A gentle companion when life falls apart 💙

Small Wins for Healing is an AI-powered app that helps people rebuild after trauma, loss, or depression through gentle, structured goals and emotional support. When traditional productivity apps fail to meet your emotional needs, we offer a different path—one guided by compassion and understanding.

Why Small Wins Exists

When life collapses—whether through trauma, loss, or depression—traditional productivity apps feel tone-deaf and overwhelming. They're built for people who already have their foundation intact.

Small Wins was born from a personal experience with profound loss. After my world fell apart, I discovered that healing doesn't happen through grand gestures or ambitious goals. It happens through tiny, consistent steps that gradually rebuild your sense of capability and hope.

"The app I needed didn't exist—so I built it. Not just for me, but for everyone who needs a gentler way to piece their life back together."

This isn't about optimization or efficiency. It's about survival, growth, and rediscovering your strength one small win at a time.

What You Get with Small Wins

More than just another app—a complete support system designed specifically for the reality of healing from trauma, loss, and depression.

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Daily Emotional Support

• Gentle daily check-ins that honor your reality
• AI companion trained in trauma-informed care
• Emotional validation without toxic positivity
• Support for overwhelm, grief, and difficult emotions

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Smart Goal Breaking

• AI breaks overwhelming tasks into manageable steps
• Adapts to your energy levels and capacity
• No pressure to maintain streaks or be consistent
• Celebrates progress, no matter how small

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Crisis Safety Net

• Automatic detection of crisis language
• Immediate connection to professional resources
• Emergency contact system for support people
• Always available, never judgment

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Complete Privacy

• End-to-end encryption for vulnerable conversations
• Local processing keeps sensitive data on your device
• Zero-knowledge architecture protects your thoughts
• Never sold, shared, or used for profit

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Healing Community

• Connect with others who truly understand
• Safe spaces for sharing struggles and victories
• Peer support without pressure or competition
• Moderated by trauma-informed community guides

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Therapy Support

• Helps organize thoughts between therapy sessions
• Tracks patterns to discuss with your therapist
• Bridges the gap when professional support isn't available
• Complements, never replaces, professional care

Built for Your Hardest Days

Small Wins isn't just another wellness app. It's a lifeline designed specifically for moments when everything feels broken, when hope feels impossible, and when you need gentle support to take the next small step forward.

How Small Wins Works

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AI-Assisted Goal Creation

Our AI understands your emotional state and helps break overwhelming tasks into manageable, healing-focused steps that honor where you are right now. No pressure to be "productive"—just gentle progress.

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Emotional Check-ins

Regular, gentle prompts help you process feelings and track your emotional journey alongside your practical progress—because healing isn't just about doing, it's about feeling and being too.

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Compassionate Encouragement

Every interaction is designed with trauma-informed care. No shame, no pressure, no toxic positivity—just gentle guidance that meets you exactly where you are and celebrates your courage to keep going.

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Reflective Journaling

Process your thoughts and experiences through guided prompts that help you understand your patterns and celebrate your progress.

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Habit Stacking

Build sustainable routines by connecting new healing practices to existing habits, making growth feel natural rather than forced.

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Always in Your Pocket

A mobile-first design means your gentle companion is always there when you need support, encouragement, or just a reminder that you're not alone.

Experience a Small Win Right Now

Don't just read about Small Wins—experience one. Choose a situation that feels overwhelming right now, and we'll help you break it down into something manageable. This is exactly what our AI will do, but tailored to your specific healing journey.

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Overwhelming: "My house is a disaster"

↓ becomes ↓

Small Win: "Clear just my nightstand"

One small surface that you'll see every night—instant calm instead of overwhelm.

�

Overwhelming: "I'm behind on everything at work"

↓ becomes ↓

Small Win: "Read one email, no need to respond"

Just reading breaks the freeze. Responding can wait—you've already won.

💙

Overwhelming: "I've neglected myself for weeks"

↓ becomes ↓

Small Win: "Drink one glass of water mindfully"

Your body has carried you through hard times. This is saying "thank you."

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Overwhelming: "I've been isolating for too long"

↓ becomes ↓

Small Win: "Send one emoji to someone"

No explanations needed. Just a tiny bridge back to connection.

