FAQ
Common questions about access, privacy, and how to practise well.
Is CBT Trainer free?
Students at partner universities get unlimited free access by signing up with their institutional email address. Other access tiers are shown in the app.
Do I need a real client?
No. Every character is an AI simulation. Never enter real client information into the app.
Are my sessions private?
It depends on how you came to the app. If you use a licence provided by your institution, they can see aggregate statistics on your usage, and they may optionally choose to review your roleplay transcripts and AI feedback for supervision and teaching. If you bought the app yourself, your roleplay activity stays private to you.
Either way, session transcripts are stored against your account. See the privacy policy for how data is handled.
Does the app store my session data?
Only what it needs to work: roleplay transcripts and basic account information, held securely on Google Cloud's UK servers. Transcripts carry no identifying details — they are linked only to an anonymous user ID. Voice is never recorded; it is transcribed to text as you speak, and the audio is never saved. Analytics are collected solely to improve the app and prevent misuse. Full details are in the privacy policy.
Does the AI feedback count towards my course?
No. Ratings in CBT Trainer are for your own reflection and are not part of any formal assessment. See Competences and ratings for how ratings work.
What is the difference between Patient Roleplay and Skill Exercise?
Patient Roleplay lets you run a full session with any patient character, from initial assessment through to treatment, and you can customise treatment-interfering behaviours. Competence and adherence scales for feedback are available only in this mode. You will find it in the Patient tab.
Skill Exercise offers structured, short sessions — up to ten turns each — with the scenario set up for you, so you can target a particular skill. You can pick from preset scenarios across CBT, DBT, ACT and MBT. It lives in the Skills tab. If you have a training need we do not yet cover, tell us and we will be in touch.
How often should I practise?
It depends on your goal. If you want a formal, scale-based assessment of your competence, go for a full-length session. Otherwise, we recommend short, frequent sessions — they leave room to reflect, practise deliberately, and hone particular skills strategically. Our ongoing research suggests measurable improvement in trainee competence after as little as two hours of engagement with the app.
Can I use it offline?
No — roleplay and feedback both need an internet connection.
Can I use it on my iPad or computer?
iPad, yes. On a computer, yes if it is a Mac with Apple silicon; other computer platforms are not supported.
Can I stop the patient interrupting me on a voice call?
Yes. In voice mode there is a silence detector (labelled Auto) that ends your turn for you — turn it off to end each turn manually with the complete button instead, so the patient waits until you choose to send.
Who built CBT Trainer?
The app was developed with UCL's Centre for Outcomes Research and Effectiveness (CORE), the team behind the UCL competence frameworks. The people behind it include clinical psychologists who designed the patient profiles and competence-based feedback, machine-learning specialists who built the assessment algorithms, and CBT training researchers who wrote the skill-building exercises. You can read our peer-reviewed pilot study in JMIR Medical Education.
How do I contact the team?
Message us from Settings → Contact Us inside the app, or email contact@soymh.com. We usually reply within five working days. See Getting help for more, including how to request new content or a licence.