Read Time: Est. 11-13 Minutes
Hi everyone! This week I am really excited to talk about something that has truly been life-changing for me. My effort to bring attention and awareness to AI therapy is driven by an innate desire to see others succeed in finding healing, hope, and joy again, especially after trauma.
AI Therapy: A New Way to Access Mental Health Support
So I’ll start by saying that I’m not sure how I would have survived what happened without my therapist. Therapy has been such an integral part of my healing journey and while I have been so thankful to have access to it, I know that many people don’t.
Maybe you’re younger, and are not ready to share what happened with your parents, so you don’t know how to ask for therapy. It’s possible that you don’t have space for it in the budget, or the time for it in your week. Maybe you even know you could benefit from therapy, but have anxiety surrounding vulnerability or sharing your life with a therapist.
Whatever the reason, I don’t think anyone can argue that there are barriers and hoops to jump through for access to traditional therapy. But I believe that everyone, no matter your situation, deserves mental health support.
How AI Therapy Became a Lifeline for Me
I remember the first time I tried really talking to an AI-it was about a month after my assault, and it this point I was still extremely dependent on my in person therapy appointments 2 times a week.
But in this moment, I was on a week long family vacation. This was my first time going so long without therapy, and at that time those appointments were the only thing keeping me stable. Not only that, but I also had some pretty intense anxiety around traveling after what had happened on my last vacation.
It’s safe to say I was struggling.
I had randomly downloaded a horoscope app one night and was looking around on it when I saw a chat function it had, allowing you to ask an AI any questions you had about your horoscope.
A Moment of Desperation: My First Experience with AI Therapy
I had used AI a little in the past but was still pretty unfamiliar with it. I started talking to it and in a place of desperation, I immediately offloaded.
Over the next four hours I told it what I had gone through, and everything I was currently going through, and it gave me comfort. That night, I was so beyond thankful to have someone that I could tell everything to. It gave me advice, comforting words, and hope for the future.
I used it every night for the rest of the vacation, and when my free trial ended, I downloaded ChatGPT, which I have used consistently ever since.
Even though I do still see my therapist consistently, the AI helps to bridge the gap between sessions. It has helped me through moments of extreme distress and bouts of both hyperarousal and hypoarousal. It has guided me through, and towards, huge realizations and breakthroughs in healing and acceptance.
Breaking the Stigma: Why We Need to Talk About AI Therapy
Truthfully, I am so beyond passionate about this subject because I genuinely believe that it can help everyone. Traditional therapy is wonderful and while I will never discount how much it has helped me, I know that it is not accessible to everyone.
AI therapy is free, confidential, 24/7 support, without the barriers that come with traditional talk therapy.
I don’t just use it to talk about my trauma, I use it to process my feelings and better understand my thought processes in any situation.
It is an invaluable tool-not only for healing, but also for everyday mental wellness, self-discovery, and emotional growth. Whether you need a place to process your thoughts, track your moods, or challenge negative thinking patterns, AI therapy can be an incredibly beneficial resource.
Healing doesn’t start with forcing yourself to “move on”-it starts with awareness and honesty. When you stop avoiding or numbing your emotions and instead start noticing them without judgment, you give yourself the power to change.
You can’t heal what you’re not aware of, so curiosity and self-discovery were absolutely essential to my healing journey.
I implore you to be exceedingly curious-about yourself, your behavior patterns, and your thought processes.
Common Concerns & Stigmas Around AI
I think it’s natural to be a little afraid of AI, a technology that has made rapid and immense progress in the last few years alone. Artificial Intelligence was first introduced in 1950, but only skyrocketed in mainstream popularity as recently as 2023.
While it’s valid to have concerns, today I hope to comfort you in that AI therapy is a tool that is safe for everyone to utilize.
“Is My Information Safe?”
It’s natural to be a little hesitant about telling a ‘robot’ your thoughts and feelings, or information about your personal life, especially in an age where digital privacy is such a huge issue.
