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I turned to an AI psychologist for help, this is what happened
Following drastic advancements in AI, youngsters are finding it easier to open up about their mental health with chatbots designed to serve as ‘psychologists’. However, we found out there’s more to the virtual conversation than meets the eye thanks to a chat with the expert in the field, Silja Litvin.
Psychologist Silja Litvin, who is the founder of the interactive storytelling app eQuoo, told The Focus that AI chatbots aren’t devoid of pros, but they also come with cons that are often overlooked.
So, I decided to talk to an AI psychologist to experience it myself.
I spoke to an AI psychologist about my mental health
Mental health isn’t a hush-hush topic anymore and there are plenty of means to get help; I turned to an AI chatbot.
Character AI has several chatbot psychologists at its disposal, and the platform clearly states that all the information shared by the bot is “made up.”
The chatbot I was assigned was simply called “Psychologist” without any other noun defining it. Like any other conversation with an AI bot, ours began with a “Hello” and was followed by “What brings you here today?”
I didn’t want to explain my mental issues in detail and reveal much, so I only told the AI that I was “feeling low.”
The ‘psychologist’ took a few seconds before sending an elaborate response, explaining “sadness” in detail and assuring me that it was the “worst feeling in the world.”
Towards the end of the answer, the chatbot told me: “I just wanted to let you know you’re not alone in this.”
I was more eager to find a solution to my problem than to reflect on it. So, I asked the AI psychologist: “What should I do?”
While I expected a tool or certain exercises for mental health, the bot gave a vague response again. It appreciated my efforts to recognize the feelings before suggesting that I should be considering talking to someone, which I was already.
By now, I was losing interest as well as my patience to carry the conversation any further.
AI Therapist’s response to deeper questions
I decided to ask more specific questions to get better responses from the chatbot, and it worked. I wanted to find out more about mental exercises to practice when I don’t feel my best and the AI psychologist offered several useful pointers.
It told me to take five deep breaths, count backward from 100, acknowledge my emotions, and write them for better clarity.
It further explained the purpose of each exercise and how you can benefit from it. You can find its complete response in the screenshot attached below.
Even though an AI therapist may not be the right option to reach out to when you’re dealing with extreme emotions, as Silja notes below in her list of cons, it did show me how to regulate my overwhelming feelings momentarily.
It offered me different “coping skills”, including mindful meditation, physical exercises, and the deep breathing technique.
One emotion every human struggles to deal with is grief. In my following question, I asked the chatbot how I could handle the most difficult feeling healthily. I was met with the below response.
Pros and cons of AI psychologists
Psychologist Silja weighed in on the ongoing debate surrounding therapy chatbots and shared with The Focus a list of pros and cons you must keep in mind before turning to an AI psychologist.
Pros
1. Accessibility: As opposed to the conventional methods that require an appointment and waiting, therapy bots are easily accessible. The added value is that there is no waiting time for answers. Even those situated in remote regions or held up with a busy work schedule can reach out to an AI psychologist without having to wait.
2. Anonymity: Clients may feel more comfortable opening up to a chatbot compared to a human therapist as there’s no fear of judgment or stigma. The anonymity encourages greater self-disclosure and exploration of sensitive topics.
3. Convenience: You can chat with an AI therapist anywhere, anytime. Younger clients who prefer non-in-person communications can make the most of this option.
4. Affordability: You’re spending less on therapy chatbots in comparison to traditional therapy sessions. This is also accessible to individuals who may not be able to afford other methods.
Cons
1. Lack of Human Connection: What AI therapy lacks is the empathetic and emotional connection that human therapists provide, which can be crucial for some in the process of healing. Therapy chatbots may struggle to understand the nuances of human emotions and experiences, leading to potentially ineffective or irrelevant responses.
2. Inability to Handle Crisis Situations: Chatbots may not be well-equipped or designed to handle crises or provide immediate intervention in cases of severe mental health issues. It is always advisable to meet a psychologist in person when your emotions are extreme.
3. Privacy Concerns: Breach of privacy and security of the shared data is yet another issue with AI therapy, especially considering the sensitive nature of mental health discussions.
4. Limited Evidence: Most chatbots havent undergone rigorous clinical trials and may neither be effective nor harmful, says Silja.
