPal uses automated language detection to surface 988 and available Safe Contact options when a conversation may indicate serious risk. Automated detection is not guaranteed to identify every situation. PsychPal is not a crisis or emergency service. If you may be in immediate danger, call emergency services or contact 988.
Is PsychPal a crisis service?
No. PsychPal is not a crisis service, emergency service or substitute for professional mental-health care. If you may be in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency services, or contact 988 in Canada or the United States.
Where is my information stored?
Primary account and wellness records are stored in Canada (Montreal, Quebec) on MongoDB Atlas servers, encrypted at rest with AES-256. Some processing occurs outside Canada through named service providers. Full details are in the Privacy Policy.
Do outside AI providers process my conversations?
Yes. Conversations are processed by OpenAI under a Data Processing Agreement that prohibits using your content to train general AI models. Voice is transcribed by OpenAI Whisper; recordings are discarded after transcription.
Does PsychPal sell my information?
No. PsychPal never sells your personal information. It does not use the contents of your conversations or journals for advertising.
Can I delete my account and information?
Yes. You can delete your account and all associated data from within the app at any time. Account data is retained for seven years after closure to meet Canadian healthcare records norms, then permanently deleted. To request earlier deletion, contact [email protected].
Does PsychPal offer a free trial?
Yes. PsychPal offers a 7-day free trial with full access. No credit card is required to start.
What does PsychPal cost?
PsychPal offers monthly and annual subscription plans. Visit the Pricing page for current rates.
How do I contact PsychPal?
For general support: [email protected]. For privacy requests: [email protected]. Mailing address: 313 3rd Street, Box 291, Somerset, MB R0G 2L0, Canada. The contact form is not monitored as a crisis service.