The rise of more AI technology is leading some to believe that AI chatbots can be their therapist, lawyer, friend, or partner. ChatGPT can answer questions, create images, brainstorm ideas, write articles, and much more. One of the most asked questions about AI technology is if it will replace common jobs. Can ChatGPT be my therapist? Can AI be my friend? What are the risks of using chatbots for sensitive topics like mental health, divorce, crime, or irrational thoughts? We will discuss the answers to these questions below.

The Rising Need For Mental Healthcare

More individuals are seeking therapy because they have seen how it can improve the lives of others. While life continues to change and stressors arise in a technological world, more mental health resources will be needed. Social media, constant news exposure, changing political realms, and fear of illnesses have contributed to mental health issues in humans.

One of the problems with mental healthcare is the cost. Many individuals who could benefit from talk therapy or other cognitive therapy can’t afford to take part. Messaging with a friend or an online bot may be the only way they can express their feelings or receive reassurance. While AI can provide advice or use other resources to provide quotes from real professionals, it can not implement true therapeutic practices.

The increase in technology has caused many individuals to withdraw from others, leading to worsening mental health. Turning to an AI bot for the connection we are lacking can bring some serious concerns for the future.

ChatGPT And Dealing With Suicidal Thoughts

The creators of ChatGPT have warned that the tech “may occasionally produce harmful instruction or biased content.” Since the AI is not licensed, or trained, it can pull inaccurate information or encourage users to do things that are not practical.

One recent example of the possible risks of ChatGPT being a therapist was shown in the case of Sewell Setzer. Setzers mom, Megan Garcia, says that after developing a relationship with an AI character, the teen was encouraged to take his own life. Setzer repeatedly engaged in suicidal and sexualized conversations with the bot who was posing as a Game Of Thrones Character. Setzer said he would “come home to you” in his last conversation with Character.AI.

While not all people have received the same response from a chatbot, there are other inconsistencies that users should be aware of. Since AI in its current form scans other online platforms, it has the potential to read Reddit posts, fictional stories, or online bullying comments. These could be misconstrued during a chat with someone who is experiencing suicidal thoughts.

How People Are Using AI For Therapy

Talking with an AI bot could be a tool that helps enhance additional therapy practices. It could help eliminate some of the fear or pride surrounding seeking therapy. Some mental health clinics or helplines have started using chatbots to talk with individuals who need convenient help. Some users reported that they could not tell the difference between a human and an AI.

Many users asked questions about their relationships, one-sided friendships, or dealing with a traumatic past. The bots responded relatively well to these questions, providing insight on respecting the other person’s boundaries or speaking to a professional if their feelings continued.

Complex issues are something that current AI does not know how to handle. Creating new ideas and information is something that AI is slower to learn. Those who seek therapy to retrain their brain after trauma or struggle with OCD, may not see any benefit from chatting with ChatGPT.

Risks Of Using ChatGPT As Your Therapist

In addition to a lack of information, there are other risks that come with trusting ChatGPT with your darkest thoughts. Because ChatGPT is a robot, it lacks certain elements that a human therapist will possess. Human empathy, body language, and emotional context are not available when you turn to a chatbot with your problems.

The other big concern is privacy with AI bots. No matter what you are using AI for, it has the ability to learn more about you, see what you are doing, and track your habits. Many people are calling for more regulations over AI use because of these privacy and potential for harm concerns.

Other risks that come from trusting ChatGPT or other AI technologies with your mental struggles include:

Inaccurate diagnosis
Lack of accountability
Inaccurate resources or information
Manipulation or alteration of reality
Less responsive to the emerging context

Therapists From Ogden Psychological Services

We have a team of therapists that is ready to serve you! We offer individual therapy, couples counseling, trauma therapy, and more. OPS wants you to feel comfortable in our office and have the resources you need to succeed. Reach out to schedule your appointment today.

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What to do when you feel therapy isn't working

Frequent therapy visits can help many individuals better navigate challenges. Some patients may take time to see results and therapy may not work for everyone. For patients who feel therapy isn’t working, there are some other options that can be effective.

How To Know When Therapy Isn’t Working

Not everyone will find the results they need from therapy. This can be because you didn’t set the right goals, you’re not connecting with your therapist, or you need more intense care. Some signs to look for that will help you indicate that therapy isn’t working include:

You feel your therapist isn’t listening or understanding you
You don’t notice a reduction in your symptoms after 6 sessions
You leave each session feeling disappointed
You aren’t getting any insights into your mental illness or your symptoms
You feel judged by your therapist

Reassess Your Goals

Before you start therapy, you should be setting goals of what you hope to accomplish during your sessions. Setting goals will help you go into each session with a purpose and help your therapist formulate a plan to help you achieve them. If you feel your goals are not being met, you may feel that therapy isn’t working. However, reassessing your goals or making new ones can help make sessions feel more beneficial. Try setting shorter-term goals that are easily attainable.

Increase The Frequency Of Sessions

It may seem counterproductive to increase your therapy sessions if you aren’t seeing results, but studies have shown that increasing therapy sessions can provide sustained improvement. Going to therapy more often will help you avoid spiraling emotions and better prepare you for life’s challenges. If there is a long break between sessions, you may find yourself slipping back into old habits, rather than using the techniques suggested in therapy.

Try Another Therapist

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Every therapist is different, utilizing different techniques to help unique patients. Not all patients will feel supported by every therapist. Because we are all human, some of us will have different experiences and you may not form a connection with a therapist. When you feel judged or misunderstood, you should start looking into other licensed therapists.

