Should You Let A Chatbot Be Your Therapist? The Answer Might Not Be So Simple.
The tech is getting better, but there are a few things you need to consider.
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For better or worse, artificial intelligence appears to be here to stay and it’s already deeply rooted in various aspects of modern society. But while it’s sometimes wonky artwork and strange “hallucinations” might be fodder for mockery, the stakes are much higher in certain applications … like mental health.
That hasn’t stopped companies from programming AI chatbots to act as therapists, though, and the concept has sparked some pretty serious debate. So should you consider it?
First, let’s take a look at some pros
The shift toward implementing tech into mental healthcare predates the popular chatbots on the market today and really started to gain traction when Woebot was introduced in 2017. During the pandemic, when people were facing serious problems, often without the ability to see a therapist in person, this option helped fill a crucial gap.
Furthermore, chatbots can provide a much less expensive (if not free) option for people without sufficient coverage, thus expanding access to potentially crucial care.
And some really good work is currently underway to design and properly monitor the advice being doled out by these non-human therapy bots, so the possibility for a bright future is certainly there.
Now for some possible cons
Unfortunately, many people who are desperate for mental healthcare and don’t know where to turn are embracing run-of-the-mill chatbots that aren’t necessarily capable of addressing their needs. Whether it’s unreliable results, a lack of privacy considerations, or insufficient ethical oversight, experts don’t recommend using platforms like ChatGPT to dispatch professional advice.
But the biggest issue might be that using a chatbot eliminates the personal connections that a therapist-patient relationship achieves over time. As clinical psychologist Lara Honos-Webb advises: “So much of therapy is being responsive to emerging context — what you’re seeing, what you’re noticing.”
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