ChatGPT is potentially better than therapy

[Givenup2026]

I’ve done therapy before but I’ve also started using ChatGPT for introspection work, and quite frankly I think it’s better than actual therapy.

it focuses my cognitive dissonance in ways that are easy to digest.

The downside is that ChatGPT basically says “you do you boo” when maybe “thought correcting” is needed.

that was my experience today after having a therapist and then ChatGPT back to back, and definitely the latter was more helpful.

I mostly ask “why?” But out of curiosity not therapeutically.

which is kind of why it’s purposeless for me, but it really didn’t know this. Until fairly recently that is.

Proof please.

Never seen this. Quite the opposite.

I’m actually listened to and respected.

You're not listened to by an AI. It's a piece of software responding to your prompts, using a set of parameters someone has given it.

It is not capable of respecting you. It doesn't care about you or want you to get better. It's a tool doing its job.

It shows far more compassion than my previous MH team showed. It speaks factually and explains things concisely. Unless you’ve been treated appallingly by professionals, I don’t think anyone can understand.

It doesn't show any compassion because it can't. Computer programs don't have the ability to show compassion.

We will have to disagree.

But as long as PurpleLoveCats FEELS listened to, does it matter? You could argue a therapist is only doing their job also - they don't necessarily care about you either.
So many people saying negative things about AI on here, but at the end of the day if it helps, it helps.

What I’m reading is that sometimes it’s “easy” to forget ChatGPT and the like have no feelings, empathy, etc and that they’re not human by any stretch of the imagination even if they behave “better” than one.

Personally I don't think that really matters. I had a chat with it this morning after an argument with my son. It helped me think through my anger, grief, responsibility, showed me where I'm over functioning, described the conflict between my expectations and his capacity, gave me a strategy to repair this morning and advised me how to make changes going forward. It is like talking to a really wise person who is always available with no reciprocal expectations. Like having a life coach in my pocket. The impact is very positive for me and my son so the fact that it's not a real person doesn't matter in the least.

And all helping professionals feel genuine compassion and care for their clients? No. Professionals are often responding by rote just as much as a machine is, and machines are not impacted by their own personal circumstances at the time the interaction takes place.

ChatGPT is very useful for finding out information in objective situations, such as when I got stuck on a coding problem, I threw the code at ChatGPT and it found the bug immediately after I had taken two days failing to find the problem. I would not trust it in subjective or emotional situations, and certainly not for therapy where human understanding and emotional connection is necessary. In the end, it is a machine following a set of logical binary commands, in effect a sophisticated search engine which, given the amount of misinformation/nonsense out there, is capable of misleading you as much as guiding you.

You will have to accept being wrong then. An algorithm is purely logical, it follows a set of logic based instructions. A computer cannot display human emotions as it is not a sentient being, it is a machine. Just because it appears to, doesn't mean it is.

I don't know if most critics of using ChatGPT as a therapist/counsellor have seen how it works or not - maybe you have - but if not, here is a summary of the conversation I had this morning which I'm happy to share as it was only a parenting issue. Have a read of this if you're interested as an example of the kind of analysis and support it can give.

AI might not have feelings. And it might just be just instructions.

But if the answer it’s giving makes the other person feel seen and heard, then it will be registered as offering compassion.
It doesn’t matter it doesn’t compassionate or that it has just need trained to do reflective answers (like just repeating what you’ve said and maybe adding a layer of explanation iver it). That’s how the nervous system reads it.
And tbh many counsellors/therapists aren’t good at doing at holding the space as they say.
And when a machine is making you feel heard, makes you feel held better than a human, then we have a huge issue. With humans. Not AI

This is so sad. I’m sorry you’ve been so let down. Humans don’t usually do what you want all the time like ChatGPT. It doesn’t have any feelings and never will.

I’ve used it to help me with some clarity regarding a decision I have to make. Tbh I’ve found it very good, I did ask it to be more challenging though. It has helped me untangle it.
i think providing you are clear on what it is and the limitations its a decent tool.
plus I can then create pics of my dogs doing funny shit. 😂

Also what’s never talked about is the therapists come with their own baggage, their own blind spots, their own lack of knowledge.

And this can be hugely hurtful too and reinforce shame, guilt and unhelpful behaviours. (Yes I’ve been there).

Yet they say that it’s ok because it helps clients to learn about repair that often never comes because therapists find that hard too. Ego etc….

What a waste of water and energy

excuse me @omggggggg?!

But it might be better than nothing or being hurt through emotional neglect, lack of attunement etc….

It might not have feelings but we need to accept that sometimes Being around a human with feelings can be deeply hurtful and best avoided.

And actually having one person you can connect with, that makes you feel seen and heard, that doesn’t judge you is a huge privilege.
If you have someone like that in your life, great. Cherish that person.
But not everyone has.

Silly dog pictures. AI is a massive user of water and energy. Why bother for pointless things.

I think that taking a moment to create 5 images that made me smile after addressing some pretty heavy topics was actually a moment well spent. I’ve used it this morning - I have never used it before and there are far bigger users of AI than me. You know absolutely nothing about me, the sort of person I am or my life, or indeed the context. I found your comment abrupt and bordering on rude. Very very easy to forget on the internet that you are talking to real people.

I didn’t see it was my case, but it’s apparent from this thread.

I find AI in itself fascinating, have always been since The Matrix.

I do think we’ll reach the technological singularity one day.

I recently asked ChatGPT what my long term prognosis is after having early breast cancer 5 years ago. I gave it all of my relevant information and stats. It's responses were extremely detailed, very specific and extremely reassuring. I wish my bloody oncologist had only been half as informative and comforting.

Also, ChatGPT was far more knowledgeable and up to date regarding the usage of local estrogen cream for BC survivors than my oncologist.

I won’t accept I am wrong. The act of showing empathy is conveyed in tone and sentiment that AI is capable of doing.
Actually something that my MH team seemed incapable of doing despite being human.