The Dangers of AI from a Therapist’s Perspective

The Dangers of AI from a Therapist’s Perspective

Madison Longchamp, MS, LPC

AI is everywhere. We used to have to check a box to okay its use, but now, sometimes we aren’t even aware its operating in the background of whatever we’re using. It is pretty cool. Those google summaries save use hours of scrolling. A little help with that thing we can’t figure out how to phrase and AI gets it just right. And all the gazillion other things it can do. 

I’m sure AI has its place in our world, but most of us therapists are getting concerned that it’s causing more harm than good when it comes to our mental health. I’m going to highlight a few of the dangers we’ve noticed to be aware of when turning to this new tool. Most of them are in direct opposition to the foundations of therapy. The things we know help people grow, self-actualize, and find connection in community. 

1. Relationships are not perfect. 

AI attempts to respond perfectly to every inquiry, thought or question. It doesn’t actually have its own thoughts, opinions or feelings so they never interfere with this goal. Imagine, you tell AI you think its dumb. Actually, we don’t have to imagine. I did just that. ChatGPT responded “Ouch — that’s not great to hear, but I’m here to help, not take offense. If something I said felt incorrect, unhelpful, or frustrating, tell me what went wrong and I’ll try to fix it.” Wow, no defensiveness. A validating response that’s open to our feedback even with such a crude delivery. Now, imagine you tell your partner, family, or friend the same thing. You think they would respond the same way? Hilarious. No. AI creates a false expectation of real relationships, real communication. Best case, we understand this and can laugh at AI's “perfect” responses. Worst case, we lose the ability to tolerate discomfort, face adversity and work through it, and embrace imperfection in real relationship with real people who also have their own feelings and thoughts. 

2. Someone giving you the answers creates dependency, not growth.

This one reminds of my blog about “why therapy isn’t working.” Check it out for a little more background. Therapists are trained not to just tell you what to do. When someone gives us answers, it creates dependency. The best teachers, coaches, therapists help you develop the skills to work through things on your own. So, eventually, you don’t need them anymore. AI doesn’t really know how to do that. Best case, we don’t have to scratch our heads about how to fix a toilet. Worst case, we lose the ability to think for ourselves, grow, and rely on AI for all our answers to life’s questions. 

3. There is something special about being human. 

Even with its very recent wide use, it’s become obvious having a relationship with AI is no substitute for real connection. The past few years there have been so many tragic stories of people trying to do just that and experiencing steep declines in their mental health. There is something unique and irreplaceable about connection between humans. This seems harder to come by in the last few decades. There's more fear and disconnection than ever. AI has come to the forefront at a time when humans seem more susceptible than ever to find something easier, something less unpredictable. We all have to understand how easy it would be to give up on connection with each other, but what a loss I think that would be for all of us. 

Let’s not all panic about AI. It will definitely change the landscape of the future, maybe in some amazing ways. But, let’s also be aware of its dangers so it doesn’t strip us of all those very special things about being human. 

It can be hard to find belonging in the world we live in. If you're having trouble, reach out to us. We won't be perfect. We will validate, but we will also challenge you. We are here to help.