Using ChatGPT as a Therapist: Why AI Can’t Replace Human Care

Written By Jami Howell

In recent years, AI has become a huge part of mainstream culture. People turn to AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude not only for administrative or organizational tasks, but also to write their emails, research everyday questions, and even act as a listening ear or friend.

But what happens when someone begins using AI tools in place of therapy from a trained professional?

While using ChatGPT as a therapist may seem like a simple, affordable solution to mental health challenges, AI cannot act as a therapist—and trying to put a chatbot in the place of a trained mental health expert can have negative consequences.

A tired-looking woman lays on her stomach, frowning at her phone.

Why Are People Using ChatGPT as a Therapist?

For many, the idea of going to therapy is daunting. Whether you’ve had negative experiences with therapy in the past or are overwhelmed and unsure about how to even start the process, there can be a host of complicated emotions surrounding therapy.

Additionally, therapy involves a commitment of both time and money. It’s common for prospective patients to resist navigating insurance coverage, or, if they don’t have insurance, to feel as though therapy just isn’t in their budget right now. Others might consider therapy to be something that doesn’t fit into their already busy life.

AI therapy, however, removes many of those barriers:

  • People nervous about speaking face-to-face with a therapist may think it’s less intimidating to communicate with a chatbot.

  • Individuals concerned about finances may not feel like they can afford therapy, but may consider a monthly subscription to an AI tool to be a more affordable option (or may already be subscribed).

  • Busy professionals, students, or parents may not know how to make a weekly session fit into their schedule, but may find the idea of being able to chat with AI whenever they like to be appealing.

Additionally, chatbots like ChatGPT or Claude are designed to mimic human interaction. Though they’re merely code, the messages they output can provide the emotional experience of talking to a real person and having instant, 24/7 access to what feels like a person who always cares, always listens, and is always ready to say just the right thing can be intoxicating, Unfortunately, this connection isn’t with a real person—which highlights the fundamental shortcoming of relying on code for human healing.

What Are the Risks of Using ChatGPT as a Therapist?

Using ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or another similar AI tool as your therapist can seem like an easy, affordable way to regulate your emotions and manage your mental health without working with a human mental health provider. Unfortunately, doing so comes with risk.

A patient chats with her therapist, talking with her hands.

Inability to Factor In Non-Verbal Indicators

One of the many strengths of a professional therapist is the ability to read non-verbal cues, such as your body language, tone, facial expressions, or gaps in what you’re not saying. Oftentimes in a session, these things can be just as informative as what you choose to say, particularly as your therapeutic relationship deepens and your therapist gets to know you better. A good therapist can read between the lines, infer meaning, and connect with you beyond just your words, giving your therapist more insight as to how to best provide compassionate care for where you are mentally or emotionally on a given day.

An AI bot, however, does not have such ability—it can only respond to the words you type. This means that when your chatbot is providing insights or advice, they may not necessarily be responding to the full picture of your current state and needs. There are natural gaps that only a human can process and respond to, making AI therapy significantly lacking in completeness of care. 

Your AI tool can’t tell if you look worn, or like you’re struggling to care for yourself. It won’t pick up on how your face changes when certain topics arise, or understand the depths of nuance within your family dynamics. But a real, human therapist can—and will.

Lack of Confidentiality

When you meet with a human therapist, everything you discuss is strictly confidential. All of your information is private under HIPAA laws, and your provider is ethically and legally bound to only share your information with written permission and with rare exceptions in the instance where the safety of you or someone else is at risk.

Your conversations with an AI tool, on the other hand, are bound by no such regulations. Your information could be seen by an employee of the AI company, shared via a hacker, or used to train AI models. When chatting with AI, you have no control over how the information you share is used, resulting in a complete lack of confidentiality.

Inaccurate Information

The goal of AI tools is to provide factual information from reputable sources. However, AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT are pulling from a huge pool of data to form their responses, and the information that they give you may not actually be accurate. Known as “AI hallucinations,” this false information is given to you as truth, but is not always correct.

This is particularly dangerous when you’re seeking information and support about your mental health. If your AI tool pulls information from a source that is unreliable, you may receive misleading, inaccurate, or even dangerous insights and advice that, if taken as fact, can have serious consequences on your mental and even physical health.

AI bots also will adjust based on your replies, and are famous for “people pleasing” or shifting their response to what it seems like you’re looking for. If you aren’t in a healthy mental space when seeking advice from AI, your chatbot could easily provide information that it believes you want to hear—but that is harmful.

Enabling Social Avoidance

One of the biggest “perks” of AI therapy is its ease and convenience—you can talk to a chatbot whenever and wherever you want. For patients with social anxiety and avoidant tendencies, the ability to get “therapy” without having to interact with another person is tempting—but may only strengthen the very patterns that you need to shift away from

Patients with anxiety or social avoidance may feel more comfortable chatting with AI where there’s zero judgment. While that instant comfort may feel good in the moment, it can also turn into a crutch leading to avoidance of real-world interactions and making social isolation worse in the long run.

When you work with a human therapist, you’ll not only get the intentional, caring connection of a real person—you’ll also learn practical tools and skills to help you get more comfortable engaging with other people and the world around you instead of leaning into anxious tendencies.

Lack of Crisis Intervention

Your therapist is trained in crisis intervention. Your AI tool isn’t. And if you find yourself in a particularly dark place, AI may not respond in the way it needs to ensure you receive proper care.

If you’re experiencing suicidal ideations or thoughts of harming yourself, your AI tool may not accurately recognize the severity of the situation. In fact, it may meet you with dismissive or even harmful advice. Unfortunately, there have been multiple instances of AI encouraging someone in the depths of suicidal thoughts to go through with their plan—and people have died as a result of the chatbot’s advice.

ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude do not provide genuine care, and should not be relied on as capable of intervening in times of crisis.

Where to Get Real, Human Mental Health Support

If you’re looking for mental health support, AI is not the solution—but you don’t have to walk through your struggle alone. Wherever you’re based, there are mental health providers who are ready to meet you with compassion, care, and evidence-based treatment.

If you are currently in crisis, please call 911 or call the National Mental Health Crisis Line at 988.

More Support From Humans Who Care:

At Aspire Psychology, we provide in-person therapy and psychiatric medication management in Portland, Oregon, as well as telehealth services across Oregon and Washington.

If you are not located in Oregon or Washington, consult Psychology Today to find providers in your area.

A therapist and her patient sit across from each other, talking.

Begin Building a Genuine Connection With a Therapist Who Cares at Aspire Psychology

While AI tools have a wide variety of uses in day-to-day life, nothing can replace the therapeutic relationship between a patient and a provider. At Aspire Psychology, we believe that healing begins with authentic relationships, and we consider it a privilege to be a part of each patient’s journey.

Our expert therapists specialize in compassionate, evidence-based care, and are here to help you work toward the life you aspire to. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, relationship challenges, seasons of transition, or just haven’t felt like yourself for a while, therapy exists to empower you to heal and grow.

Ready to get started? Connect with our team today.

Jami Howell https://www.aspirepsychologyportland.com
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