Using AI as a Therapist

Artificial Intelligence is being used in different industries and used in different ways to give assistance or support to the people battling with mental health exhaustion. Using AI is a therapist is a newly introduced concept and this help us with the way we look at mental health exhaustion and how it can be helped. This is one area of the use of AI that has gained more attention, while this is great idea and a promising one, there are things we have to put into consideration.

Benefits of Using AI as a Therapist

1. One of the benefit of using AI as a therapist is that it can be customized or personalized for a particular person. This let the data to identify the certain or particular needs of the user. If for instance, a person is battling with depression, AI can analyze its data and provide particular help and advice for the user, which makes it more advanced than the human to human therapy session.

2. One other benefit of using AI as a therapist is that it is accessible for your use 24/7, not like the human to human therapy, where you have to arrange for an appointment and wait for your turn which is somehow stressful and time-taking. This is accessible anytime anyday, even if you want to get emotional support in the night or a non-working day.

3. These AI systems are made to interact in a supportive and sensitive manner regardless of your gender, age or sexuality. It ensures there is a safe space where everyone can pour out how they feel and what’s baffling them without any fear of being discriminated or judged. It can help certain communities or groups like the LGBTQ+ ,to provide a non-judgmental session so they can express their feelings, share their experiences and get the right advice and guidance.

4. Using AI can help lessen the fear and disgrace surrounding mental health. Lots of people have refused to go for therapy because of what they heard about it and how shy they are to express what they feel or what they are struggling with. These AI systems provide personal and anonymous support for anybody and this takes away the fear of them being judged or laughed at.

Implications of Using AI as a Therapist

There are many implications attached with the use of AI as a therapist. Some of them are mentioned below:
1. One of the implications is the possibility for mistake or partiality in the system. If for example, there is an error in the information data used to train the AI system, there is a high possibility the outcome of the therapy session will be disastrous. This will give way to unreliable or harmful advices to be given to the individual.

2. Unlike the traditional therapy which needs human – human meeting together to form a connection, and where the therapist uses his/her knowledge or expertise to support and advice the individual/client. AI system don’t have the power to feel empathy or pity towards a human and this makes the system lack the understanding of how the user truly feels. They can only provide informations or advices due to the data inputed in the system, which makes them lack the human care or personal touch a human therapist will give.

3. Confidentiality and Data security is one big implication of using an AI as a therapist. Users must be certain that their personal information or sensitive datas will be kept private and safe . Most humans don’t trust putting some of their personal information out there , because of the fear of having their privacy leaked. Building trust, creating a bond or showing sympathy are components a human therapist exhibit ,which the AI system cannot copy or do.

Examples of platforms using AI as a therapist

There are many AI powered platforms that perform the work of a therapist and few of them are:

1. Woebot

2. Replika

3. Tess

4. Talkspace

5. Mindstrong

6. Joyable

7. Wysa

In conclusion, AI gives a whole new level of assistance to those having with mental health issues. AI therapy should not be a substitute for traditional therapy, but it should be an additional tool for support to those who need it because it cannot replace the human connection. Another concern is the lack of human connection which is an important thing in the therapy field. The use of AI for therapy has its advantages and implications. It has the benefit of being accessible to people that are afraid or shy to talk about their issues and some communities like the LGBTQ+ community. Same way it has the implication of privacy concerns and not giving an accurate response due to the data installed in it.