Making OCD
therapy tools work for everyone

Problem

Pathway is an application designed for cognitive-behavioral therapists specializing in treating OCD and their clients. Traditionally, CBT therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder involves daily completion of paper forms: documenting the mood of the day, recording the execution of specific exercises, and rating the difficulty levels. These additional tasks can make therapy burdensome, leading many patients to abandon the process. Pathway aims to revolutionize CBT therapy for individuals dealing with OCD by making therapy management seamless for both therapists and their patients. As part of this project, we developed the branding, a web and mobile app for therapists, a mobile app for patients, and a comprehensive website.

Challenge

Our main challenge was to design a task completion process in a way that would be as simple as possible for the patient. OCD tasks are far from easy — patients must confront their fears and resistance each time. Our goal was to simplify this process as much as possible and create a flow that would support patients in completing their tasks. Another challenge was to design the task creation flow for therapists. Digital applications are still relatively new for many therapists, so the task creation process needed to be intuitive, straightforward, and easy to understand, even for users who are not tech-savvy.

‍

Research and Knowledge Gathering

The product development phase was the most demanding part of the entire project. We began by conducting thorough research on OCD and how CBT therapy helps manage its symptoms. This was supported by consultations with American specialists in OCD treatment, facilitated through direct contact with our client. Following this, we conducted User Story Mapping workshops to define our priorities and the scope of the MVP. Based on the results, we decided to start by developing the mobile application for patients.

‍

Therapist Control Hub

Another challenge was designing the task editor for therapists, the core users of Pathway who rely on the platform as a therapy tool. Therapists need the ability to easily create tasks, track patient progress, and monitor key aspects of their condition, such as obsessions, compulsions, and mood fluctuations. As we refined the product and gathered valuable feedback from users, we realized the importance of developing a mobile version of the app, enabling therapists to manage their patients' therapy seamlessly, anytime and anywhere.

Results and Achievements

Pathway is transforming OCD therapy with a seamless, well-designed platform for both therapists and patients. Through research, expert feedback, and a collaborative design process, we simplified the CBT experience while ensuring a cohesive and visually engaging interface. Now being tested by Sheppard Pratt, a leading U.S. clinic, Pathway is already showing promising results. Our ongoing goal is to refine the app, making therapy more effective and accessible, so therapists and patients can fully focus on healing.

‍