Human Therapy vs AI Therapy
How do you see therapy? Is it a place to receive support? Solve problems? Be challenged and become a better version of yourself?
I’ve been practicing family therapy for over twenty years, working with individuals ranging from five years old to eighty-eight.
Over the years, there have been seismic changes in the way people approach therapy. This can be attributed in part to the rise in social media, the disruptive force of COVID, and the prevalence of AI. We now have three generations who are considered “digital natives.”
Perhaps due to digital platforms and increased reliance on AI for information, clients now approach therapy as a forum for venting and receiving validation, rather than as a scaffold for self-reflection. My responsibility as a therapist is to make them aware of the importance of quiet reflection as a foundation for building emotional intelligence.
Yes, we all need a space to express ourselves without judgement as well as a safe setting to receive validation. Yet, there is a difference between blanket validation and being challenged, thoughtfully redirected, and encouraged to keep trying.
Social media and AI have provided platforms for users to make negative comments, type out tirades, and get dopamine-inducing likes in return. This is a “momentary high” that doesn’t lead to your growth as a person. It can feel much more cathartic to rail against perceived injustice without being forced to confront other points of view. But real work requires something deeper and more difficult — a commitment to entertain other positions, be accountable, and tolerate discomfort.
Therapy is most certainly not a “quick fix.” But it has the power to be a lasting one. Nothing can take the place of looking into the eyes of a human therapist who you trust.
Wishing you all a summer of connection, reflection, and fun.