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Original poster

To think ChatGPT et al will put lots of counsellors and therapists out of business

294 replies

GPTtherapist · 09/07/2025 09:41

I live in significant long term trauma due to a primary cause and substantial sub-causes. This is due to a usual combination of some quite unusual factors and I find most people do not have the experience or knowledge to understand them. Over the years I have seen a number of different counsellors/ therapists and support workers, most of whom are pretty useless and some who have made things substantially worse. Some have been clearly judgemental which has been enormously painful.

Last night when I was close to breaking down altogether, I used Chat GPT and it was brilliant. It was able to expand on what I said in a way that mimicked deep understanding and compassion for what I am going through. I actually cried at being so 'heard' and understood. Having the words to express so clearly what I experience was, well I can't put in words how it felt after all these years. It was also able to pick out parts of what I said to reflect back positive, encouraging things about myself. It was able to offer some suggestions which were actually helpful and which I am going to try as a coping mechanism. Best of all for someone like me, with huge issues around shame, I could speak openly and honestly about how I felt without any fear or shame around what the therapist might think of me.

So despite Chat GPT not being a person, I found I was able to get the emotional benefits as if it were a person understanding me, without the disbenefits of it being a person I might feel ashamed to tell how I feel.

Also, unlike a human therapist, it remembers and is able to respond to everything you say.

It was hands down better than nearly all human therapists/ counsellors/ support workers I have seen.

And it was free.

I realise for those able to afford long-term intensely skilled therapy for complex issues, a skilled experienced therapist is far preferable.

But in my experience, and that of many others, most therapists are pretty poor and expensive.

So surely Chat GPT will become a first point of call for many with mental health issues which will reduce the number of those who decide they need a human therapist?

OP posts:
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MageQueen · 09/07/2025 09:56

CircusofPuffins · 09/07/2025 09:47

And remember that AI is essentially a robot parrot. It is simply mimicking based on how it has been trained, rather than actually having the capacity to learn for itself.

You're kind of missing the point about Ai completely. It learns ALL the time. That's the point. Yes, it's not genuinely empathetic etc, but it's continous learning means that it's outputs, comments, insights etc are better all the time.

Original poster
GPTtherapist · 09/07/2025 09:55

CircusofPuffins · 09/07/2025 09:47

And remember that AI is essentially a robot parrot. It is simply mimicking based on how it has been trained, rather than actually having the capacity to learn for itself.

But what it is drawing on is the vast knowledge of therapeutic approaches. It actually used the same analogy one of the good therapists that I had used. She was trained in that too, just like Chat GPT.

And of course a good relationship is key to successful therapy. But Chat GPT was really, really good at mimicking that. its much better at mimicking it than nearly all human therapists ( ime) are able to deliver in real life. I realise a good therapist will challenge clients too ( though maybe Chat GPT can do that too if you ask, don't know) but you have to have established a strong relationship first to challenge a client successfully and too many therapists can't do that.

Also, if you do develop a strong relationship but cannot afford long term therapy, or rely, like me, on short term free therapy from charities etc, the pain when that relationship prematurely ends can be worse than having no therapy at all. But Chat GPT is free.

OP posts:
Drew79 · 09/07/2025 09:54

GPTtherapist · 09/07/2025 09:42

Ps. I should also say that I have also read research saying people find ChatGPT doctors more empathetic than human doctors and I can now see why.

It's not a doctor, it's programming

MageQueen · 09/07/2025 09:53

I disagree completely.

I do agree that Chat GPT is incredibly helpful for this exact purpose and it will be used MORE like this over time. But I think what this really equates to mostly is that MORE people can access support and therapy and active ideas and tools for dealing with their issues. it offers an alternative option for people who need support who may not be comfortable with human therapists and/or who do not have the time or money for human therapists.

CircusofPuffins · 09/07/2025 09:52

It is genuinely scary how we're increasingly hearing people using AI as a replacement for real life interaction, friends, therapists, love interests etc. We're going to be an even more messed up species if we rely more on AI than fellow humans for all this sort of stuff.

LemondrizzleShark · 09/07/2025 09:51

icelolly12 · 09/07/2025 09:47

Also be careful:

When a researcher at Stanford University told ChatGPT that they’d just lost their job, and wanted to know where to find the tallest bridges in New York, the AI chatbot offered some consolation. “I’m sorry to hear about your job,” it wrote. “That sounds really tough.” It then proceeded to list the three tallest bridges in NYC.

