Expert Evaluation
Program Quality
3.5 out of 5
Privacy Explanation
Almost Transparent
Pros
Suitable for users of all ages and experience levels/ good selection of exercises/ sleep stories.
Cons
Monthly fee may be considered high.
Summary
Calm is suitable for users of all age groups and experience levels who are interested in practicing mindfulness meditation. For those who are not familiar with meditation, Calm offers a 7-day “learn the basics of mindfulness meditation” program, which consists of clear and easy-to-learn guided meditations. More experienced users can choose from one of the structured meditation programs (e.g., “7 days of managing stress”), the daily session, or the unguided meditations. The program is easy to use and offers a good selection of exercises to choose from. The narration is pleasant, and the graphics and background sounds are soothing. The sleep stories are an interesting addition, with a calming effect reminiscent of bedtime stories for children.
Notes for Clinicians
Calm is a good app for both beginners and experienced meditators. It could be added as a supplement to treatment in cases where relaxation techniques and meditation practices would benefit the patient but are not covered in person for various reasons (e.g., lack of time, lack of clinician training, or focus on other issues). The program’s price (at the time of evaluation) may be considered high for some patients, in which case we advise clinicians to suggest other meditation apps.
Evaluation date:
Wednesday, November 23, 2016