✨

Feel that shift?

Notice how each "small win" version feels more doable? That mental shift from "I can't" to "I could do that" is the neurological foundation of healing. Your brain literally rewires itself through tiny victories.

Small Wins for Healing will create these personalized micro-goals for you every day, adapting to your emotional state and building momentum without pressure.

Get Personalized Small Wins Every Day

How Small Wins Works With You

No complicated setup or overwhelming features. Small Wins meets you wherever you are and grows with you as you heal.

Start Where You Are

Small Wins begins with a gentle conversation about how you're feeling and what feels manageable today. No pressure to have it all figured out—just honesty about your current reality.

Get Gentle Suggestions

Our trauma-informed AI suggests small, achievable steps based on your emotional state and capacity. These aren't generic tasks—they're personalized to what you're dealing with right now.

Celebrate & Reflect

Whether you completed the step or not, Small Wins helps you reflect on what happened and celebrates any effort you made. Progress isn't linear, and that's perfectly okay.

What a Conversation Might Look Like

Small Wins:
Hey, how are you feeling today? No pressure to be positive—just checking in.

Honestly, pretty overwhelmed. My apartment is a mess and I have so much to do but I can't seem to start anything.

Small Wins:
That feeling of being stuck when everything feels like too much is so real. What if we started with just one small corner? Maybe clearing off your bedside table or just making your bed?

I think I could make my bed. That feels doable.

Small Wins:
Perfect. That's your small win for today. Making your bed is caring for yourself and your space. I'll check in later to see how it went—no pressure, just support. 💙

Every conversation is designed to feel supportive, never judgmental

Progress Without Pressure

Traditional goal apps can feel like having a demanding boss in your pocket. Small Wins for Healing works differently—it's designed for real people having real struggles, not productivity robots.

❌ What We DON'T Do

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No streak shaming: Miss a day? No guilt trips, no broken chains, no starting over.

•

No toxic positivity: We won't tell you to "just think positive" when you're struggling.

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No productivity guilt: Bad days aren't failures—they're part of being human.

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No one-size-fits-all: Your healing journey isn't identical to anyone else's.

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No dismissing your pain: We never minimize what you're going through.

✅ What We DO

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Celebrate micro-progress: Drinking water, taking a shower, sending one text—all wins.

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Adjust to your capacity: Bad day? We suggest gentler goals, not harder ones.

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Honor your pace: Healing isn't linear, and neither is our app.

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Validate your experience: Your feelings are real, valid, and understood.

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Focus on being, not just doing: Sometimes the win is just making it through the day.

How This Looks in Real Life

😔

When You're Having a Terrible Day

Traditional app might say:

"You missed your goals! Try harder tomorrow!"

Small Wins says:

"Today is hard. Would it help to just take three deep breaths? That's enough for now."

😰

When You Haven't Used the App in Weeks

Traditional app might say:

"Welcome back! You've lost your 47-day streak."

Small Wins says:

"Welcome back. Sometimes we need to step away, and that's okay. What feels manageable today?"

😊

When You're Making Progress

Traditional app might say:

"Great! Now let's add 5 more goals to keep the momentum going!"

Small Wins says:

"You're doing amazing. Let's celebrate this progress before thinking about what's next."

Our Core Philosophy

Healing Over Hustle

Your worth isn't measured by your productivity. Sometimes the most healing thing you can do is rest, grieve, or simply survive the day. We celebrate all forms of self-care.

Progress is Personal

What looks like a small step to others might be a mountain for you—and that's completely valid. We measure progress against where YOU were yesterday, not against anyone else.

Compassion First

We lead with understanding, not judgment. The voice in your head is often critical enough—our app will be the gentle, supportive friend you deserve.

Realistic Expectations

Healing isn't linear, motivation isn't constant, and some days survival is victory. We're built for real humans living real lives, not idealized versions of who you think you should be.

Experience Gentle, Pressure-Free Progress

Why Small Wins Make a Big Difference

When you're struggling, traditional advice like "just think positive" or "make a plan" falls flat. Here's why small, trauma-informed steps actually work for healing.