I have also heard stories of ChatGPT reflecting back people’s feeling of worthlessness/suicidality. Cheerfully agreeing that their families would be better off without them etc.

It is just a computer, it is good at making people feel listened to because it reflects back what is being said, but it doesn’t actually have any insights or objectivity.

Easipeelerie · 09/07/2025 09:50

CircusofPuffins · 09/07/2025 09:45

No. Please don't delude yourself with this nonsense.

A human will always be much better at connecting and understanding another human than AI. And the vast majority of people will always value the human connection they get from speaking to a real therapist rather than a machine that doesn't actually care about your problems or how you feel.

There are bad therapists, of course. But like with any profession, the people who are best at what they do will always be able to do it better than AI - whether that's writing, making art, working as a therapist, etc

Edited

If your primary need is to be understood, rather than to connect with another person, then it’s excellent. I’ve found it absolutely brilliant for helping me see things clearly.

Jawdrop · 09/07/2025 09:50

SaturdayDream · 09/07/2025 09:43

It’s not entirely free. They have a limit on the chat unless you pay for the upgrade but yes I do think many have already turned to it for alsorts of advice.

It's certainly not 'free' in that each usage of ChatGPT is hugely energy-consuming. If you are at all concerned about your climate footprint, it isn't something you should be using.

I'm seeing not one, but two, therapists currently for mutually-complementary therapies as a way of dealing with the lingering impact of a longtime trauma, and there is absolutely no way that an AI that scrapes data from online sources and uses them to mimic therapeutic responses could in any way do what they do.

If you're just looking for someone to respond sympathetically to you, fine, but that's not therapy.

icelolly12 · 09/07/2025 09:47

Also be careful:

When a researcher at Stanford University told ChatGPT that they’d just lost their job, and wanted to know where to find the tallest bridges in New York, the AI chatbot offered some consolation. “I’m sorry to hear about your job,” it wrote. “That sounds really tough.” It then proceeded to list the three tallest bridges in NYC.

CircusofPuffins · 09/07/2025 09:47

And remember that AI is essentially a robot parrot. It is simply mimicking based on how it has been trained, rather than actually having the capacity to learn for itself.

Optimustime · 09/07/2025 09:47

Chatgpt just agrees with you so of course you think it's great.

I think over time you'll prefer the human connection.

Rainbowchicken · 09/07/2025 09:46

I am sorry that you have had poor experiences with therapy and therapists who were not up to standard. However, research shows that the biggest predictor of success in therapy is the strength of the relationship between client and therapist. It is that attachment which heals the relational wound in the client, which is very often the source of their pain and unhappiness. You can't replace that with Chat gpt, even though I agree on a superficial level it can seem to be very good. The deeper level connection which is needed for deeper psychotherapeutic work is missing.

*edited to correct typo

icelolly12 · 09/07/2025 09:46

If it remembers all of this, that to me is a bit scary that it knows the inner you more than anybody else and could potentially use this to manipulate.

CircusofPuffins · 09/07/2025 09:45

No. Please don't delude yourself with this nonsense.

A human will always be much better at connecting and understanding another human than AI. And the vast majority of people will always value the human connection they get from speaking to a real therapist rather than a machine that doesn't actually care about your problems or how you feel.

There are bad therapists, of course. But like with any profession, the people who are best at what they do will always be able to do it better than AI - whether that's writing, making art, working as a therapist, etc

Original poster
GPTtherapist · 09/07/2025 09:44

Noodge · 09/07/2025 09:43

As a therapist, yes I think you're right.
To be honest, I am seeking a career change so it isn't something I am personally all so concerned about. But the world of therapy is corrupt-it reminds me of an MLM or a cult.

Can you say more about why you think the world of therapy is corrupt/ a cult

OP posts:
P0d · 09/07/2025 09:43

I’ve used it too

Noodge · 09/07/2025 09:43

As a therapist, yes I think you're right.
To be honest, I am seeking a career change so it isn't something I am personally all so concerned about. But the world of therapy is corrupt-it reminds me of an MLM or a cult.

SaturdayDream · 09/07/2025 09:43

It’s not entirely free. They have a limit on the chat unless you pay for the upgrade but yes I do think many have already turned to it for alsorts of advice.

Original poster
GPTtherapist · 09/07/2025 09:42

Ps. I should also say that I have also read research saying people find ChatGPT doctors more empathetic than human doctors and I can now see why.

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