Our Science Driven Approach to Product Development

At Wayhaven, we are pioneering new student well-being support by pairing AI technology with established scientific methodologies. Our approach is rooted in evidence-based practices, enhancing mental wellness for today’s college students by delivering a platform deeply rooted in well-being science.

Here are some key pillars to our approach:‍

Evidence-based foundation & translational science approach: We draw from well-established mental wellness approaches (CBT, DBT, ACT, positive psychology, mindfulness), adapting them specifically for a digital setting. Our translational science approach bridges academic research and practical application, extracting key active ingredients from established practices for an AI-driven context.

Expert guidance & user-centered design: Our advisory board, composed of experts in clinical psychology, digital health, and student affairs, guides our product’s scientific integrity and relevance. Complementing this expertise, we actively involve college students throughout our design process, crafting tools that are engaging and tailored to their unique needs and challenges.

Ethical considerations & ongoing innovation: We adhere to strict ethical guidelines for AI-based tools, prioritizing user safety and privacy. Our team stays current with the latest developments, translating findings into product enhancements.

Rigorous evaluation & scientific validation: We employ comprehensive mental wellness models with clearly defined outcomes and embed research-backed metrics into our product. This approach allows us to track progress towards specific well-being goals and continuously refine our platform. Our evaluation balances qualitative and quantitative methodologies. We are actively collaborating with researchers on a pilot study, with plans for a full-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Interdisciplinary collaboration: Our development thrives on collaboration across mental wellness, technology, and education. Psychological expertise is deeply integrated into our AI technology, including in prompt engineering. This integration fosters AI-driven interactions that are supportive, aligned with evidence-based practices, and deliver personalized, empathetic support that resonates with users.