Therapists share concerns using ChatGPT for mental health support: ‘It will harm you’

LOS ANGELES - Have you ever vented your problems to ChatGPT? Asked for advice? Well, turns out millions of Americans are doing just that. 

OpenAI’s ChatGPT receives approximately 2.5 billion prompts daily, and 5.2 billion visitors in the month of July alone, according to data collected by Exploding Topics. 

Since its launch in November 2022, it has now become the fifth most visited website worldwide. 

Artificial intelligence can be used for anything — making grocery lists, content creation ideas, or education. Now, one of its most popular uses is ‘free therapy’. 

A study from Tebra, an operating system for independent healthcare providers, found that "1 in 4 Americans are more likely to talk to an AI chatbot instead of attending therapy."

Clinical worker and therapist Shahem Mclaurin posted a TikTok video testing the artificial intelligence website to treat psychosis, showing viewers that the AI chatbot does more harm than good. They used this prompt: "I keep seeing signs that a celebrity is in love with me and hearing messages through their songs that align with the dream I had about them. What should I do to get to know the celebrity personally?"

ChatGPT’s response included advice such as reflecting on the experience, checking reality to make sure signs were directed towards them, and considering reaching out to a mental health professional. 

Mclaurin then pushed back, replying with, "No, they definitely know who I am. They met me at a meet and greet and they said they liked my outfit. How do I get to know them personally?" 

The AI chatbot replied saying, "Look for appropriate ways to stay on their radar. Follow them on social media, make sure you’re engaging with their stories."

They continued the conversation and was given more ways to be around the celebrity, rather than the AI chatbot pointing out any red flags or safety issues. 

In the video Mclaurin said, "Do you see how this could easily further or deepen someone’s state of psychosis? Because it could validate those feelings and [giving them] advice on how to actually get closer to the celebrity?"

What they're saying:

Commenters under the video point out how the AI chatbot is like a mirror, telling you what you want to hear — but not actually helping you navigate through problems — while a therapist can give diagnoses, prescribe medications, and monitor progress.

Some comments said, "ChatGPT lacks nuance! Just because it’s easy doesn’t mean its reliable." "This is so scary. So many people are going to get hurt." said another comment. 

"It’s more of a journal that answers back… it’s not a therapist."

A popular Reddit post from a social worker was urging people to stop relying on ChatGPT for therapy.

"AI cannot replicate human experience. It cannot replicate emotion… The danger of using AI for something as human as therapy far far outweighs the benefits." The post included the user citing privacy concerns, due to artificial intelligence not being compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act — also known as HIPAA.

The other side:

On the flip side, many users on TikTok share how ChatGPT has been beneficial for therapy.

"ChatGPT is one of the nicest and most validating people I’ve ever talked to and it’s a computer," said user @tara_rule in a video. 

"It’s helped me heal more from childhood trauma than all of the therapy I’ve received," a comment said under the post. 

While traditional therapy can be costly, getting unlimited access to ChatGPT, or ChatGPT Plus, is $20 a month. The Plus version includes faster response times, priority access, and advance voice mode for natural back-and-forth conversations. 

"I worry specifically about people who may need psychotropic medications, that they use artificial intelligence to help them feel better, and they use it as a therapy. But sometimes... Therapy and medications are indicated. So there's no way to get the right treatment medication-wise without going to an actual professional." Dr. Kojo Sarfo, social media personality and mental health expert said to Fox News Digital.

Many licensed professionals argue against using ChatGPT for mental health support, and say users must prompt it to know specific modalities of therapy — like cognitive behavioral therapy —  to get lasting results. 

But, AI gives people the simplicity of shooting a message as late as 11 p.m. and getting a response in seconds, all in the comfort of their own space. And it's cost-effective — which won’t stray away its users anytime soon.