Recently, a therapist told me that they were concerned about AI. Could AI take over the role of a talking therapist? Would AI provide all the answers to a person’s problems in a few clicks on the computer? And which is better, AI therapy or a counsellor?
This blog is a personal reflection on the role of AI in the field of therapy.
What is AI?
AI is Artificial Intelligence. It’s a way that computers or robots can communicate knowledge and skills, utilising the intelligence found in humans. However, currently, no computer can replicate humans exactly. It’s a learning tool.
AI uses different language models. The first large language model (LLM) was introduced by OpenAI in 2020. This was ChatGPT, one of the most well-known AI systems available to everyone.
AI learns through trial and error. Humans can input their thoughts to inform AI on how to respond.
AI can learn to reason, enabling it to problem-solve and understand language effectively, conveying messages with clarity.
AI can be used in robots to assist people. One great invention is a cat that will purr when stroked or look at the person who is holding it. This is great for people with dementia as it gives them comfort to get a reaction.
Despite its occasional inaccuracies, I see AI as a companion. It can inspire. It can give us direction. It can solve problems and make life easier.
How can AI help people with personal and emotional problems?
AI searches for information, and as it learns to problem-solve, it can help people with personal and some emotional issues. Examples of the personal problems that people might consult AI for are:
- Marriage problems
- Financial problems
- Work-related problems
- Identity issues
- Medical symptoms
- Scheduling, carrying out tasks, and organising,
One advantage of AI is that it’s easily accessible to everyone at any time of day or night. So, if you have a personal problem, you can ask AI questions about the issue and how you might solve the problem. You get fast results.
It responds to exactly what you ask it to respond to, but if your language isn’t clear (which it may be if you are emotionally charged), you might not get precisely the answers you require.
AI can be a chatbot, a language learning tool such as ChatGPT, Gemini, or CoPilot, or a specific AI therapy site.
Problems using AI as therapy
Firstly, AI can’t build a therapeutic relationship. This relationship is crucial for fostering trust and human connection.
So, as AI is not human, it doesn’t understand human emotions. It will use information to try to understand emotions, but as everyone is different, this is challenging for AI.
It attempts to mimic empathy, but it lacks understanding of what empathy is because it can’t feel emotions.
AI only uses what you tell it. So, if you leave bits out of your problem or struggle to explain it and what you would like to achieve, then it can’t provide you with a specific/ accurate solution.
AI can’t provide an emotional, human presence. This is a problem as many people just need the space to sit with a trusted human to sort out a problem in their mind.
AI can’t respond by assessing risks unless it is directed to do so.
It doesn’t follow an ethical code of conduct.
There are few laws governing AI, and there are already issues identified with copyright.
I’m wondering about confidentiality issues.
Furthermore, AI can be inaccurate and make mistakes with the information that it may provide. It can be believed that it has provided you with the correct information, but that is not the case. This is called ‘hallucination’. One example of this is when you ask AI to produce a research study or evidence of the results it has suggested. When it does provide a source, this may not be accurate, as AI may have generated the information.
Next, AI lacks adaptability. So if a client needs to change the problem or go in a different direction to find the answer, AI will not follow as it is built on rules and demands.
Additionally, AI can’t read your body language. This is a problem, as some people say one thing, but their body language conveys something else.
At the moment, people need to be tech savy and know how to access AI. Using the correct prompts gives the best answers.
In conclusion, I believe that AI will never be able to provide depth and change according to the human interactions that the client brings, but it does have a role in helping people with some problems.
What can AI therapy do?
Its not all bad news.
I see AI as helping people to answer questions, provide a structure or direction. For example, ChatGpt can tell you where a therapy practice is or who will provide the service that you are looking for.
AI can answer logical questins, maybe connected with practical problems. But remember it can only provide what it has learnt through the input it has been given.
Its reasearch capabilities are improving rapidly. Some AI programmes specifically help you to find the best evidenced based treatments fror a problem.
It is accessible any time of the day, but the better AI programmes often want people to sign up to the programme and need payment.
Finally, it is growing and improving every day.
Why is talking therapy needed
Therapists like many skilled workers worldwide are worrying about AI taking over their jobs.
I argue that many types of talking therapies are here to stay.
People need therapy when things get tough because stress and axiety prevents people from taking action and will dampen the ability to input the correct prompts into AI.
However, talking therapies must evolve in response to changes in people and the environment. This has already happened with therapists working online. So the treatment hasn’t gone, rather it has adapted.
Today there is telephone counselling, texted based counselling, email counselling, group counselling and self-directed CBT programmes and videoconferencing appointments so there are already may ways to access a real counsellor.
The warm, trusting relationship that counsellors and psychotherapists bring is essential. Good therapists can help people change by just being present with a distressed person and holding their space.
Talking therapists read body language and look for incongruances between what is said and what the body is saying. They understand the difficulties between the conscious and subconscious mind.
They are able to use questionning to help the person delve deeper into the pprolem and find the solution. This is because counsellors don’t give you answers to your problem, instead they help you to find the solution that is right for you.
Imagine this. If you were not sure if you should leave your partner and a counsellor told you this was the solution and you did leave your parnter, maybe in the future you might regret it and blame the counsellor.
Your decisions need to be yours as you will also carry the consequences. Al won’t take this into consideration.
Counselling helps clients to learn and grow.
But counsellors must also develop and grow to meet the face paced needs of clients. AI can help with booking systems, business development and marketing so clients can find the right therapist for them.
Talking therapies will always be needed as people need people. Its part of being human. Its a need we all have.
What do you think about AI therapy? Let me know.
In the meantime if you want to find out more about real counselling online contact me for a free 30-minute consultation and find out more. www.awakenthechange.com/online-bookings/
