Our mission, values, and the people behind Paula.
Too many people struggle with anxiety and overwhelming thoughts without access to timely support. Therapy waitlists stretch weeks or months. Cost is a barrier for millions. And when anxiety hits at 3am, there is no one to call.
Paula exists to bridge that gap. We built an AI companion that uses real, evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) techniques — the same frameworks used by licensed clinicians — to help people manage anxiety, overthinking, and emotional challenges on their own schedule.
Paula is not a replacement for professional care. She is a tool that makes proven mental wellness techniques accessible to everyone, everywhere, anytime.
Every technique Paula uses is grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) — approaches with decades of clinical research supporting their effectiveness for anxiety, depression, and emotional regulation.
Conversations are encrypted at rest with AES-256-GCM. We never sell data to advertisers, never use conversations to train AI models, and give users full control to export or delete their data at any time.
Mental health support should not depend on income, insurance, or geography. Paula offers a meaningful free tier so anyone can access evidence-based techniques 24/7, no waitlist required.
Paula is designed to work alongside professional care — helping users practice techniques between therapy sessions, track mood patterns, and process thoughts. We are clear that Paula is not a substitute for licensed clinical care.
Paula's conversational approach draws from established clinical frameworks:
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Paula concept developed — combining CBT/DBT techniques with conversational AI
Public launch on web and iOS App Store
750+ evidence-based mental health articles published