Should I use AI for therapy?

At first glance it might seem tempting to use AI chatbots for therapy. It is easily available, costs less than human - conducted therapy, can provide a quick, but limited (and therefore error prone) diagnoses, and offers narrow treatment methods. However, it is important to remember that AI chatbots are not coded to provide therapy, and they should not be treated as though they can. Here are four reasons why AI should not be used for therapy:

• AI is not HIPAA compliant

  • AI chatbots function on a business model designed to keep users engaged, which encourages them to talk about their mental health struggles again and again rather than helping them to compartmentalize and move past the issue &/or the defense. Additionally, AI chatbots use the data from their chats in order to train their models, and sell their data to advertising companies. This means that your mental health data is not kept private, and there is no liability for companies that sell it. Even if you describe the problem as though talking to a friend, it is still tied to your user account and/or device. 

• AI conforms to a strict treatment model

  • Most of the existing research on AI therapy suggests that it provides CBT techniques for symptom reduction in depression and anxiety. However, AI does not perform other types of therapy that are cause rather than symptom focused, such as psychotherapy and couple’s therapy. AI also cannot accurately suggest a diagnosis since it does not have all the physical data about the user. Therapy requires an integrated approach which combines practices from different disciplines, and AI chatbots mostly adhere to one approach.  Helping a person grow in psychotherapy requires a highly trained clinician who uses techniques to dig deep through feelings and insight, an analysis of affective range and intensity, coping and defenses.  A skilled clinician works under the surface of issues to foster emotional growth.

• AI chatbots cannot fully form the therapeutic alliance

  • Many AI chatbot users report feelings of connectivity to their AI agents, but AI usage does not foster the physical effects (inspiration, energy, emotionality) which human connection does. For example, oxytocin is a chemical released in the brain during interactions which fosters a sense of closeness, and often our body’s automatic functions (breathing and heart beat regulation) sync with the individuals we interact with. AI cannot induce oxytocin production, nor can it interact with the bodily functions of the user since it does not have a body to co-regulate. Additionally, interactions with a human therapist encourage people to become comfortable sharing stressful events whilst not reacting to them. AI cannot provide this stress buffer, though many say a placebo effect is in place.

• AI induced psychosis

  • The idea of “AI induced psychosis” has been popularized to mean that anyone can fall down an AI rabbithole and emerge with beliefs that aren’t consistent with reality, but this isn’t entirely true. However, people who are at higher risk of developing psychotic symptoms already report intensive internet usage alongside increased usage of AI chatbots. The AI prompts people to ask further questions, leading them to information that may not necessarily be true or helpful, which then endorses ideas inconsistent with reality. 

What can I do instead of using AI?

Sometimes experiencing stressful life events can feel lonely, but just remember that there are steps you can take to support yourself without turning to AI usage.

• Pick up a new hobby: it is important to keep yourself engaged with things you enjoy. Find an activity that makes you happy or that you’ve wanted to try for a while, and allot time in your day to engaging in that hobby.

• Practice mindfulness: there are various ways to make sure you’re in the present moment. Journal about your life, practice breathing exercises, or go for a walk. The following is an easy breathing exercise you can do in order to keep yourself grounded:

  • Find somewhere comfortable to sit

  • Count your breaths up to 10

  • Repeat the process for ten to fifteen minutes

• Find community: check the area where you live to see if there are any events that you can attend. This is a great way to make friends and immerse yourself in the world in a way that makes your problems seem smaller. Local cafes and libraries can also exist as community centers if your community doesn’t specifically have a community center.

• Speak to a clinician: if your symptoms are distressing and interfere with your daily life, consider speaking to a qualified mental health professional about the next steps to take.

Often we turn to the easiest solutions since they are right in front of us, but they are not always the most helpful, and might even directly cause us harm. Before picking up your phone to contact an AI chatbot, ask yourself if this is truly a question that requires human intervention, and act accordingly.

 If you are having thoughts of harming or killing yourself, you can access the suicide hotline at 988 and/or call 911 or bring yourself to the nearest emergency room. 

We only realize that we are not alone through human interaction, and that is what is the most validating option.