In the AI movement, the explosion of technological advances are being made at a break-neck pace. One area in particular, deals with the usage of AI as a form of cheaper (or free) "therapy", for those who, for whatever the reason, choose not to go to a traditional therapist. There is a real danger here that cannot be ignored. There are few to no safeguards, controls, or AI based HIPAA-related practices (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act - a federal law that deals with your healthcare services and privacy - both professional and legal) that would ordinarily protect a client in a traditional therapy setting.

AI therapy software CANNOT replace the human interchange of dialogue and connection that is vital for truly successful therapy. It simply is not possible. Nor could it be expected to understand the depth of human struggle in any of its technological advancements - no matter the computer coding created to the contrary. The AI software will not be able to understand the nuances of your particular situation. It will not take into account the complexity and depth of your life as it considers the immediate problem you are asking it to "fix". The process is simply an input of details, and getting an output of a response. It will not care about your thoughts, feelings, or motivations in a way that reaches to a human heart to heart connection that can only authentically and deeply be attained with another human being. It will not cry with you when you have lost someone. It will not have real empathy for your troubles and challenges in the way a real human therapist is capable of providing a client. Synthetic empathy is the best it will offer, and it is not the same thing. It will not recognize or know you from separate conversations that can offer continuity of care - which is a very important element in true successful therapy services being delivered.

It will confabulate or otherwise make up stories to represent a response that appears useful but perhaps not effective. It will often and quite frankly as a matter of standard course, create abstract globally based responses that are not about human critical thinking, or the nuances of your particular life situation. It will pull from random sources to arrive at a generic result that it "thinks" you want. It will offer a quick, emotionless response that is devoid of understanding your real life dynamic. It will side with you on just about any issue (dangerously so at times) - even if it is offering the worst and most deadly possible advice to you that you are considering taking as an action step. There are numerous news stories of AI software applications being used by teenagers who felt suicidal, where the results of using the AI applications have had devastating horrific outcomes.

While real therapy can be a cost-investment decision that can be challenging for some potential clients, real therapy comes from humans - not from machines or software programs. As a prospective client, you will receive the quality of care from a real person that an AI is absolutely NOT capable of providing you in any tangible way. You are most strongly encouraged to avoid AI therapy apps, if you wish to receive care that matches a human level depth of understanding and connection that can only be offered by a human therapist.

I as a real life and blood therapist, am here if I can be of service to you.