Narrative Experience with Aligned

Negative Thought Problems

Busy professionals who feel stuck and disconnected from their goals. They need a personalized, time-efficient way to document and reframe negative thoughts because traditional therapy is expensive and inaccessible, leaving them without consistent mental wellness support.

Aligned Solution

Our Aligned app will let users document and reframe negative thoughts, which will affect users seeking emotional alignment and personal growth by helping them form positive thought habits. We will measure effectiveness by tracking user engagement, streak completion, and progress toward thought-reframing milestones.

User Personas

“I just want something easy to use that can help me stop feeling this stuck and overwhelmed.”

Goals

• Reduce stress and depression while focusing at work

• Improve mental health with a simple, affordable daily routine

Frustrations

• Therapy is too expensive ($80) and inaccessible during work hours

• Emotional spiraling in the mornings and nights, affecting mental clarity

Alex struggles with negative thought patterns, especially in the early mornings before work and late at night. He is searching for a self-guided tool to help manage his emotions and align with his goals but finds traditional therapy unaffordable and inconvenient.

Age: 29

Education: BA in Business Admin

Hometown: Dallas, TX

Family: Married with 1 child

Occupation: Leasing Manager

Alex J

“I know my mindset is holding me back, but I need something that fits into my packed schedule.”

Goals

• Develop a consistent habit of reframing negative thoughts

• Find an effective tool to manage stress and prevent burnout in her demanding career

Frustrations

• Frequently feels overwhelmed by work deadlines and high expectations

• Mindfulness practices online too generic or time-consuming

Taylor spends long hours working with clients and often ends her days feeling drained and unmotivated. She is seeking a tool that balances structure and flexibility to improve her mental state without adding to her workload.

Age: 32

Education: MB in Public Relations

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Family: Single with dog

Occupation: PR Consultant

Alex T

Initial Prototype: Usability Testing Findings

Testing with real users to identify improvements to stress relieving processes.

Simplify Narrative Therapy

Participants struggled to fully understand how to apply the concept of narrative therapy in the app

Personalization

Participants sought more personalization.

Logging

Participants desired to look back on previous entries.