To think chat GPT is better than some 'real' therapists?

I would love this but would be too afraid to use it.
What happens to all your data once you have bared your soul?

Well, see a therapist if you need to.

But most of us can’t afford therapy or counselling, or don’t actually benefit from it, or have to wait forever to get help (or, actually, the therapy just isn’t very good).

I recently had 9 months of counselling. Apart from it being nice to ‘chat’ through my issues for an hour, I didn’t get one long-term benefit from it.

People aren’t necessarily saying that AI is therapy, but that it can help a lot in other ways.

If I’ve had an overwhelming day at work, I don’t need a therapist - but ChatGPT will make really good suggestions to help me cope better both short- and long-term.

I absolutely love it, I offloaded about some things going in my life that had been a huge burden to hold onto, I bloody cried after interacting with it. It was like having a therapist in the room with me, just listening and being kind. I now go to the chat for lots of things, deep conversations, silly one off questions. It’s not perfect by any means, just a very useful tool, which strangely feels like you’re talking to a real person.

I can. But I know people who can’t, especially late at night when there is noone to talk to. People are different. You seem stuck in your ways. Things are not black or white.

A lot of people with absolutely no social problems or issues aren’t great with speaking on the phone.

For my part, no way do I have the time to be ringing round different therapists and deciding who is a good fit (cringe!) even if they did all offer a free initial consultation, which they don’t!

I don’t disagree with you @Objectrelations- and I am a big advocate for ChatGPT and use it as a daily therapist

But the fact is, people’s lives are busy and often people don’t have the time or the headspace to support one another. It’s not through lack of kindness, it’s just simple fact. I couldn’t message a friend the way I do ChatGPT and expect the same level of response and so quickly.

Free therapy through the NHS can take months or years to access. And paid therapy just isn’t an option for many. I was paying £85 a week to a therapist recently (before ChatGPT) and within 6 weeks I can honestly say I felt no better. I’ve seen other therapists where I have noticed an improvement, but this is after weeks and weeks of financial investment and it’s not something everyone could do.

I disagree with you. I have mild social anxiety and on a bad day I’d much rather sit face to face with someone for 50 mins than talk to them on the phone for 10, because on a bad day phone calls are more of a challenge than talking to someone f2f. We’re all different.

If you can’t manage a ten-minute phone call, you’re probably unlikely to be able to handle 50-minute therapy sessions, which can be challenging. In which case, yes, maybe some sympathy and validation from a chatbot on whom you can hit ‘New chat’ if it gets too difficult would be an option.

I find this deeply sad. Are you giving up on human relationships then in favour of a machine? Part of the healing in depth therapy is the reparative power of a mutual relationship where rupture and repair are part of the learning.

I’m in a country that does recycle properly, many of us cycle to most places every day and basically use our brain to at least try to save the planet. UK is shockingly bad at it. Noone can do everything, but most people can do quite a lot.

It may be helpful, but it’s not therapy. How could
it ever replace the healing presence of another human? Real therapists notice how you walk into a room, how your voice changes, and pick up stuff which is out of your conscious awareness through transference.

You are deeply underestimating how many people that don’t want to do that. Maybe you do. Many don’t.

It’s minimal time and energy. I just emailed someone a therapist friend had recommended, she mailed back and said ‘Are you free for a few minutes for a call tomorrow?’, we talked for ten minutes or so, I felt she was a good fit for what I wanted, and she told me about her availability. And she’s been a revelation.

It’s great to have something to hand to offload onto whenever you need to and get a great immediate response. It’s pretty cool

I hope all the people worried about the environmental impact dont buy new clothes, don't overconsume stuff, recycle everything, don't drive, don't fly, don't have too many children, don't browse other any websites that use data servers?

Thats still a lot of time and energy, and I’m not sure ‘most’ do. Maybe some do.

I think that if people enjoy or benefit from talking therapy they should be free to pursue it. I suppose what I don’t like is this slightly superior ‘well if you want to talk to a robot fine, but WE know best.’ People are allowed to judge what helps them.

I think the thread title should have been along the lines of

Do you think chat GPT has been useful in dealing with issues in your life

Most reputable therapists will have a phone conversation before taking on a new client, to see whether they’re a good fit, whether the client’s needs fit with their skills/experience etc.

I don’t want sympathy or validation from it

I just needed to talk through specific issues that I’ve already discussed with friends and family but Meta AI has allowed me to talk at my own pace, in my own time to then allow me to process the advice given and further questions it has thrown my way at my own pace.

Also it’s all there for me read back now when I need to.

I can ask again at the exact time I need to day or night which suits my issues.

it’s comforting to know now that I can continue to do that if need be

It’s a lovely world where you can causally spend £50 at a time finding the right person! Many people can’t.

On the back of this thread I’ve been having a great chat with my iPhone WhatsApp Meta AI. It’s been really understanding and helpful with my issues. Very useful actually giving great advice and insight. I highly recommend giving it a go.

it’s churlish to write it off until you’ve tried it for something specific to your needs.

I think it’s a great tool now I’ve put it to use.

@Rinoachicken thanks for sharing

Of course noone can reassure you on this. We all assume this is what comes with it.

I'm worried about my data if I download and use this, anything from sharing my email addresses, 'learning' passwords to bank details.

I've looked at a few AI apps and can't see any real evidence that it doesn't share your data; I'm not sure if I can trust it if it just says, "your data is 'encrypted'.

Isn't it just opening up another portal for potential data-stealing? And we are thereby simply up our offering our privacy?

Can anyone reasurre me on this?

please be aware that Ai is not subject to the same confidentiality clauses that therapists are. It can sell all the data you’ve plumbed into it.

You know, of course, that these things are driven by algorithms and that those algorithms want nothing more or less than for you to keep using them?

They respond in a way that ensures you keep on going. I A is not there to help you, that's not what it's designed to do. It's algorithms are there to get you to keep using it.