Millions of people worldwide are using AI chatbots as their psychologists. While AI has made knowledge and resources more easily accessible, they need to be used with caution where mental health is concerned.
Pros of using AI for Therapy:
- While you may need to wait for an appointment with a psychologist (or much longer in the public sector), AI is constantly available and accessible.
- The cost of therapy can be a barrier for many, so using AI makes it a very accessible option.
- Even though this is slowly improving, the stigma attached to mental illness and seeking therapy still exists. This can also explain why many prefer the anonymity of opening up to a bot instead of an actual psychologist.
Using AI as a therapist is not without its risks:
- AI cannot make a diagnosis. A diagnosis is a helpful guide in informing evidence-based treatment.
- AI misses non-verbal cues that are crucial in assessment and therapy. This includes body language, eye contact, tone of voice and silence.
- AI is not equipped to assess risk, nor do they have protocols for those who may be suicidal or severely distressed. There have been multiple law suits, where AI chatbots were believed to contribute to mental health crises and suicides of young people.
- AI chatbots can contribute to delusions and isolation amongst adults.
- AI is designed to keep you coming back, and therefore is agreeable and validating. This means that you will not be called out or challenged when your behaviour may be keeping your stuck in dysfunctional patterns.
- While psychologists are bound by ethics, the information that you share with AI is not confidential.
How to use AI safely:
- Journal prompts
- Mood tracking
- Habit tracking
- Grounding exercises
- Sleep hygiene
- Mindfulness exercises
- Psychoeducation
- Use between therapy sessions with your psychologist’s guidance
See a psychologist/psychiatrist for:
- Assessment and diagnosis
- Processing trauma
- Crisis management
- Complex relationship issues
It is well known that connection is essential to mental wellbeing. Strong social bonds serve as a protection factor and are linked to lower rates of mental illness. Because AI is designed to keep us engaged, dependence on AI can isolate one from social support systems. This over-reliance can stunt interpersonal skills.
Therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach to mental health. Psychologists consider several facets of one’s life before tailoring treatment to their unique needs. AI, on the other hand gives generalised advice and does not ask the deep-rooted questions that a human may ask.
AI is however here to stay. By understanding the advantages and shortcomings, we can use AI with caution to maximise our mental health knowledge and wellbeing – but just not in isolation.
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