I explored ChatGPT's therapeutic potential by using the user-created Therapist GPT, which offers a listening ear and comforting advice, though it’s not a replacement for professional therapy. Many social media users, like Mya Dunham, use chatbots to gain new perspectives and share their feelings, valuing the judgment-free, accessible nature of AI interactions. While some research indicates chatbots can help with mild mental health issues, experts, including Dr. Russell Fulmer and Dr. Marlynn Wei, emphasize using them alongside human therapists due to potential ethical concerns and accuracy issues. Chatbots, they say, might lack safety parameters and could provide incorrect or biased information.

Lawsuits against companies like Character. AI underscore these risks. Despite the drawbacks, chatbots can be valuable for individuals without access to traditional therapy, though they are not substitutes for human empathy and insight. Dr. Daniel Kimmel noted that while chatbots imitate therapeutic techniques, they lack depth and personalization. He stresses understanding chatbots' limitations and the importance of privacy, as AI does not comply with HIPAA. Future research may further define AI's role in mental health, and people like Dunham advocate for respecting diverse therapeutic approaches.