There’s lots of excitement about AI and how it might improve our lives. Cultural commentators speculate on what jobs will be lost and which will remain unscathed.
There’s been some suggestion that AI could be the way forward in meeting the huge demand for mental health treatment by improving access to therapy. But can a synthetic or fake relationship really offer us effective therapy?
The lack of authenticity is a major factor in why people come for therapy. Therapists work with people who are so ashamed of parts of themselves that they believe they must keep them hidden. They support people who want their friends and loved ones to really “see” them. And people who want to make choices that reflect who they really are rather than who they feel others want them to be.
Can AI help you improve fake relationships
People who score highly for authenticity are assessed as happier than those who don’t. And there’s evidence that authenticity protects your mental health. It’s not surprising people come to therapy because they crave it. But can you learn how to be authentic from a bot?
AI may be able to tell you what steps you need to take to be authentic with others. After all, you could read that in a book. But can it give you the opportunity to experience it?
Often that’s what therapy is about. It’s an opportunity to rehearse what it’s like to have increased openness and visibility to another. The chance to feel accepted by someone else despite our shameful secrets. To explore what we really want without fear of judgement.
Can you really achieve this if there isn’t another person there to witness you? Or like eating ultra-processed food, will it leave a bad taste?
Reviews of therapy apps aren’t great. You can check the apps out for yourself, but if you want to know a bit about what therapy with a human might feel like, the team at Octopus Psychology are here to help.