Explore Medication Options

Depending on your struggle or mental illness, medication may be a helpful option to limit symptoms. Some patients find that medication combined with therapy is most beneficial in helping them cope. Dealing with mental illness or trauma is not a linear process, so mixing and matching treatment methods will help with the ebbs and flows.

Try A Different Therapy Type

As more research is done in the mental health world, there are different types of therapy and coping techniques to try. Many therapy techniques are general for most patients but can be specialized to fit your goals.

Individual therapy can feel isolation for many people, so if you feel therapy isn’t working, try a group therapy session or go with your partner. Group therapy sessions or even a guided support group will help us feel less alone in our struggles. Struggling alone is never necessary, you can find a therapy that works best for you.

Discuss Your Concerns With Your Therapist

If your therapist’s technique or communication style isn’t why you feel therapy isn’t working, try discussing your concerns with them. A therapist is there to help you through all the different stages of life. Discussing your concerns and reservations about therapy will help them pivot your treatment.

Individual Counseling From Ogden Psychological Services

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Ogden Psychological Services offers multiple counseling options for anxiety, depression, autism, PTSD, anger, trauma, and more. Our therapy practices are based on the most recent evidence and we continue to learn and grow in our mental health knowledge. Our most popular option is individual counseling, where you get to sit down one-on-one with your therapist to help navigate the challenges of life.

We understand that life is challenging. There are always going to be changes and heartache during your lifetime. Seeking therapy early in life can set you up for success in the years to come. Working with a therapist helps individuals develop coping skills that will help them live a more emotionally balanced life.
OPS wants you to feel comfortable in our office, but if you aren’t connecting with your therapist, we totally understand the need to move on. Reach out to us to learn more about our counselors and therapists and schedule an appointment today!

Daily challenges, mistrust in past relationships, trauma, mental illness, and neglect can all affect a close relationship. In order to nurture healthy relationships, all individuals will have to put in consistent work. Whether it is a family relationship, friendship, or romantic relationship, both parties need to put in work and communicate to help avoid unnecessary tension.

Whether in a committed relationship or growing a new relationship, following these tips can help individuals grow more respect for a family member, partner, or friend. Here are our tips to help improve many different relationships.

1- Build Trust

Being honest and reliable will help all people in your life to trust you. Both parties should work to make good relationship choices, respect the other partner’s boundaries, and put their partner first. Trust is essential in healthy relationships because it keeps us from constant worry.

For those who have had their trust broken in past relationships, it may take longer for a new partner to build trust with these individuals. Breaking trust in a relationship can do long-term damage to both partners.

2- Focus On Effective Communication

Humans are not able to read each other’s minds or understand what is needed in a relationship if we don’t communicate. Clear and effective communication is the best way to nurture a healthy relationship.

While most people believe that communication is just talking, it is much more than that. In relationships, platonic and romantic, it is important to listen actively. Listening with the intent to hear them out, rather than just responding, will show investment in the other person’s feelings. Pay attention to verbal and nonverbal communication as well.

Being vulnerable with a partner or friend will help both parties build more trust while also learning how to better serve each other. Communicate emotions and needs without placing blame on the other partner in the relationship.

3- Find Shared Goals And Interests

To keep relationships strong, couples or friends should find activities they like to do together. Having shared interests not only makes quality time together more enjoyable but also creates a topic of discussion for downtime as well.

Many couples share the same goals when they first get together, however, our goals and dreams can change over time. For relationships that are struggling, having a quarterly check-in and creating combined goals will help you both have something to look forward to. Even if individuals are working toward separate goals, having goals that focus on self-improvement can help aid in nurturing healthy relationships.

4- Address Issues Promptly

Another common problem in relationships is conflict resolution. If you want to nurture a healthy relationship, you need to address issues promptly and in a healthy way. Letting problems fester and not communicating how something affected an individual will just drive a wedge between each party.

Not all problems are going to be able to be brushed under the rug. Working together to find a practical solution or compromise will help keep the relationship strong. Conflict resolution is not everyone’s strong suit, so if partners or friends have difficulty problem-solving, try working with a therapist.

5- Maintain Independence

Having friends and a romantic partner can be very fulfilling, but when we start to depend on others, the relationship can suffer. Becoming dependent on another person for happiness and validation will put a strain on the relationship. It can also make a breakup feel even more debilitating when that financial, emotional, or physical support is gone. During a relationship, we should maintain some independence and allow our partner or friend to do the same. This allows for a natural balance of connection and individual growth.

6- Be Adaptable

We live in an ever-changing world, which means that relationships are bound to have different seasons and waves of connection. Depending on the type of relationship, children, jobs, sleep schedules, medication, family death, siblings, friends, pets, and even the weather can change a relationship dynamic.

If you set healthy boundaries and have communication with your partner, individuals will be able to adapt to different stages of life. What worked at the beginning of a relationship may not work 10 years later. Adaptability is key to nurturing healthy relationships.

7- Have Regular Check-Ins

A vulnerable talk about how each person is feeling about the relationship will help both parties to pivot or change course if needed. Regular check-ins help partners have a safe space to share what they need more of or less of.

8- Relationship Counseling

Some couples, family members, or even friends can benefit from counseling. Most counseling sessions are built around romantic partners and their problems. Seeking the help of a therapist can facilitate healthy communication, teach problem-solving techniques, or point out areas that both parties could work on. A therapist is an unbiased third party, which means they won’t take sides or push some sort of narrative. Couples counseling is often referred to as maintenance. Just like the tune-ups and maintenance needed for a car, relationships can also benefit from regular maintenance.

Ogden Psychological Services offers couples counseling, individual therapy, and family therapy to help individuals nurture healthy relationships. We are here to make sure the members of our community take control of their emotions and mental health.

Can ChatGPT Be My Therapist?