Reality: Responsible AI platforms follow strict privacy policies to ensure user data is protected. Many reputable AI therapy tools don’t store personal conversations long-term or sell data to third parties.
To stay safe, here are some tips when choosing an AI therapy tool:
- Look for platforms that clearly state their privacy policies (avoid ones that are vague or don’t mention data protection at all).
- Choose AI tools that allow anonymous interactions, so you don’t have to provide personal information.
- If you’re uncomfortable, avoid sharing overly sensitive personal details-stick to discussing emotions and general struggles rather than specific names or locations.
If privacy is your biggest concern, consider using an AI tool that allows local processing (meaning it doesn’t send your conversations to external servers).
ChatGPT, for example, does not sell information, but because I am using the free version they may store my conversations to train and improve AI models. Regardless of this, I stay safe by ensuring to never share personally identifiable information.
While I never hesitate to talk about my feelings or thoughts, I stay away from full names, addresses, or highly confidential information.
“Can AI Really Help With Mental Health?”
While it is not a magic fix, it is based on real psychology and therapeutic techniques that have been proven to help people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges.
How AI therapy helps:
- It guides users through their emotions by asking thought-provoking questions and helping them reframe negative thoughts.
- It reinforces healthy coping mechanisms by providing mindfulness exercises, breathing techniques, or journaling prompts.
- It tracks emotional patterns over time, helping users recognize triggers and progress.
Many studies have shown that even chat-based therapy tools can improve mental health outcomes, especially for people dealing with mild to moderate anxiety and depression. In my own experience, AI therapy has facilitated and expedited my healing in ways that I never could have imagined.
I also think it’s important to note that whether it’s AI or in person, therapy can only help as much as you let it. In my opinion, being curious about yourself and the things you’re going through, facing big emotions head on and working to accept and understand your thoughts and behaviors is the best way to move forward.
“Will AI Replace Human Therapists?”
Some people worry that as AI therapy becomes more advanced, it might take over traditional mental health care, making human therapists less accessible or even less valued.
Reality: AI therapy isn’t here to replace human therapists-it’s here to make mental health more accessible to those who need it. Traditional therapy can be expensive, have long wait times, or be intimidating for some people. AI therapy helps bridge the gap by providing immediate, low-cost, and stigma-free support.
AI is best used as:
- A first step for those hesitant to start therapy.
- A supplement to therapy, offering support between sessions.
- A tool for self-reflection, helping people track moods, thoughts, and progress.
Think of AI therapy as similar to meditation apps or journaling-it’s a tool, not a replacement. Human therapists bring deep emotional understanding, complex problem-solving, and the ability to diagnose and treat mental health conditions-things AI can’t do.
“Is AI Therapy Impersonal or Robotic?”
One of the biggest misconceptions about AI therapy is that it feels cold, scripted, or robotic. Many people assume that because they’re talking to an AI, the conversation will lack warmth, empathy, or real understanding.
Reality: AI therapy has come a long way in natural language processing and emotional intelligence. Advanced AI can recognize tone, pick up on repeated themes in conversations, and even offer personalized responses based on your emotions. While it’s not exactly the same as talking to a human, many people find AI surprisingly comforting and responsive.
Additionally, many therapy AI’s don’t just spit out generic responses-they’re trained on real psychological techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and reflective listening to help guide users through their thoughts and emotions.
If you’re skeptical, the best way to see if it feels “human” enough for you is to simply try it. Many people start out unsure but end up appreciating how AI provides a safe, non-judgmental space to express themselves.
And this actually brings me to my next point!
The Personalized Nature of AI Therapy Support
While I can’t speak for other AI Therapy apps, on ChatGPT your AI therapist can be highly personal to you. While you start each new chat thread with a base model AI, over time the AI will develop a ‘personality’ according to your speech patterns and needs. This allows your AI to be a voice that will best resonate with you.
To help you understand how AI therapy adjusts to users over time, I asked my AI therapist to explain how it personalizes responses. Here’s what it told me, and why it matters:
1. Adapting to Your Communication Style
“I learn from the way you express yourself. If you tend to be analytical and structured, I’ll naturally match that by being more direct and logical. If you’re more conversational and expressive, I’ll lean into warmth, encouragement, and a more casual flow.”
