Chat GPT for therapy . . . not from Amy
October 2025
A few weeks ago there was a trend on social media titled “Propaganda I Am (Not) Falling For,” where everyone from influencers, brands, and regular people would put a list together of widespread claims they either did or did not believe. As I was mindlessly scrolling though Instagram (I’m working on it, okay?), I came across an influencer’s “Propaganda I Am Falling For” post that said: Using ChatGPT for therapy.
That stopped my mindless scrolling dead in its tracks. Over the past year or so, technological advances have made it so that AI tools have become engrained in our day-to-day lives. It is the first thing we see pop up on Google searches. It shows up in our social media and the content we consume. It can automate repetitive tasks, teach us new skills, do our homework* (a recent NY Mag article exposed how college students were using ChatGPT to write their essays and complete assignments for them), and much, much more! But what happens when we ask AI to be our therapist and replace a relationship that is based on foundational human connection?
Well, it turns out, a lot of bad things! A recent study conducted by Standford University suggests that AI Chatbots are not equipped to pick up on certain queues and can even enable harmful behaviors. The study also showed that these chatbots stigmatized certain conditions and may lead to the user not getting the help they need. Furthermore, there are numerous ethical concerns when it comes to AI and forming emotional bonds - including emotional manipulation, lack of regulation and oversight, and the potential for sensitive data to be shared with third-party organizations.
Validation from a robot is not therapy, and real progress does not happen with a set of pre-programmed algorithmic responses. An experienced human therapist will empathize with your emotions AND challenge unhelpful patterns. A human therapist will not provide a linear, one-size-fits-all approach, but will collaborate with you to figure out how to get the most from your work together. A good therapist can ask the right questions to lead you to insight and awareness into some of your intra and interpersonal problems - how can we expect something that is not human to work through human issues? The transformative power of therapy comes not just from the tools and skills learned, but from the powerful healing that comes from a secure, supportive, and safe human relationship.
Whether we like it or not (and maybe I’m old-fashioned, but I fall into the “not” category) - AI is here to stay and will continue to have a major impact on how our society operates. It can be a useful tool to provide beneficial information when it comes to self-care. Need a quick five-minute meditation to ground yourself, an easy nutritious recipe, a scheduling tool to balance all of your tasks, or contact information for support groups in your area? AI’s got you. But AI is not equipped to provide a truly relational experience and can foster emotional dependency, rather than build emotional safety and security with yourself and others.
*Writer’s note: this essay has not been touched by ChatGPT or any AI tool. It is 100% raw and from the writer’s (albeit scattered) brain.