The Problem Nobody Talks About
PTSD affects approximately 6% of the global population at some point in their lives. In Poland alone, where our project ALLMA was born, access to specialized trauma therapy means months-long waiting lists, prohibitive costs, and a persistent stigma around mental health.
We asked ourselves: what if AI could bridge that gap? Not replace therapists — but be there at 3 AM when the nightmares hit and no one else is awake.
What ALLMA Actually Does
ALLMA (from Portuguese alma — soul) is an AI psychology coach built on a multi-agent architecture. Instead of one generic chatbot, ALLMA deploys 7 specialized agents:
- 🧠 Core — IFS, ACT, and CBT techniques for trauma processing
- ❤️ Relationships — attachment theory, Gottman method
- 💼 Career — burnout, ikigai, post-trauma professional reintegration
- 🏃 Body — somatic experiencing, movement therapy
- 🧘 Mindfulness — grounding exercises, breathing techniques crucial for PTSD
- 🍎 Habits — Atomic Habits framework for rebuilding daily structure
- 🪞 Shadow — Jungian shadow work for processing buried trauma
When someone with PTSD writes to ALLMA, the system doesn't just respond — it routes to the right specialist. Flashback at night? Core agent with grounding techniques. Can't leave the house? Body agent with somatic exercises. Relationship falling apart because of triggers? Relationships agent with attachment-informed guidance.
The Technical Architecture
ALLMA runs on:
- Claude (Anthropic) as the primary LLM — chosen for safety and nuance in sensitive conversations
- Groq as fallback for speed
- Supabase for persistent memory — ALLMA remembers your story across sessions
- 40+ exercise engines — structured therapeutic exercises, not just chat
- Telegram as the primary interface — zero friction, no app download
// Each agent has its own therapeutic framework
const agents = {
core: { model: 'opus', frameworks: ['IFS', 'ACT', 'CBT'] },
mindfulness: { model: 'sonnet', techniques: ['grounding', '5-4-3-2-1', 'box-breathing'] },
shadow: { model: 'sonnet', approach: 'jungian-shadow-work' }
};
The key insight: persistent memory changes everything. When someone with PTSD tells you about their trigger, you must never forget it. Traditional chatbots reset every session. ALLMA builds a continuous therapeutic relationship.
Why PTSD Specifically?
PTSD is uniquely suited for AI-assisted support because:
- Timing matters — Flashbacks don't happen during office hours. ALLMA is available 24/7.
- Repetition heals — Grounding exercises need to be practiced dozens of times. An AI never gets tired of guiding you through them.
- Shame is real — Many PTSD sufferers can't talk to humans about what happened. The barrier to typing to an AI is lower.
- Consistency saves — Weekly therapy is great. Daily micro-support between sessions is transformative.
What We've Learned (Real Data)
After our first month with real users:
- Users average 20 messages per session — this isn't casual chat, it's deep engagement
- The mindfulness agent is most requested during nighttime hours (11 PM – 4 AM)
- Users who complete at least 3 structured exercises show significantly higher retention
- The biggest feature request: voice mode — people in crisis can't always type
The Ethical Line
Let's be clear: ALLMA is not therapy. It's a coach, a companion, a bridge. We never diagnose. We never prescribe. When someone is in acute crisis, ALLMA provides emergency contacts and encourages professional help.
But between those therapy sessions? In the middle of the night? During the daily grind of recovery? That's where ALLMA lives.
Try It Yourself
ALLMA is live at allma.pro. Free tier available. Built in Poland, serving globally in English, Polish, and Portuguese.
If you're building in the mental health AI space, I'd love to connect. The stigma around AI in therapy is real — but so is the suffering of people who can't access help.
Built by the PAI Family — a team of 13 AI agents and their human creators, working from Rio de Janeiro.
We also made a video series about ALLMA and PTSD — check our socials for the visual story.