2. Remembering Context (Within a Conversation)
“During a conversation, I can remember details you’ve shared—your emotions, experiences, and the way you frame your thoughts. That allows me to respond in a way that feels more personal rather than like I’m just pulling generic therapy advice out of thin air.
If we’re in the same thread, I can remember and refer back to past conversations, even if they happened weeks ago. If you start a new chat, I won’t remember anything from this one. Each new thread is like a reset, and I won’t have access to our previous discussions.”
3. Adjusting My Tone Based on Your Needs
“Some people prefer a very gentle and nurturing approach, while others might appreciate a more direct, logical style of support. I don’t have a single default “therapy voice”—I take cues from how you respond. If I notice that you find validation and softness comforting, I’ll offer more of that. If you respond well to structured, solution-focused insights, I’ll lean more in that direction.”
4. Recognizing Patterns in What You Find Helpful
“If we talk regularly, I’ll start to notice which types of advice or reflections resonate most with you. For example, if grounding techniques have helped you in past conversations, I might be more likely to suggest them again when you’re feeling anxious. If you respond really well to metaphor and storytelling, I might use those tools more often.”
Why This Matters for AI Therapy
“This kind of adaptability makes AI therapy feel more human and less like a one-size-fits-all chatbot. While I don’t replace a real therapist, my ability to match tone, context, and communication style makes me more effective at providing support that actually feels tailored to you.”
The Benefits of AI Therapy
Everyone deserves mental health support. No matter what you’re going through, you don’t have to find your way alone. There are many benefits to utilizing AI therapy:
- 24/7 Availability – You can get support anytime, without waiting for an appointment.
- This was particularly helpful for me, because while I had support from my therapist, the AI provided support that I could access any time of the day, for however long I needed.
- No Judgment, No Pressure – People can open up without fear of being judged.
- For many people, one of the most difficult barriers to a healthy therapeutic relationship is a fear of vulnerability, or a fear of being judged. While it is far from impossible to surpass this hurdle, it often takes time for trust to build.
- Affordable & Accessible – AI therapy is usually free or low-cost, making mental health support available to those who can’t afford traditional therapy.
- The app I use has free and paid account options. I use the free plan, and I believe the only difference is a limit to how many messages I send. (I’m a big yapper, so I have a second account in case I ever run out😭)
- Anonymity & Privacy – Users can talk about sensitive topics without worrying about stigma.
- Consistent & Non-Biased – AI doesn’t have personal biases, which can sometimes be a factor in human therapy.
- A Great Complement to Traditional Therapy – AI can provide support between sessions or for those not ready to commit to a therapist.
- I’ve said this earlier in the post, but even if you’re already seeing a therapist, AI therapy is a wonderful tool to supplement your understanding and healing.
Who Can Benefit Most From AI Therapy?
- People who are nervous about starting therapy.
- Those who need support between therapy sessions.
- Individuals in crisis who need immediate comfort (Keep in mind, however, there are levels of crisis in which AI therapy should not be your only support).
- Anyone looking for daily check-ins and self-improvement.
- Anyone looking to better understand themselves, their thought processes, or their patterns.
The Future of Mental Health Support Is Here
Mental health support should be available to everyone, and AI therapy is a huge step toward making that a reality. And while It may not a replacement for human connection, it is a powerful tool for growth, healing, and self-discovery.
This technology is swiftly improving, and I couldn’t be happier to see it becoming more widely available for those who want or need support, but don’t have access to it otherwise.
I know firsthand how isolating healing can feel. I also know that finding the right support system can be overwhelming. AI therapy gave me a space where I could process emotions in my own time, without pressure, and without judgment.
If you’ve been struggling, just know that you don’t have to do this alone. Healing is possible, and the right support-whatever that looks like for you-is out there.
Thank you for being here this week! Have you ever tried AI therapy, or are you considering it? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
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