Arnon Rolnick

The Resonator, a personalized  internet-based system designed to support and augment psychotherapy.

Dror Gronich and Arnon Rolnick

A lecture in the World conference on Behavioral and cognitive therapy, Berlin 2019

Scientific/technical Background

Recent years have witnessed a proliferation of CBT applications. A study by the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics 2015 found that the number of health and wellness apps available to consumers is over over 90,000. However, adoption of such mental health interventions for common psychological interventions remains low. . We present a personalized system that encapsulates a therapeutic insight that is perceived meaningful, central and important

We will demonstrate the Resonator ©, a large and scalable internet-based information system, capable of serving the psychotherapy community with a variety of applications.

Key features

1. Resonator©: a personalized recurring reminder co-created by therapist and patient and encapsulating emotionally provoking therapeutic insights that are perceived meaningful, central and important.

2. Links to CBT homework, videos, audio files and other relevant resources.

3. Meaningful images can be attached

4. Built in question-building tools used to intrigue the patient to follow the therapeutic content

5. Question-building tools allowing the patient to report their condition in real-time for therapist and/or clinic manager to follow.

6. Therapist follow-up tools to observe and analyze the patient’s periodical responses.

7. A patient no-subscription policy. Reminders are being sent by email so patients can operate the reminder actions directly from their smartphones and are not required to install anything or subscribe to any service.

8. Awareness conqueror: The Resonator follows patients in their daily life allowing them to maintain that meaningful and personal content in their consciousness.

Implications for everyday clinical practice of CBT

1. Enables continuity and  momentum in the therapeutic process by letting the therapeutic content resonate between meetings. Therapy is more effective like that.

2. Dramatically lowers drop-out rate – as commitment level and sense of ownership increases, plus level of bonding into therapy is measured right from the start.

3. Better and faster comprehension for patient real status

4. Effectiveness focus: Identifying effectiveness of selected therapeutic approach – faster than in traditional ways

5. A written therapeutic contract: a common language defining what the issue in therapy is including ways to measure both severity and improvement

6. The Resonator includes tools to model any therapeutic protocol. Not limited to any specific one.

7. Drastic increase in CBT assignments adherence

8. Increased sync between patient and therapist.

Dr. Arnon Rolnick, is a clinical psychologist, with a special interest in the integration of technology and psychology. He gained his PhD in psychology from Tel Aviv University and did his post-doctoral years at Brandeis university, USA. Dr Rolnick is a recipient of the Rothschild and the Lewis fellowships.

As a  head of a clinic with a dozen of therapists, and as a certified CBT trainer, he is supervising many therapists which integrate technological solutions.

Dr. Rolnick wrote numerous academic articles.  In his forthcoming book from the “couch to the screen” (Routledge Publication), he examines the role of technology in psychotherapy.

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Dror Gronich M.A./B.Sc.- Senior Biofeedback and Neurofeedback practitioner and a psychophysiology expert, a member of the IAPB management and an information-system high tech professional with experience ranging from development to senior positions in sales and marketing