Textual Healing is an app designed to help address the challenges of of cultivating meaningful, authentic, and compassionate exchanges in an age where technology-based modes of communication dominate interpersonal interactions. It tests the innovative possibility that a technology-based mindfulness intervention could help to cultivate the very qualities and character virtues that technology tends to inhibit -- including awareness, compassion, empathy, responsibility, and accountability. Using practices informed by contemplative wisdom traditions, this intervention offers people an opportunity to pause, reflect and engage their deeper intentions before communicating.

In a small sample of 27 adult women, use of the app was associated with increased mindfulness, enhanced emotion regulation, and fewer risky texting behaviors (e.g. drunk texting, texting while driving) from pre- to post-intervention (see Trub & Starks, 2017). 

With the generous support of the Center for HIV Studies and Education, we have updated the app to include a mindful keyboard that allows users to access mindfulness and emotional intelligence when using the phone. We recruited sexually active women ages 18-29 in a study that involved use of the updated app. 

Recruitment for this study has concluded, but check back soon for updates on our findings!