When should I use Akesa?​

​You can and should use Akesa anytime you need it. Akesa is unlike other mental health apps or chemicals you need to use regularly. Our brain, and our heart, don't work on a schedule. Life happens, and we get upset at all times of the day and night, often when there's nobody to call, or we have very little time to process pains. Akesa's sessions are designed to be short so that you can use the app anytime and anywhere.

 

What if I don’t like meditating and don’t have experience with therapy?​

Akesa is not a meditation app. Akesa is a self-guided process that doesn't involve any therapist. Akesa is a neuroscience-based process that helps you tap into your brain’s self-healing power and rewire your thoughts by observing your mind do the work.

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What if I’m feeling ok now, but I sense there's more I might need to process?​

If you feel some sadness, fears, and pains buried deep within you, you're not as joyful and productive as you could be. Akesa can help you surface the buried, unprocessed pains, process them, and let them go once and for all.

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I've tried everything and don't think this will work.​

There was also skepticism about EMDR and binaural beats. But now, scientific studies show their efficacy. With just a few Akesa sessions, you will experience the benefits of Akesa. We can't guarantee this will work for you. But we can tell you Akesa has helped countless people, many of whom were also initially skeptical.

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I am worried that when I start digging into buried memories, the pain will overwhelm me.​

It is possible that when you begin using Akesa regularly, some buried painful memories surface. This is normal and part of the process. It is also normal if you feel the pain increase during the session as you uncover unhealed pains. We recommend choosing events around 3 or 4 on the 0 to 10 stress scale when you start using Akesa so that you get used to the process. I believe facing painful events with compassion is better than running away from them. If you feel overwhelmed during a processing session, you can access a powerful breathing exercise that reduces stress and access your sanctuary. Also, remember that the lateral eye movement when you follow the Akesa moving dot decreases the activation of the amygdala fear center and reduces emotional pain.

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I don't think I can do this alone; is there a therapist I can call?​

We believe people are much stronger than they think, and Akesa’s approach is about empowering people to tap into their brain’s self-healing power. So Akesa doesn’t have therapists on call. If you need to talk to someone or need medical help, please seek therapy. You can still use Akesa to complement therapy or in addition to therapy.

 

I love Akesa, but I feel drained these days and don't have the energy to deal with past traumas.​

That's completely understandable, especially considering the past few years with the pandemic. You can use the Akesa Sanctuary session as often as you like to recharge your emotional batteries. When you feel the time is right, you can move on to the processing sessions.

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How do I know if I’m thinking about the proper thought during the processing sessions?​

We believe that whatever your mind brings up is what it wants you to look at. Sometimes, during the Akesa sessions, it seems that the mind takes a detour, like in a good novel, but it always falls back on its feet. We believe the mind has innate self-healing power. When we dream and process the events of the day, our mind doesn't wake us up in the middle of the night to ask us what we should dream about. It just knows. So trust the thoughts your mind brings up.

 

What are binaural beats? ​

Neurons are sensitive to the frequency of sounds we listen to. A binaural beat happens when we listen to sounds at different frequencies in the left and right ears. The brain’s electrical activity synchronizes its neuronal activity to the difference of frequencies in what is called Frequency Following Response (FFR). For example, when someone listens to a sound in the left ear at a 140 Hz frequency and in the right ear at a 146 Hz frequency, the brain computes the difference of 6 Hz and gets entrained (that’s the technical term) on a 6 Hz brainwave.

For more information and scientific references, see here.

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What is EMDR?​

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment discovered in 1987 by Dr. Francine Shapiro, initially developed for trauma treatment. During EMDR sessions, the therapist guides the client to process distressing experiences while engaging in sets of bilateral stimulations such as lateral eye movement. For more information and references, see here. 

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Why do I need to use earbuds or headphones?​

To rip the benefits of binaural beats, one needs to listen to them on both the left and the right ears so that the brain can compute the frequency difference between the left and right ears, hence the need for earbuds or headphones. 

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Can you read my diary?​

No. We’ve designed the app such that we do not have access to any text you write in your diary. This diary is there for you only. We hope this privacy will encourage you to write any thoughts you’d like to capture or unpack. 

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Do you sell my data?​

No. We do not sell your data. 

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Can I close my eyes instead of following the moving light?​

To fully benefit from the therapy, we recommend following the moving light, provided this doesn't create any discomfort. 

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Can I use bone conduction headphones?​​

Short answer: yes!

Bone conduction headphones work by transmitting sound vibrations through the bones of the skull directly to the inner ear, bypassing the eardrum. This technology allows you to hear sound while being aware of your surroundings. While traditional headphones deliver sound directly into the ear canal, bone conduction headphones send vibrations through the bones, which then stimulate the inner ear and are perceived as sound.

Since binaural beats are based on the difference between frequencies played in each ear, bone conduction headphones can transmit these frequencies effectively, as they still stimulate the inner ear and auditory pathways.