The research
Every design decision in Present is tied to a specific, real finding — not a guess about what might help. Here's the research behind it.
Clients who keep working on therapy between appointments see measurably better results than those who only engage during sessions.
This is the entire premise behind Present: give that between-session work somewhere real to happen.
Source · Mausbach et al., 2010
Support given in the actual moment of need outperforms relying on a person's memory of that moment a week later — by a wide margin (Hedges' g 0.73 vs. 0.45).
This is why Present is built for the moment something is loud, not a weekly check-in.
Source · Versluis et al., 2016
Putting a specific name to an emotion measurably reduces its intensity — the basis of affect labeling.
This is the mechanism behind Name the Feeling.
Source · Lieberman et al., 2007
Adults with ADHD show a moderate-to-large working-memory deficit compared to neurotypical adults — which is exactly the kind of load an external tool can help carry.
This is why Present exists to hold things externally rather than ask you to remember them.
Source · Alderson, Kasper, Hudec & Patros, 2013
Actively working through a repetitive thought reduces its grip more effectively than leaving it unaddressed.
This is why Present lets you actually finish a thought instead of looping it.
Source · Nolen-Hoeksema, Wisco & Lyubomirsky, 2008
This page will keep growing as we do. If you're a clinician and want the full citations or source list, reach out — john@trypresent.io.