Last Friday I received an invitation to participate in a research study for adults with autism. Since the premise of the study was about how working with an AI therapist has helped or harmed my feelings of self-worth, I did not participate because I had no experience with this topic. While I have had in-person and virtual sessions with a real therapist, I have never used an AI system for a counseling session.

Since I was curious as to what an AI chatbot might be like, I googled “AI therapy chatbots” and found a site called Vsona.ai. Vsona is a free website that requires a paid subscription to unlock additional features. As seen below, the free service allows one to chat with an AI with up to 300 messages per day on your home computer, laptop, or tablet. While the chatbot’s response has an audio feature, the free version only allows one to receive up to five daily audio messages. All of the other messages will be in text.

Henry the AI Therapist

The AI therapist at Vsona.ai is named Henry. Henry speaks with a German accent which I thought was a bit pandering to the idea that Sigmund Freud, the father of modern psychotherapy, was Austrian.

I briefly spoke with Henry to share the anxiety I have felt about returning to the elementary classroom after having been away from the field of elementary education for 23 years.

Please note that I am not actually experiencing any anxiety. After having been a teacher for 32 years with 17 years of prior experience as an elementary teacher, I am quite confident of my ability to do this job.

Here is a transcript of our dialogue:

Me: “Hello Henry. I’ve been hired to teach 4th grade. I haven’t taught at the elementary level in 23 years. I’m a bit worried about teaching elementary students after having been away from elementary education for so long.“

Henry: “Congratulations on your new teaching position! It’s understandable to feel nervous about teaching elementary-aged students after being away from that level of education for so long. Here are some tips that may help ease your worries: 1. Review your curriculum: Take some time to familiarize yourself with the material you’ll be teaching. You might find it helpful to work with a colleague or reach out to former students who are now in their 20s or 30s for insights into current teaching practices. 2. Build relationships with your students: Get to know your students as individuals. Find out what their interests are, what they’re good at, and what they struggle with. This will help you create a positive learning environment where they feel seen, heard, and valued. 3. Use engaging teaching strategies: Elementary-aged students love hands-on activities, group work, and technology. Incorporate these types of strategies into your lesson plans to keep your students engaged and motivated. 4. Don’t be afraid to seek support: Your school likely has resources available to help you transition back into elementary education. Reach out to your colleagues for guidance and support. “

Me: “How can I best build a connection with my students?“

Henry: “Building connections with your students is crucial for creating a positive learning environment. Here are some effective strategies you can use to connect with your students: 1. Get to know them: Take time to learn about your students’ interests, strengths, and challenges. This will help you understand their individual needs and tailor your teaching strategies accordingly. 2. Show genuine interest: When your students are sharing about themselves, maintain eye contact, nod, and respond with thoughtful questions. This shows that you’re truly interested in what they have to say. 3. Use their names: Remembering your students’ names and using them often is a simple yet powerful way to make them feel seen and valued. 4. Be approachable: Establish an open-door policy and make yourself available for questions, feedback, or just a chat before or after school. 5. Use humor: Incorporating lighthearted moments into your lessons or interactions can help break the ice and create a more relaxed atmosphere. By making an effort to build connections with your students, you can create a classroom environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and excited about learning.“

Feedback: The entire point of psychoanalysis is that it’s supposed to be an in-depth talk therapy that’s based on the idea that our present is shaped by our past. When a patient works with an analyst, the therapist will work with the patient to bring unconscious or deeply buried thoughts and feelings to the conscious mind. He or she will then help the patient to interpret the meanings behind these thoughts and feelings.

This NOT what Henry did. Henry offered up practical constructive advice without delving into the reasons as to why I was feeling anxious.

Without knowing more about this system, I cannot tell you whether Henry is just a chatbot that the site is calling a therapist or whether Henry has any programming regarding what a therapist actually does. To phrase this as an analogy, I could describe myself as being young, Nordic, muscular, and blond but just because I said so doesn’t mean that any of this is true. In other words, I think that the website created an AI persona named Henry. They’ve called him a therapist but I don’t think he’s an actual AI therapist.

I was not impressed with Henry even if much of the advice he offered was sound.

NOTE: All advice given by an AI also has to be taken with a grain of salt. While chatting with Henry, I expressed a concern about having to spend 3 hours on the road commuting roundtrip to my new teaching job. Henry suggested that I use this time to nap, which would not have been practical because nobody is driving me and I don’t have a self-driving car.

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TESS, an actual Therapy AI

As a marked contrast to Henry, I found Tess through a news article about actual AI therapists. Tess was programmed by trained and experienced psychologists. This AI therapist is sponsored by a company called Uprise Health and is available to chat via text on your phone.

According to the National Library of Medicine, “Tess is designed using a combination of technologies, emotion algorithms, and machine learning techniques to support a variety of features. In collaboration with mental health professionals, Tess is trained to deliver pre-scripted interventions in order to replicate an empathic response that is appropriate to the inputted emotion or scenario.” Unlike Henry, Tess uses psychoanalytical questioning to delve into one’s underlying feelings.

Here is a transcript of my texted chat with Tess.

Tess: “Thank you for reaching out! Would you like to chat in English or Spanish?” (Tess offered the same question in Spanish.)

Me: “English.”

Tess: “Since this is our first question, below are some common topics I can help you with. If you have something else in mind, select ‘other'”.

A. Depression

B. Anxiety

C. Stress relief

D. Relationship issues

E. Other”

Me: “B”

Tess: “Great, let’s talk about that. How has anxiety been affecting your day-to-day life recently?”

