Buzz
It's January 2025. The protagonist of this journey is submerged in doubt. The holiday season's emotional recovery is barely behind her, the massive goals for the new year are weighing heavily, and a cloud of self-doubt and societal negativity clouds her vision of what’s to come. Enter the Oracle of Instagram Ads, suggesting an app that promises a 'shamanic journey' for mental well-being.
And so, I found myself downloading Betwixt, slipping on my headphones, and immersing myself in a frozen expanse where an ethereal voice guided me to reshape my internal world.
What exactly is Betwixt?
Betwixt, described by its creators as 'an epic journey of self-discovery,' is a text-driven, choose-your-own-adventure game that caters to various interests: gameplay, narrative, mindfulness, mental health education, immersive audio, and aesthetics.
To get the full experience, it's best to wear headphones and find a quiet space where you won't be interrupted for 15-20 minutes. Each story segment transports you into 'the in-between,' a liminal space that exists within your mind and beyond the real world. As atmospheric sounds play, the story scrolls across your screen, with regular prompts to make choices or respond to questions from the guiding voice.
With a blend of storytelling and self-reflection, you're guided through key milestones while prompted to reflect on your strengths, challenges, and coping mechanisms. The first three dream sessions are free, after which you're asked to pay a one-time fee to access all 11 chapters. At the time of my sign-up, membership options ranged from $20 to $200.
If the fee is a barrier, there's an option to continue using the app with a free, sponsored slot. According to Betwixt co-founder Ellie Dee, 15,000 users were able to use Betwixt for free last year.
Each dream session offers some or all of the following features:
The interactive dream/narrative
A relevant article tied to the story's theme
An accompanying audio track
Activities from the session you can replay
A journal prompt to reflect on
A guided meditation
A quote you can save or share
I opted for the membership tier ($59) that gave me the ability to revisit any of the dream sessions and access the Infinite Dream, an additional self-paced experience.
How the game benefitted me
The app's narrative-driven approach helped me develop mental health skills that have been difficult to grasp through therapy or other psycho-educational methods.
For instance, the technique of psychological distancing—viewing my issues from a perspective beyond my own chaotic thoughts—finally made sense because Betwixt guided me step-by-step in detaching from my body, observing my problem from an outside viewpoint, considering an external interpretation, and redirecting my focus toward the future.
Dee mentioned that learning through story is one of the major advantages of an app like Betwixt. 'Rationally, you can understand the maladaptive thinking patterns behind negative emotions and behaviors, but understanding the problem doesn’t necessarily solve it,' she explained. 'People learn best experientially, through play.'
Each dream session offers one or more mental health tools, such as psychological distancing. After each session, you can dive deeper into the topic and reflect on it through journaling.
How Betwixt and similar apps integrate into mental health care
You could easily fill your phone with apps that support meditation, self-care, mood tracking, journaling, breath work, self-discovery, goal setting, and therapy. I personally use apps like these alongside traditional therapy. However, Betwixt stood out to me as something different that ignited excitement about the potential directions my own story could take.
Psychologist Dr. Alexandra Stratyner mentioned that apps like Betwixt can complement traditional mental health care by helping users make progress toward their goals between therapy sessions.
'They provide an engaging, interactive alternative to traditional methods like journaling or guided meditation, which may not resonate with everyone,' Stratyner explained. 'The immersive gameplay lets users explore their emotions in a creative, non-threatening way, which can make self-reflection feel less daunting. Some apps like these also offer immediate support, which can be crucial during moments of heightened stress or anxiety.'
Who is Betwixt intended for?
If you enjoy gaming or immersive storytelling, struggle with traditional mindfulness or meditation practices, or are seeking a unique mental wellness tool, Betwixt might be right for you.
Betwixt could also be beneficial for individuals dealing with anxiety, Stratyner noted.
'Interactive, narrative-driven tools can be especially helpful for addressing mental health concerns that benefit from self-reflection, emotional exploration, and stress reduction,' she said. 'For example, anxiety can be reduced through the immersive, controlled environment these tools create, giving users a safe virtual space to face their fears and uncertainties. These narrative-driven games aimed at mental health objectives may also provide therapeutic support, allowing users to process difficult experiences at their own pace.'
However, Betwixt and similar apps are not a replacement for therapy or psychiatric care. Stratyner pointed out that mental health apps fall short in personalizing interventions based on your history and needs, managing complex or severe mental health challenges like suicidal thoughts and trauma-related distress, and providing long-term monitoring of mental health care.
'It’s important to remember that this approach has its limitations when compared to traditional therapy,' Stratyner explained. 'Traditional therapy offers immediate feedback and tailored strategies that are difficult to replicate in a game. While gamified tools are helpful for building skills and maintaining daily routines, they lack the flexibility and emotional support a therapist offers when working through challenging emotions or uncovering deeper issues. Therapy with a living person also brings unique relational benefits, which are well-supported by research—something apps simply cannot replicate.'