🧠

Rebuilds Your Belief in Yourself

Small wins create new neural pathways that say "I am capable" instead of reinforcing the trauma response of "I can't handle this." Each tiny success rewires your brain for resilience.

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Works With Your Nervous System

When you're overwhelmed, your brain literally can't handle big goals. Small wins activate your reward system without triggering fight-or-flight, making progress feel safe instead of scary.

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Breaks Shame and Self-Criticism

Traditional goal-setting often leads to self-criticism when you "fail." Small wins are designed to be achievable even on your worst days, interrupting the shame spiral that keeps you stuck.

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Creates Genuine Momentum

Unlike forced motivation, small wins build real momentum because they're based on what actually feels manageable for you today. This creates sustainable change instead of another thing to fail at.

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Honors Your Reality

Bad days aren't failures—they're part of the human experience. Small wins adapt to your capacity, celebrating survival on hard days and growth on good ones, without judgment.

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Builds Long-term Healing

Quick fixes don't work for trauma and loss. Small wins focus on building the emotional skills and self-compassion that support you through life's inevitable challenges.

Grounded in Research

This approach isn't just feel-good theory. It's based on decades of research in trauma psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral change—specifically designed for people whose nervous systems are overwhelmed.

Trauma-Informed Care

Recognizes how trauma affects the brain and body

Positive Psychology

Focuses on building strengths, not just fixing problems

Behavioral Science

Uses proven methods for sustainable habit formation

Built on Proven Science

Small Wins for Healing isn't just feel-good advice—it's built on decades of research in neuroscience, trauma recovery, and behavioral psychology. Every feature is grounded in evidence-based approaches that actually work.

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Trauma-Informed Care Principles

Our AI responses follow evidence-based trauma-informed care guidelines developed by SAMHSA and leading trauma specialists.

Key Research:

• Van der Kolk (2014) - The Body Keeps the Score
• Herman (1992) - Trauma and Recovery
• SAMHSA's 6 Principles of Trauma-Informed Care

🌱

Micro-Progress Psychology

Breaking overwhelming tasks into tiny steps leverages neuroplasticity and builds self-efficacy through repeated small successes.

Key Research:

• Bandura (1977) - Self-Efficacy Theory
• Fogg (2019) - Tiny Habits methodology
• Duckworth (2016) - Grit and incremental progress

⚡

Neuroplasticity & Healing

Repeated small positive actions literally rewire the brain, creating new neural pathways that support resilience and emotional regulation.

Key Research:

• Doidge (2007) - The Brain That Changes Itself
• Davidson & Lutz (2008) - Mindfulness & brain changes
• Siegel (2010) - Mindsight and neural integration

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Self-Compassion Research

Self-critical internal dialogue blocks healing. Our AI promotes self-compassion, which research shows is more effective than self-criticism for motivation and change.

Key Research:

• Neff (2003) - Self-compassion vs. self-esteem
• Gilbert (2009) - Compassion-Focused Therapy
• Breines & Chen (2012) - Self-compassion and motivation

🎯

Behavioral Activation

Depression and trauma often lead to behavioral shutdown. Small, manageable actions help rebuild the connection between activity and mood improvement.

Key Research:

• Martell et al. (2001) - BA for depression
• Lejuez et al. (2011) - BA effectiveness
• Hopko et al. (2003) - Brief BA interventions

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Post-Traumatic Growth

Trauma doesn't just damage—it can also lead to profound growth, deeper relationships, and increased appreciation for life when properly supported.

Key Research:

• Tedeschi & Calhoun (2004) - PTG model
• Joseph (2011) - What Doesn't Kill Us
• Jayawickreme & Blackie (2014) - PTG mechanisms

Building Clinical Partnerships

We're actively recruiting licensed clinical psychologists and trauma specialists to form our Clinical Advisory Board. Every AI response and therapeutic approach will be reviewed by mental health professionals before implementation.

What We're Looking For

• Licensed trauma-informed therapists
• Researchers in post-traumatic growth
• Experts in behavioral activation therapy
• Digital therapeutics specialists

Our Commitment

• Every feature clinically reviewed
• Evidence-based AI training protocols
• Ongoing effectiveness monitoring
• Transparent development process

Know a mental health professional who might be interested? We'd love to connect.

