Improving Waiting Times for Therapy in the Netherlands: A Reflective Diary Pilot Study

BACKGROUND: Individuals seeking therapy in the Netherlands can expect a minimum waiting time of 14 weeks. At the same time, nearly one in ten individuals aged between 18 and 75 enters psychological care each year. The waiting times are completely unsupported, leaving room for symptom worsening and resulting in more complicated therapeutic trajectories. AIM: This research aims to find a way to improve waiting times for therapy in the Netherlands through reflective journaling. METHOD: To assess the needs of clients waiting for therapy, a 14-day diary study was conducted. The participants used a platform called yourstories.cc to reflect on their day and receive AI-powered feedback on these reflections. When the dairy study was completed, participants filled in a qualitative questionnaire to provide feedback on the platform used and on reflection as a practice. This feedback was analysed to identify themes to improve the platform and the ways it incorporates reflection. RESULTS: Identified themes included feedback on guiding questions, emotions, ease of use, user interface and consistency. The participants were mostly satisfied with the way the platform incorporated feedback, but provided ample feedback on how the platform could be improved. CONCLUSION: The participants were satisfied with the contents of the platform. They highlighted that the user interface needs the most improvement, among other aspects as well. The study showed a positive attitude towards reflective journaling and the platform used for it. More research is needed to assess the applicability of reflective journaling in the pre-diagnostic phase of the therapeutic process.