Lately some of my clients have shared that they use ChatGPT to support their mental health. I genuinely appreciate this. I’ve always encouraged curiosity and thoughtful exploration outside of our sessions. Therapy is not just about what happens in the room; it’s also about how you engage with your growth in daily life. So when someone brings in something they’ve learned or reflected on, whether from a book, a podcast, or even a conversation with a chatbot, I see that as a sign of investment in their wellbeing.
At the same time I think it’s worth talking about the role these tools can play and where their limits might be. ChatGPT can be incredibly helpful in giving language to what you’re feeling or offering new ways to look at a problem. It can be a resource for clarity and comfort in moments when you're feeling alone or uncertain. And for some people it creates a space that feels safe to explore things at their own pace. That matters.
What I also know from sitting with people week after week is that insight alone rarely changes behavior. Most of us already have a sense of what we “should” do. But the work of therapy is about understanding the parts of us that hesitate to do it. The parts that feel scared or disconnected or unsure. We explore not just the patterns but the emotional weight underneath them. We make space for all of it.
That is where therapy is different. It’s not about perfect advice or having the right answers. It’s about being in relationship with yourself and with another person who can reflect you back to yourself with compassion and care. It’s about the experience of being seen, not just understood. That kind of healing happens through connection. And it’s something I deeply believe cannot be replaced by technology.
So if you’re finding value in using ChatGPT or other resources, I support that. Bring it into session. Let’s talk about what resonates and where it leads you. But know that therapy offers something distinct. It’s not a quick fix or a script to follow. It’s a living, human process. And in my experience that’s where the real transformation happens.