Our Commitment to Evidence-Based Development

Every AI response, feature design, and user interaction is reviewed by our clinical advisory board. We don't just build what sounds good—we build what research shows actually helps people heal.

Ongoing Research

Partnering with universities to study our effectiveness and continuously improve

Peer Review

All clinical approaches reviewed by licensed mental health professionals

Transparent Results

We'll publish our effectiveness data, both successes and areas for improvement

How Small Wins Is Different

We're not trying to replace existing tools—we're filling a gap that shouldn't exist. Here's how Small Wins approaches healing differently.

Traditional Productivity Apps

• Built for people who are already functioning well
• Focus on efficiency and optimization
• Use guilt and shame as motivators
• One-size-fits-all approach
• Celebrate streaks and consistency
• No understanding of trauma or mental health
• Notifications designed to pressure

Current Mental Health Apps

• Often focus on single techniques (meditation, CBT)
• Limited personalization to individual struggles
• Generic content not tailored to trauma
• Subscription models that gate essential features
• Clinical feel that can be intimidating
• Limited crisis support integration
• Privacy concerns with sensitive data

Small Wins for Healing

• Built specifically for people in recovery
• Focuses on emotional safety first
• Uses compassion and validation as motivators
• Adapts to your unique trauma and healing style
• Celebrates any engagement, no matter how small
• Trauma-informed AI with clinical oversight
• Gentle check-ins designed to support

What Small Wins Is NOT

❌ Not a replacement for therapy

We complement professional care, never replace it. We'll help you prepare for therapy sessions and practice skills between appointments.

❌ Not a quick fix

Healing takes time, and we honor that reality. No promises of instant transformation or miraculous cures.

❌ Not a productivity hack

We're not trying to make you more efficient. We're trying to help you survive, heal, and gradually rebuild.

❌ Not one-size-fits-all

Every person's healing journey is unique. Our AI learns your patterns and respects your individual needs.

The Gap We're Filling

"I needed something between crisis support and weekly therapy—a gentle companion for the daily struggle of rebuilding my life after trauma."

Small Wins exists for the moments when you're not in crisis, but you're not thriving either. For the overwhelming Tuesday afternoon, the sleepless 3 AM worry session, the days when even basic tasks feel impossible.

Your Safety Is Our Foundation

When you're healing, vulnerability isn't weakness—it's courage. We're building Small Wins to be a completely safe space where you can be honest about your struggles without fear of judgment, data misuse, or having your deepest thoughts analyzed for profit.

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End-to-End Encryption

Your conversations, reflections, and personal data are encrypted both in transit and at rest. Even we can't read your private thoughts—only you can.

📱

Local AI Processing

Sensitive AI processing happens on your device whenever possible. Your most vulnerable moments stay with you, not on our servers. When you share your deepest struggles, they remain private.

💭

Safe Space for Honesty

Share your real thoughts, fears, and struggles without worry. Our system is designed specifically for vulnerable moments—your honesty is protected, not exploited.

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Zero Data Monetization

We will never sell your data, share it with advertisers, or use your personal struggles for profit. Period.

🤖

Trauma-Informed AI

Our AI is trained on trauma-informed principles. It won't shame you for struggling or push you beyond your capacity. It's designed to support, not pressure.

💝

Compassionate Guidance

When unhelpful patterns emerge, our AI offers gentle, research-backed alternatives without judgment—helping you break cycles with kindness.

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Crisis Support Connection

If our AI detects crisis language, it immediately connects you to professional resources—because some moments need human support.

Our Sacred Promise About Your Vulnerable Data

"We understand that when you're healing, trust isn't given lightly. When you share your struggles, fears, and painful memories with our AI, that's sacred data. We protect it with the same care we'd want for our own most vulnerable moments."

