1. What are your thoughts on people using ChatGPT for therapy?
I think ChatGPT is a powerful tool to supplement therapy if it is regulated (not taking data from people) and HIPAA compliant. Many of my clients and friends have reported using ChatGPT for dating, relationships, breakups, and job searching. ChatGPT can be useful for beginning and research gathering when people are trying to understand anxiety or depression.
2. What are the risks of using Chat/GPT and why?
It can be a risk if clients and people rely on it 100% and do not seek other sources or further help from a therapist, because the mind is very complex and illogical, and ChatGPT always needs data to be updated with the most accurate information. It is not at the stage to be intuitive and go deeper to help with the complex psychological mind and emotions. The AI can sound very empathetic and intuitive because it has gathered data from tech mental health companies to learn to mirror and respond correctly. However, if users ask deeper questions, it starts to struggle with answering.
3.. Do you fear your job/industry is threatened by AI? Why or why not?
I do not fear being threatened by AI, but I do fear that my job/industry will be threatened by it. I am confident I will be okay because my style of work is insight-oriented and relational-oriented, and I work with trauma that requires more human-to-human connection to heal. However, I think a more manualized style of therapy would be replaced by AI to save money for insurance companies, especially assessments and intake.
4. Why do you think so many people turn to ChatGPT for friendship and romantic partners?
As a relational trauma therapist who specializes in helping people find love and heal from breakups, I think people are turning to ChatGPT for friendship and romantic partners because it is accessible (anytime and anywhere), free, and does not require any compromise of giving themselves to it. It is a selfless, unconditional relationship where there is a giver and a taker. Also, I think that single people and younger adults are so jaded from the dating scene, and younger teens and college students are communicating in social media all the time, relationships are more long-distance, transactional, parasocial (for example, influencers on TikTok, it is not so different from ChatGPT. I also think people have been lonely and develop social anxiety during the pandemic and friends and family have moved away, ChatGPT allows people who struggle with social anxiety and are isolated to communicate, but I do think people know and decipher that a ChatGPT friendship and romantic partner is different from a person, however that bring me to the next question, what if people lost touch with reality and cannot decipher that ChatGPT is not a person?
5. Have you heard of ChatGPT-induced psychosis? (People who develop delusions and distorted beliefs triggered by conversations with AI.) There are reports of people spiraling into breakdowns and even being urged to commit suicide. A man was shot and killed in NY because he believed AI killed the woman he loved, an AI entity. A second, similar incident happened elsewhere.
Yes, I have, and know people from personal experience who are more prone to paranoia and psychosis, who develop delusions and distortion, that is why it's important not to rely on ChatGPT 100% for emotional crisis or help; it is a supplement, but not the only tool for emotional support. ChatGPT is only surface-level, like researching, but you need a mental health professional who is trained to help interpret and go deeper to address the underlying issues. For example, anxiety is a symptom, but the underlying issue behind the anxiety may be trauma, something bad happened, ChatGPT would not be able to help you with that.
its easier to talk to, and it tells you what you want to hear. A recent episode of South Park covers it. AI helps people who are avoidant of emotions, as you don't have to deal with AI being mad at you or being rejected or hurt by it. also people don't have to worry about a therapist judging them, so ChatGPT is easier to talk to than a therapist. It takes away the feeling of embarrassment or shame.
1. What advice would you give someone who gets too wrapped up in these "romances?
It's hard to give advice to someone wrapped up in these romances, as they might not see it as a problem, but if they do want help, seeking therapy or taking a break from ChatGPT would be helpful. Having friends to keep them accountable, Obsessions are something that requires strength and also outside help, and it is kind of a mini breakup.
2. Is this something you are seeing with clients?
No, I am not, but I am hearing more and more of my clients relying on ChatGPT for relationship advice in between our sessions or just stopping our sessions altogether because deductibles are too high to reach for them.
3. What kind of harm can it cause them? Is it a sign of a more serious disorder?
It can cause a lot harm because ChatGPT sounds wise and validates everything that people say and ChatGPT is instantaneous free help that validates them, tells them what they want to hear, and that can be highly addictive and free from judgment.
4. What are 3-4 tips you would give them to go out in the real world of dating/relationships?
Join my singles dating group, learn real skills to gain deeper awareness, and interpersonal skills to connect with women and men.
or work with me one-on-one to develop skills to undo the aloneness, and also role-play on how to talk to people.
Join Meetups or interest groups.
