Introduction
You’re lying down on your bed at 2am. It’s been a bad day and you desperately want to vent it out to someone. Your therapist isn’t available. But lately, you have been hearing a lot about AI therapists on the internet.So you reach out to the first AI therapist website that you come across. You start chatting and are slightly shocked about the resemblance of an AI therapist to an actual human therapist. But, is that always a good thing? AI therapists have been rigorously trained to provide accessibility and ethical safety. However an over reliance on them can make us emotionally dependent to the point where human interaction can seem daunting and stressful. This blog will explore the implications of developing an over-dependence on AI therapists and how we can strike a balance.
The Rise of AI therapists: Why We Are Drawn To Them
As we revolutionize towards a digital world, the number of AI therapists and AI companions that pop have been increasing day by day. Living in an era where the gap in the mental health profession is finally being recognised, AI therapy companies are using it to market their products. It is true that AI therapists might help bridge some of the gaps that might actually push the mental health space in a positive direction. With AI therapists, there’s increased accessibility, convenience and mostly importantly, mental health related support that inconceivably sounds like a real therapist. When someone can talk out a situation that’s been on their mind without going through the hassles of scheduling or travelling from the comfort of their own home, that makes AI therapists look much more attractive to about anybody
The Slippery Slope- What Does “Too Dependent” Look like?
The overuse of AI therapy considering its benefits is real and it might be a huge potential problem in the coming years. Over-dependence usually occurs when people start using it as a replacement, rather than a co-facilitator along with traditional therapy. So, what do you mean when you say overdependence? Over dependence on AI therapists can look like:
- Feeling the urge to talk to it every time you feel upset
- The need to check in with an AI therapist, even when you’re comparatively stress free
- Using AI therapist as a sole coping mechanism
- When you share more about your personal life than you do with friends or family
- Avoiding human therapy or friends
Emotional Consequences Of Over-Reliance
Now that we know what over- reliance looks like, what consequences can it actually cause? Well, firstly, AI therapists do have the tendency to provide flawless empathy and understanding because of its error free word usage. This can be sometimes overlooked in traditional therapy due to the awkward pauses or non-verbal gestures. Ultimately, it brings about emotional stagnation within the user which refers to the feeling of being heard but not challenged. Bringing someone out of their bubble and dysfunctional belief system is an important outcome of therapy. Secondly, when someone gets so used to getting access to an AI therapist the moment they feel discomfort, it reduces their ability to tolerate discomfort. The instant re-assurance provided by AI can harm their future relationships and also makes them feel dysregulated when they can’t have the access. Lastly, AI is ultimately not a real person with real experience. Sure, it can do a great job at providing empathy, giving insights by summarising your thoughts and even giving healthier alternatives to manage life. But one thing that it cannot help one with is making someone “feel their emotions”. This is the reason why AI cannot be used too much because humans do need both cognitive analysing as well as somatic work which completes one’s holistic growth.
Conclusion
So, if it’s harmful to use AI as a replacement but it can be an incredible tool to bridge the gap in the mental health profession. What do we get from this? The one thing you should take away from this blog is the word “balance”. Yes, you can use AI therapy alongside human therapy or merely as a tool for issues that you don’t feel safe to discuss with anyone else. But remember, AI therapy is a tool, not a substitute for emotional growth. The end goal of therapy, human or AI, is not just discomfort. It’s change. And change requires discomfort, resilience and reflection- something that any AI algorithm can never fully replace.