Technical Safeguards:

• End-to-end encryption for vulnerable conversations
• Zero-knowledge architecture (we can't see your private thoughts)
• Local processing for crisis moments and deep sharing
• SOC 2 Type II compliance with trauma-specific protections
• Regular security audits by mental health-aware specialists

Emotional Safeguards:

• AI trained never to shame or judge your struggles
• Trauma-informed responses to vulnerable sharing
• Gentle cycle-breaking, never harsh confrontation
• Cultural sensitivity for diverse healing approaches
• Mental health experts guide every interaction model

Safe Vulnerability: Honesty Without Fear

Healing requires honesty about destructive patterns and painful truths. Our AI is trained to create space for this vulnerability while offering gentle, research-backed guidance to help you break cycles—never through shame, always through compassion.

You can safely share:

• Destructive thought patterns
• Self-harm ideation (with immediate support)
• Addiction struggles and relapses
• Trauma memories and triggers
• Shame, guilt, and painful emotions

Our AI will never:

• Judge you for your struggles
• Use shame to motivate change
• Share your data with anyone
• Pressure you beyond your capacity
• Make you feel broken or wrong

Looking Ahead: Even More Security

We're actively researching fully on-device AI models and zero-knowledge architectures to make your vulnerable sharing even more secure. Your healing journey should be yours alone.

Questions about our security practices?

Building Trust Through Transparency

👩‍⚕️

Clinical Oversight

Trauma specialists and mental health professionals guide our development

🔐

Security First

Built with enterprise-grade security and privacy by design

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Transparent Development

Key security components will be open source for community review

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Community Driven

Every feature shaped by people with lived experience

"We're not building another productivity app with AI slapped on top. We're creating a safe space where technology serves humanity's most vulnerable moments with dignity and care."

— Development Philosophy, Small Wins for Healing

Join Our Healing Community

Be among the first to experience Small Wins for Healing. Get early access, share your feedback, and help us build something truly meaningful together. Your input during development will directly shape how the app supports people in their most vulnerable moments.

🔒Your email is encrypted and never shared

💙Built for safe vulnerability - your data stays private, local, and secure

🤗AI designed to break cycles gently, never to shame or pressure

🔒 We'll never spam you or share your email. Updates only when we have something meaningful to share. Read our Privacy Policy for complete transparency.

Beta Access (Late 2025)

Be among the first to experience Small Wins and help us get it right

Direct Influence

Your feedback shapes features—this is your chance to build the app you need

Healing Community

Connect with others who understand what it's like to rebuild after life falls apart

Questions You Might Have

Is this safe to use during a mental health crisis?

Small Wins is designed to support daily healing and gradual recovery, but it's not a replacement for crisis intervention. If you're experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide, the app will immediately connect you to professional crisis resources like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. We always prioritize your immediate safety over any app features.

How is this different from therapy or counseling?

Small Wins is a supportive tool that works alongside professional care, not instead of it. Think of it as a gentle companion that helps you practice healing skills between therapy sessions, break down overwhelming tasks, and track your emotional patterns. We encourage users to work with mental health professionals and can help you prepare for appointments by organizing your thoughts and progress.

What if I can't access or afford traditional therapy?

We understand that mental healthcare isn't equally accessible to everyone. Small Wins is designed to provide trauma-informed support for those who need it most. We're working on grant funding to offer free access to underserved communities, and the app includes resources for finding affordable mental health services in your area.

Will the AI judge me or make me feel worse about my struggles?

Absolutely not. Our AI is specifically trained on trauma-informed principles and designed to respond with compassion, not judgment. It won't shame you for bad days, relapses, or destructive patterns. Instead, it offers gentle perspective and research-backed suggestions while always validating your experience. If you ever feel judged by an interaction, please let us know immediately—that's a bug, not a feature.

What happens to my personal information and vulnerable sharing?

Your vulnerability is sacred to us. We use end-to-end encryption for sensitive conversations, process as much as possible locally on your device, and operate under a zero-knowledge architecture where even we can't read your private thoughts. We will never sell your data, share it with advertisers, or use your struggles for profit. You own your healing journey completely.

What if I'm having a really bad day and can't do anything?

Bad days are part of healing, not failures. Small Wins adjusts to your capacity—if you're overwhelmed, it might suggest taking three deep breaths or just acknowledging that today is hard. There are no streaks to break or guilt trips about productivity. The app celebrates any engagement, even if it's just opening it to say you're struggling.

How much will this cost?

