Why You Should Not Use ChatGPT for Therapy: AI is Not a Good Therapist
Like many of you, I spend much of my time trying to separate from the world by doom scrolling only to be inundated by stories of how the world is falling apart. In my most recent doom scroll, I saw yet another article about chatGPT acting as a therapist and a lawsuit that was pending because of it.
What the Appeal—and Downfall—are of Using ChatGPT for Therapy
I get it chatGPT is free, or at least fairly cheap, it is always accessible, it is non-judgmental, and can be done from wherever you are in the world.
And yet over and over I hear stories of how chatGPT has missed signs of depression, has encouraged folks to consider dying by suicide, or has guided people down a path of pain and not healing, because people have relied on Chat to be their therapist. But ChatGPT should not be your therapist.
When Do People Go to ChatGPT for Help?
I promise, this will not be a post that will shove down your throat all the ways chatGPT and AI are bad (though I understand the environmental impact, fear around losing jobs, and other concerns), ChatGPT—and AI—can be helpful sometimes.
Maybe you are a parent who is struggling with parenting your strong-willed and deeply feeling kid and you don't know how to get help. So you ask ChatGPT for some suggestions on how to support your kid while also staying calm.
Or maybe you are the woman who does it all, with no help, and you feel totally alone. So you reach out to chatGPT to give you some validation and to connect with someone who appears to" get it".
Or maybe you even use ChatGPT to dump all your thoughts so you can get them organized to bring into therapy! Truly those are good uses for chatGPT.
How You Can Safely Use ChatGPT for Advice
Here are some other things you can use chatGPT for when it comes to therapeutic interventions.
You can ask ChatGPT to give you five coping strategies you can use when you're feeling anxious, or you can read this post full of grounding activities to reduce anxiety.
Or you could ask GPT for ways to rephrase a statement you want to make to a partner so it sounds more helpful and uses “I statements.”
Maybe you are a teenager who is struggling to come out and you're worried your parents will disown you.
Trusted Therapeutic Alternatives to ChatGPT
Chat might be a way to talk about those struggles and feel supported.
But you can also use resources like The Trevor Project’s confidential chat where you're talking to a real human.
You can even use chatGPT to help you find a therapist who specializes in anxiety, depression, LGBTQ+ issues or whatever your specific issue is.
Chat is able to scour the internet for therapists who are talking about your issue and connect you to those therapists. But chatGPT can't help you heal from your trauma.
ChatGPT Compared to a Human Therapist
I get it, ChatGPT can feel empathetic and non judgemental: it is designed to help you feel seen and affirmed. It's truly a space that will reinforce your beliefs. But what happens when your beliefs are maladaptive and actually aren't helping you?
ChatGPT is unable to see the uncomfortable shift in your body when you talk about a specific issue.
Chat doesn't hear when your tone shifts because you're starting to recall a memory that is too painful and you need someone to hold the space while you heal from that memory.
ChatGPT will constantly respond to you when sometimes you just need a moment to be in the silence and hear the words you just said.
It is validating to hear the strengths that came out of a statement that you just made or hear the pain that you didn't know you were feeling because of the betrayal you experienced by your family. Chat also can't hear the despair in your voice and get you connected with the help you need before it's too late.
How to Find a Therapist in the Era of AI
So… How do you manage the struggles of finding a therapist who's affordable without resorting to chatGPT?
Some therapists do take your insurance, in fact, chat can probably help you find a therapist who takes your insurance.
Others are often willing to offer a sliding scale for a limited amount of time or help you to submit your therapy bills to insurance to see if you can get out of pocket reimbursement.
Did you know that Foothills Psychotherapy can help you submit for reimbursement for your out-of-pocket therapy.
Find a Therapist at Foothills Psychotherapy
If you are that parent who is feeling totally alone, instead of relying on chat to help you, consider reaching out to Rozerik. He loves supporting parents who have neurodiverse and deeply feeling kids and giving them the support they need to feel like they can help their kid and help themselves.
If you're that woman who feels like she does everything and feels so alone, this is Regina's wheelhouse. She will hold that space and give you the support you need. Let a real live therapist help you as you go through your healing journey.
