Optimising psychotherapy outcomes - AI-enhanced system for session note-taking and progress analysis

Abstract

In the domain of mental health care, the necessity for innovation is evident as professionals face challenges in session documentation and analysis, with traditional methods such as manual records in SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan) formats being comprehensive yet time-consuming. This limits the counsellors’ time for patient care and hinders efficient treatment planning. This project introduces ‘TherapEase’, an all-encompassing web application created to refine the current practices of mental health documentation. 'TherapEase' addresses this issue head-on by deploying advanced speech-to-text and text analysis technologies to condense therapy dialogues into actionable summaries and individualised treatment plans swiftly. This system prioritises efficiency and directly targets the pain points of both counsellors and patients in therapy management. In tandem, 'TherapEaseP,' a supplementary mobile application for patients is developed to empower patients to monitor their treatment journey and maintain the habits recommended by their counsellors. This feature underscores the commitment to patient-centric care and adherence to treatment. At present, there exists a strong partnership with the counsellors at TOUCH Community Services to continuously refine ‘TherapEase’ and ‘TherapEaseP’ through user feedback and address the real-world demands of mental health professionals. This three-student’s team project has been recognised as one of the Top 10 projects for the Final Year Project (FYP) Challenge under the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) and entered other notable competitions including the Microsoft Imagine Cup 2024 Competition.