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Understanding AI therapy
Understanding AI therapy
There has been an increase in reported cases of mental health problems globally. According to the World Health Organization, as of 2019, 970 million people globally were living with a mental disorder, with anxiety and depression being the most common.
While mental health issues are on the rise, so is the cost of therapy sessions. This has led to people exploring ai based options such as using chatbots and applications. The most popular digital mental health tools being chat gpt, co-pilot, gemini, wysa, woebot, replika, ollie and youper ai. Most of these tools can be accessed on a free plan.
How does AI therapy work?
How does AI therapy work?
Ai therapy is set up online on various platforms either as an application, extension or chat bot. They basically allow someone to interact with a software program through various means such as text, or voice .
These programs are designed to walk someone through a realistic therapy session with guided responses. They are modelled and trained to tailor automated messages to suit mental health needs and engage the correspondent in simple, engaging and helpful exercises.
Benefits of AI therapy sessions
Benefits of AI therapy sessions
Affordable therapy
The cost of therapy per session is anywhere between 50 to 100 dollars. This is quite expensive to an ordinary person with normal wages. This situation becomes more grim for third world countries, as many people cannot afford therapy.
Ai , steps in to offer free or affordable rates as most of them have free plans and paid plans as low as 5 dollars a month. This could prove to be a huge assist in improving the mental health status of people in underserved areas.
Anonymity
Many people, men especially, often fear consulting therapists due to fear of being seen as weak. Many still may find it difficult to find confidants who to fully trust with their private and personal information.
Ai offers 100% anonymity with no fear of being exposed. It is also easy to talk to as AI doesn't have the capacity to judge or give away controversial facial expressions and body language.
Convenience
Ai can be accessed anywhere with anyone as long as they have internet access and a device that can run the program( phones, laptops, desktops, tabloids). It beats the traditional method of having to locate a place and person in order for a therapy session to occur.
Limitations of AI therapy
Limitations of AI therapy
A shallow emotional comprehension: Computer programs are great and logical and can even diagnose quite well, but they can only mimic emotions that are programmed into it. This gives off a plastic feeling of emotional connection as opposed to talking and connecting with another human being.
Repetitive answers and prompts: Since most of these conversations are run by pre programmed prompts, AI usually has a select pool from which it responds from. Conversation cab eventually feels very repetitive and non original. This may beat the purpose of therapy which is meant to open all available avenues and ideas for healing and growth.
Concerns of data collection: There have been concerns that applications collect data on users. Most of these data are stipulated to be sold to other companies for targeted marketing purposes. Users are encouraged to download these applications only from trusted sources.
What is the future of psychotherapy?
What is the future of psychotherapy?
Ai tools are here to stay. They help out people who don't have enough cash for physical therapy or are just afraid of physical therapy.
While it is a good initiative, it can never fully replace the authentic connection that happens in social groups during a sharing therapy or one on one sessions. Most people in poor and developing nations still don't have full access to online based therapy platforms.
Remember
Ai is not here to replace human therapists, but rather facilitate the need for better sessions and can act as a gateway to building meaningful social networks and conversations.
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