Methods, systems, apparatus and software for use in acceptance and commitment therapy

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure comprise methods, apparatus, systems and software for use in implementing acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). The methods include notifying or reminding users to track completion of exercises, and to track and/or monitor awareness of urges and the number of times the user allows urges to pass. Also, physical sensors can be employed to help monitor the user's detrimental behaviors and to send notifications or reminders to the user to perform exercises or track urges.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for assisting in smoking cessation by a user, comprising:
 displaying, by a smart device, a first indicia and a second indicia, the first indicia for receiving an input in response to the user tapping the first indicia that indicates that the user has tracked the user acting on a urge to smoke by smoking, and the second indicia for receiving an input in response to the user actuating the second indicia that indicates that the user has tracked refraining from smoking by allowing the urge to smoke to pass without smoking;   recording automatically, by the smart device, location of the user each time the first indicia or the second indicia is tapped or actuated to record locations where the user smoked or refrained from smoking by allowing the urge to smoke to pass without smoking; and   displaying, by the smart device, a number of times the user has refrained from smoking by allowing the urge to smoke to pass without smoking.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the first indicia and the second indicia includes displaying a third indicia for receiving an input in response to the user tapping the third indicia that indicates that the user has tracked an acceptance of an urge to smoke regardless of whether the user acts on the urge by smoking. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , further comprising displaying, by the smart device, one or more auto-triggered reminders, reminding the user to track a number of exercises the user has completed related to acceptance of urges when a threshold period of time has passed since the user last practiced one of the exercises. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying, by the smart device, one or more automated notifications to remind the user to select either the first indicia or second indicia, each automated notification to be displayed when a threshold period of time has passed since user's last selection of either the first indicia or the second indicia. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein tapping the first indicia or the second indicia increases or decreases a displayed numerical value associated with the first indicia or the second indicia by incrementing adding or decreasing to the associated numerical value each time the first indicia or the second indicia is tapped. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 recording audibly, by the smart device, one or more voices of one or more persons near the smart device when the smart device detects that the user is in a location in which the user has engaged in smoking previously.   
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 storing, by the smart device, the recording of the one or more voices for matching if the one or more voices are detected again.   
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the first indicia for tapping multiple times, each tap after the initial tap of the first indicia to indicate that the user has tracked the user additionally acting on a urge to smoke by smoking, and wherein the second indicia for actuating multiple times, each actuation after the initial actuation of the second indicia to indicate that the user has tracked an additional refraining from smoking from an additional urge by allowing the additional urge to pass and not smoking. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the first indicia and the second indicia includes displaying a third indicia or a fourth indicia, the third indicia for receiving an input in response to the user tapping the third indicia that indicates that the user has tracked the user practicing a tip exercise, and the fourth indicia for receiving an input in response to the user tapping the fourth indicia that indicates that he user has tracked the user using a quit assistance medication. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying, by the smart device, progress information in relation to the smoking cessation, including displaying a number of times the user has tracked acceptance of the urge, regardless of whether the user acted on the urge.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , further comprising displaying by the smart device a calendar showing a number of acceptance of urges the user has tracked in association with corresponding dates on which the acceptance of urges were tracked. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying by the smart device a locations screen mode showing on a map, locations where the user has smoked. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying by the smart device a locations screen mode showing on a map locations where the user has allowed an urge to smoke pass without smoking. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying by the smart device a locations screen mode showing on a map locations where the user has practiced one or more tip exercises or locations where the user has used one or more quit assistance medications. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying by the smart device a locations screen mode that includes a map and at least one of a first selectable indicia for showing locations on the map where the user has smoked, a second selectable indicia for showing locations on the map where the user has allowed an urge to smoke pass without smoking, a third selectable indicia for showing locations on the map where the user has practiced one or more tip exercises, or a fourth selectable indicia for showing locations on the map where the user has used one or more quit assistance medications. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising automatically providing a notification to practice an exercise when the smart device is detected as being near a location in which the user has smoked. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the location of the user is obtained from a global positioning system (GPS) associated with the smart device. 
     
     
         18 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media including instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes a smart device to perform the steps of:
 display a first indicia and a second indicia, the first indicia for receiving an input in response to a user tapping the first indicia that indicates that the user has tracked the user acting on a urge to smoke by smoking, and the second indicia for receiving an input in response to the user actuating the second indicia that indicates that the user has tracked refraining from smoking by allowing the urge to smoke to pass without smoking;   record automatically location of the user each time the first indicia or the second indicia is tapped or actuated to record locations where the user smoked or refrained from smoking by allowing the urge to smoke to pass without smoking; and   display a number of times the user has refrained from smoking by allowing the urge to smoke to pass without smoking.   
     
     
         19 . A computer device, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory containing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to:   display a first indicia and a second indicia, the first indicia for receiving an input in response to a user tapping the first indicia that indicates that the user has tracked the user acting on a urge to smoke by smoking, and the second indicia for receiving an input in response to the user actuating the second indicia that indicates that the user has tracked refraining from smoking by allowing the urge to smoke to pass without smoking;   record automatically location of the user each time the first indicia or the second indicia is tapped or actuated to record locations where the user smoked or refrained from smoking by allowing the urge to smoke to pass without smoking; and   display a number of times the user has refrained from smoking by allowing the urge to smoke to pass without smoking.