We're still finalizing pricing, but our commitment is to make healing support accessible. We're exploring a model with a free tier for basic features and a gentle paid tier for advanced AI coaching. Financial hardship will never be a barrier—we're building assistance programs and working with foundations to ensure anyone who needs Small Wins can access it.

When will Small Wins be available?

We're currently in development with early access beginning in late 2025. We're taking time to get this right because we understand how important it is to build something truly safe and effective for vulnerable moments. Early access members will help shape the final product before our broader launch.

What devices will Small Wins work on?

Small Wins is being built mobile-first for iOS and Android, because we want it accessible in your pocket when you need support most. We're also planning a web version for those who prefer typing on a computer. The app will sync securely across your devices while keeping your data private.

Have a different question?

We believe in radical transparency and want to address any concerns you might have.

Ask Us Anything

Building in the Open

We believe in transparency throughout our development process. Here's what we're working on and thinking about as we build Small Wins for Healing.

Currently Working On

• Trauma-informed AI training with mental health professionals
• Zero-knowledge encryption architecture for maximum privacy
• Crisis detection and safety protocols
• Accessibility features for users with disabilities

Research & Planning

• Partnerships with trauma recovery organizations
• Evidence-based small wins methodology validation
• Inclusive design for diverse healing approaches
• Sustainable funding model that prioritizes access over profit

Shaped by Community

Every feature decision is influenced by feedback from people with lived experience:

• Trauma survivors sharing what they actually need in dark moments
• Mental health professionals providing clinical guidance
• Accessibility advocates ensuring inclusive design
• Cultural consultants helping us avoid harmful assumptions

Our Commitment to Transparency

We'll continue sharing our development journey, including challenges, decisions, and lessons learned. This isn't just an app—it's a mission to transform how technology supports human healing.

What we'll share:

• Development milestones and setbacks
• Research findings and methodology
• Security and privacy decisions
• Community feedback integration

What we won't share:

• Individual user data or feedback
• Specific security implementation details
• Personal information from beta testers
• Anything that could compromise safety

Stay Updated on Our Progress

Get monthly development updates, research insights, and early access to new features.

Join Early Access Community

Help Us Help Others

Small Wins for Healing is more than an app—it's a mission to make emotional recovery accessible to everyone. We believe no one should navigate their darkest moments alone.

For Grantmakers & Foundations

Partner with us to expand access to trauma-informed mental health tools. We're seeking grants to support research, development, and accessibility initiatives.

• Evidence-based trauma recovery approaches
• Accessibility for underserved communities
• Research partnerships with mental health organizations
• Free access programs for those who need it most

Partnership Inquiries

For Mentors & Advisors

We're looking for experienced voices in mental health, trauma recovery, AI ethics, and app development to guide our mission.

• Clinical psychology and trauma specialists
• AI/ML ethics and responsible development
• Mental health app success stories
• Community building and user support

Become a Mentor

Individual Support

Every contribution helps us reach more people who need gentle, trauma-informed support on their healing journey.

Get in Touch

Healing Insights

Read All Articles →

Building an App with Compassion, Not Algorithms

Jan 25, 2025

How we're designing AI that understands trauma, respects your pace, and never makes you feel like you're not doing enough.

The Science Behind Small Wins and Trauma Recovery

Jan 20, 2025

Why micro-achievements are more powerful than big goals when your nervous system is overwhelmed.

A gentle sunrise breaking through clouds

Why Small Wins When Everything Feels Broken

Jan 15, 2025

When life collapses, traditional productivity advice falls short. Here's why we built an app focused on healing, not optimization.

Stay Connected to Our Healing Journey

Get gentle insights about trauma recovery, progress updates from our development journey, and early access when Small Wins is ready. We'll never spam you—only meaningful updates that might actually help with your healing.

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If You're in Crisis Right Now

Small Wins is being built to support healing, but if you're experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please reach out for immediate human support.

🇺🇸 United States

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or text: 988

Chat: 988lifeline.org/chat

Free, confidential, 24/7

🌍 International

Crisis Text Line

Text HOME to: 741741

International Association for Suicide Prevention

Find local crisis centers

💙 When Small Wins launches, it will automatically connect you to these resources if needed. Your safety always comes first.