Therapy vs AI
#Here and now reflections
Psychotherapy in the age of ChatGPT
Do we still need psychotherapists when a chatbot can answer all our questions?
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On the one hand, genAI can help us find answers to everything. It can even explain why we react the way we do, according to the user's instructions: always the perfect tone, in a chosen therapy modality, and with a preferred level of details or language.
However, a chatbot can not help us build relationships or live through emotions here and now, with another human being.
However, a chatbot can not help us build relationships or live through emotions here and now, with another human being.
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Everything will be automated
Most 9-to-5 jobs, most activities that require deep thinking, creativity, etc.
There are opinions that, in 5-10 years, many things will be automated with geAI. To the point, when most people will end up with no jobs in the way we now understand the employment market.
With such a concept, it is logical to assume that psychotherapy as we know it will be available only to the elite and by choice, while the average Joe will use a special LLM as a psychological aid.
While we can't say for sure whether that would be the case, there are signals that future generations may suffer from loneliness, depression and lack of fulfilment. It even has a name: loneliness epidemic.
With such a concept, it is logical to assume that psychotherapy as we know it will be available only to the elite and by choice, while the average Joe will use a special LLM as a psychological aid.
While we can't say for sure whether that would be the case, there are signals that future generations may suffer from loneliness, depression and lack of fulfilment. It even has a name: loneliness epidemic.
Regardless of the ongoing AI evolution, the therapeutic relationship will remain unique. Humans are social animals — we need one another to exist, interact and process what's happening to us. From the Gestalt theory perspective, we exist only in the eyes of others.
Let me explain. Our life experience grows in interactions with others. A child's character is shaped by how parents and other significant adults support or frustrate the child. Social interactions matter a great deal, especially during the teenage years.
More generally, reactions to how others behave also evolve based on previous experiences. If you had an emotionally painful experience before, you are likely to be sensitive to similar episodes in the future, especially when you didn't feel supported, seen or understood.
Try to recall a situation where something triggered you. It is really hard to imagine such a case without other people. See, even your reaction to a spilt coffee is shaped by previous experiences: either how others reacted when you spilt coffee, or how others react when you react to someone else's fault.
Let me explain. Our life experience grows in interactions with others. A child's character is shaped by how parents and other significant adults support or frustrate the child. Social interactions matter a great deal, especially during the teenage years.
More generally, reactions to how others behave also evolve based on previous experiences. If you had an emotionally painful experience before, you are likely to be sensitive to similar episodes in the future, especially when you didn't feel supported, seen or understood.
Try to recall a situation where something triggered you. It is really hard to imagine such a case without other people. See, even your reaction to a spilt coffee is shaped by previous experiences: either how others reacted when you spilt coffee, or how others react when you react to someone else's fault.
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In conclusion, we still need each other. Especially to process difficult emotions, feel better and discover ourselves.
AI can partially support us, but not 100% — subconsciously, we always know it's a machine we're talking to, not a human.
Therefore, psychotherapy will exist as a profession even in the age of AI, at least for a few years or a decade.
AI can partially support us, but not 100% — subconsciously, we always know it's a machine we're talking to, not a human.
Therefore, psychotherapy will exist as a profession even in the age of AI, at least for a few years or a decade.
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In this short article, I invite the reader to reflect on meaningful relationships and their connection to emotional fulfilment: what makes you feel connected?
The world is changing. Twenty years ago, social interactions were different from what they are now. We want quick answers, swipe left and right, need constant stimulation, but feel lonelier than ever. I can see it in my social circle and in the media.
Yes, ChatGPT is in hype. But is it going to replace the warmth of a human being sitting next to you and listening without judgment? I doubt.
The world is changing. Twenty years ago, social interactions were different from what they are now. We want quick answers, swipe left and right, need constant stimulation, but feel lonelier than ever. I can see it in my social circle and in the media.
Yes, ChatGPT is in hype. But is it going to replace the warmth of a human being sitting next to you and listening without judgment? I doubt.
Yulia Belozerova
Gestalt Counsellor
December, 01 / 2025
