The story behind Mesmer starts somewhere unexpected. Not wellness. Not therapy. But counter-terrorism. Alicia Cowan studied how teenagers are manipulated online by targeting their stress, uncertainty, and identity struggles. Then she watched it happen in her own home.
As a mother, she saw her own teens navigate what every parent recognises: the anxiety loops, the stress around school, friendships, and the constant pressure to fit in. The self-esteem spirals, endless comparisons, and body dysmorphia nobody talks about. All of it amplified by the phone in their hand.
But nothing she found worked in the moment it actually hits. 3am spiralling. Left out of the group chat again. The bus home after the worst day.
So she created Mesmer. An app that takes the same CBT techniques therapists use and puts them in a teenager's pocket. Five-minute exercises that work in the moment. And it learns what works for your teen every time they use it.