Writing from the other chair | The Observing Ego
The Observing Ego Blog

Writing from the other chair.

Notes from a clinician who also builds the tools.

A small collection of pieces on therapy preparation, mental health privacy, and the careful design of tools that support real therapeutic work. Updated as I have something useful to say, not on a schedule.

Building in Public From the Maker

You asked, we built.

Notes from the first release cycle that took user feedback seriously. Most apps treat user feedback like marketing data; The Observing Ego is run more like a clinical practice. Three concrete examples of features that shipped because users asked for them, plus honest limits on where the model does not apply.

May 27, 2026 9 min read Read article
Therapy Preparation For Patients

What to bring to your therapy appointment

Therapy is short, memory is unreliable, and good preparation makes the work easier. A guide to what actually helps in the room, from someone who sits in the other chair. Includes a five-minute prep checklist and a plain-language note on the screeners your doctor uses.

May 27, 2026 8 min read Read article
Privacy and Trust For Everyone

Why your mood data should never leave your phone

Mental health data is more sensitive than financial data, and the wellness app industry has not earned its reputation. An argument for on-device tracking, an explanation of what "on-device" actually means, and an eight-item consumer checklist for evaluating any mood app.

May 27, 2026 10 min read Read article
Clinical Tools For Clinicians

Patient mood data in session: a practical guide

A clinician's guide to using patient-tracked mood data without letting it replace the work. Three concrete in-session patterns, four common concerns addressed honestly, a depth-oriented frame for the chart as a third object in the room, and a four-week trial workflow.

May 27, 2026 12 min read Read article
CS

About the writer

Casey Simon

Psy.D., M.S., LMFT

Psychoanalytic psychotherapist licensed in California (LMFT 97789) and Oregon (T2325), with doctoral training in clinical psychology. Maker of The Observing Ego. Writes about clinical practice, mental health technology, and the careful design of tools that support real therapeutic work.

More about Casey →