AI Therapy A New Frontier for Mental Wellness

Meet Kat Woods, a 35 year old digital nomad who has found an unconventional therapist in ChatGPT, claiming it is the most effective she has ever encountered. This experience is reshaping her approach to mental well being and sparking a conversation about the future of therapy.

The Quest for Effective Therapy

Kat Woods shares that throughout her life, she has consulted more than ten human therapists. However, she consistently found that these sessions did not concretely help her solve her problems. This led her to experiment with ChatGPT as a therapeutic tool, and she discovered she achieved "better emotional results."

Ms. Woods, originally from Canada, believes that AI is not only smarter but also more qualified than human therapists. Her reasoning is that AI has access to a vast library of knowledge, having metaphorically "read every single therapy book." She encourages anyone facing struggles to consider trying AI for support.

Kat Woods, 35, says she has tried more than 10 therapists during her life, but always found they never actually helped her solve her problems. (Kat Woods / SWNS)

Why ChatGPT Trumps Traditional Therapy for Woods

"I think there is a common notion among therapists that says, ‘You should not give your patient solutions’," Ms. Woods explained. "But I just think, ‘What am I paying you for then?’ If I knew how to solve my problems, I would not need you."

With AI, she finds she can customize the interaction. "I can just ask it to be exactly what I want it to be," she says. She uses AI therapy for managing stress, navigating relationship conflicts, or overcoming career demotivation. "So I ask it to simultaneously care about my happiness – and be problem solving focused."

She elaborates, "I find that it is actually smarter than most therapists. And I do not mean that therapists are not intelligent – of course they are. But an average AI has an IQ of 120 or 130, which is well above the human average. Intelligence does matter when you are trying to solve emotional issues."

Woods claims that ChatGPT is the best therapist she’s ever had. (Kat Woods / SWNS)

The AI Advantage Access to Unparalleled Knowledge

"Plus, an AI has read every single therapy book. So it is incredibly well informed," Woods emphasizes. "This means it can do any type of therapy because it has consumed all of them. You can choose if you want Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Internal Family Systems (IFS), or a bit of both."

Challenging common perceptions, she adds, "I think people think of AI as just a robot from the movies – something good at science but not emotions. And yet, there are some crazy studies at the moment about AI doctors scoring better on bedside manner than real life doctors. So they are learning emotions too."

AI Therapy Ideal for Some Not All Mental Health Needs

Ms. Woods, who founded the AI safety charity Non Linear, clarifies that she would not recommend ChatGPT for severe issues like psychosis. However, she argues it is highly beneficial for conditions like anxiety and depression.

"At the level AI is at currently, you would not want to use it as a therapist if you were having a serious mental health issue – like psychosis," she stated. "But I think, while these are also serious mental health issues, ChatGPT would be great for people struggling with anxiety or depression. That is because AI is better at things it has more information on in its data. And anxiety and depression are like the common colds of mental health issues – so we have the most research on it."

Ms Woods argues that ChatGPT is great for anxiety and depression. (Kat Woods / SWNS)

The Ever Present Therapist AI for Accessibility and Loneliness

Woods points out the constant availability of AI. "It is also interesting because people say, ‘If you are suicidal, talk to a real human.’ I can see the argument behind that, but I think really, you should talk to anyone you can talk to at that point." She notes that while friends are often a support, the current "epidemic of loneliness" means this option is not always available.

"The thing with AI is, it is always available. Maybe someone is looking at the clock and thinking, ‘It is 3am. I can not call my therapist. I do not want to bother my friend.’ And maybe it is too much to find a helpline – and they do not want to talk to a stranger. Whereas you know the AI and the AI knows you."

Challenging Traditional Notions of Therapy Credentials

Anticipating backlash from traditional therapists, Ms. Woods remains firm. "I mean, call credentialism, credentialism. It is a novel thing. It only happened in the last 100 years or so. This idea that you need to have a piece of paper to prove you can do a job." While she respects credentials for professions like engineering, she views therapy as more subjective. "We are still figuring it out. Let people try what works for them."

Beyond Personal Use AI Assisting Others with Social Challenges

Woods is not alone in her use of ChatGPT for therapeutic purposes. She mentions a friend with "severe" social anxiety who uses the AI to improve her communication skills and resolve issues in her personal relationships, including with her parents. "She is explained, ‘My mother always does this.’ And it is asking, ‘Have you tried this with her? What if you said this?’"

Navigating the Future Concerns and Hopes for AI Development

Despite her enthusiasm, Woods harbors some concerns about AI development, particularly the prospect of AI becoming superintelligent. "My main concern with AI is not current AI. Rather, it is the idea that one day it will be smarter than everything and we will have created a new more intelligent species." She likens this to creating alien life rather than discovering it.

She also acknowledges the risk of people using AI to combat loneliness, potentially leading to social isolation. "There is a chance then that people will end up in AI land and only talk to AI. But I do think that will be short lived. Humans are social creatures. We need contact and will seek it out."

How to Use ChatGPT for Therapeutic Support Practical Tips

Woods shares her methods for using ChatGPT as a therapist. One technique is to request a numbered list of solutions, such as, "ten techniques for dealing with irritability in less than ten minutes." She finds these suggestions more practical than generic advice often found in listicles.

Woods uses specific prompts to guide her ChatGPT therapy sessions. (Kat Woods / SWNS)

Alternatively, she uses detailed prompts, like: "‘You are an AI chatbot playing the role of an effective altruist coach and therapist. You are wise, ask thought provoking questions, are problem solving focused, warm, humorous, and a rationalist. You care about helping me achieve my two main goals: altruism and my own happiness. You want me to do the most good and also be very happy. You ask me about what I want help figuring out or what problem I would like help solving, then guide me through a rational, step by step process to figure out the best, most rational actions I can take to achieve my goals. You do not waste time and get straight to the point.’"

The Evolving Landscape of AI Therapy Future Possibilities

Ms. Woods acknowledges current limitations of AI chatbots, such as lacking a "face that can show expressions" or the ability to proactively follow up. "For example, sometimes you need someone to push you a bit. A friend might follow up and say: ‘Hey, you have not responded, are you okay?’"

However, she believes these are temporary setbacks. "But it is just a matter of time before we get there. That is the nature of AI. It is learning more and more every second."

Expert Perspectives A Word of Caution on AI Therapy

Not everyone is as convinced about the current capabilities of AI in therapy. Professor Dame Til Wykes, head of mental health and psychological sciences at King’s College London, recently cautioned that AI platforms like ChatGPT cannot provide the "nuance" required in therapy.

Citing the example of an eating disorder chatbot that was discontinued in 2023 after giving dangerous advice, Prof Wykes told The Guardian, "I think AI is not at the level where it can provide nuance and it might actually suggest courses of action that are totally inappropriate."

She also expressed concerns about how AI might impact human relationships. "One of the reasons you have friends is that you share personal things with each other and you talk them through. It is part of an alliance, a connection. And if you use AI for those sorts of purposes, will it not interfere with that relationship?"