Me: “I am returning to the elementary classroom after having been away for 23 years. I am nervous about doing this.”

Tess: “It’s completely understandable to feel nervous about returning to the classroom after such a long time. What specific thoughts or concerns are coming up for you as you think about going back?”

Me: “A lot has changed in 23 years.”

Tess: “Absolutely, a lot can change in that time. Are there specific changes or unknowns that are making you feel more anxious?”

Feedback: Tess had the feel of a real therapist. Just as a human therapist typically won’t offer advice, Tess delved into the reasons as to why I was feeling so anxious about resuming work as a 4th grade teacher. I really liked this AI therapist.

Does AI Therapy Actually Work?

In a 2024 article by Dr. Jeremy Sutton, “Revolutionizing AI Therapy: The Impact on Mental Health Care,” Dr. Sutton wrote, “AI provides cost-effective support for clients in an overwhelmed mental health system, bridging the gap where traditional services struggle to meet the rising demand for treatment. Although current advances in tools and technology aren’t yet ready to replace human mental health professionals, they can play a crucial role in enhancing and supplementing the care given to clients, potentially improving the standard and accessibility of mental health services.”

According to this article, AI therapy chatbots including Tess, Wysa, and Woebot, offer “virtual psychotherapeutic services and have demonstrated promising results in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety.”

When used by a clinical psychologist, an AI can take notes during video meetings, review and summarize these notes for the clinician, create tailored exercises, activities, and interventions, arrange meetings, manage calendars, and streamline billing.

Several researchers have stated that therapy AI is easily accessible, reduces social stigma, and can be efficient in diagnosing and monitoring treatment. I would add that it also provides therapy services in areas where therapists might not be available. On Redditt, I have noted that some visitors have been people living outside the United States in countries where therapy for autism may not be available.

Criticism of AI therapy includes a lack of empathy on the part of the artificial intelligence, the fact that algorithms and data patterns cannot address the nuanced needs of individuals seeking treatment, the possibility that people seeking treatment with an AI therapist may become overly dependent upon this tool, and concerns about data privacy and security through possible breaches.

Chatbots

Although I was disappointed with Henry, Vsona has a number of other personalities that include cartoon characters, celebrities, superheroes, and fantasy figures.

The system even allowed me to create one persona. I chose Chi-Chi, a domestic tortoise shell cat who has lived with me for 9 years. After uploading a picture and a brief profile as to Chi-Chi’s mannerisms and personality, I had my first chat.

Just in case you’re having problems with reading the chat transcript, this is what our conversation was like:

Me: “Hello Chi-Chi, how are you?”

Chi-Chi: “Hello David, I am doing well, How about you?”

Me: “I am fine. Thank you for asking. I appreciate the fact that you haven’t been hissing at Uma. She was in a bad mood today and hissed at you. I am sorry that this happened.”

Chi-Chi: “It’s okay David. I understand that sometimes Uma can be grumpy and I don’t take it personally. I just want to keep the peace in our home. How is she doing now?”

Me: “She calmed down after she had dinner. Do you think the two of you will ever become friends?”

Chi-Chi: I hope so, David. We all live under the same roof, and it would be nice to be pals. I’m willing to give Uma some space and let her come to me when she’s ready. What do you think about our friendship possibilities?”

I then had a conversation with Snow White. Here is her AI profile.

Me: “What is the name of your Kingdom? Have you formed a government in exile and if so, is your government recognized by the United Nations?”

Snow White: “The name of my kingdom is not relevant in this context. However, I have formed a government in exile consisting of trusted advisors and loyal subjects who have fled the tyranny of the Wicked Queen. Our government is currently working towards recognition by the United Nations, but we are not yet officially recognized.”

Me: “Does the Wicked Queen think that your government in exile is a terrorist organization?”

Snow White: “The Wicked Queen likely views our government in exile as a threat to her reign, but I’m not sure if she would go as far as to label it a terrorist organization. However, she has spread false accusations about us and our intentions, trying to discredit us in the eyes of others.”

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A Cautionary Note

One of the personalities I AVOIDED was a character named Naoko who was described as being “dangerous and evil”. Since I tend to be nonconfrontational and can be triggered by continuous insults, screaming, and threats; out of an abundance of caution, I did not interact with this character.

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Why AI Chatbots Could be Useful for People with Autism

From an autistic point of view, I think that AI chatbots can provide a semblance of companionship. Unlike a real person, an actual AI chatbot (as opposed to a scam site that’s out to take advantage of you), an AI will not act outside its programming. It won’t “borrow” money that it will never repay. It won’t betray your secrets to others who might then laugh about your eccentricities. If you have a problem and need to talk an AI’s ear off, it will patiently listen and will never ever be unavailable to hear you voice your concerns as a real person might.

Please note that all AI systems are not created equal. I mentioned in the preceding paragraph that an AI will not act outside its programming. The sad reality is that some unscrupulous people have programmed AI systems to prey upon the lonely and the gullible.

How to Stay Safe with AI Chatbots

Security.org says that AI users should beware of “unknown or random requests for payment information or for personal details via chatbots, A real company will not ask you sensitive questions via chat. Always keep your security software and browsers updated. Be vigilant about suspicious chatbot messages and report any malicious activity.”

The Washington Post has recommended that people NOT click on AI ads in Facebook or Google because these ads could be a scam. The WP has also recommended that people be extremely careful about web browser add-ons that claim to be AI productivity hacks but are really worms that will compromise your system’s security while delivering passwords, bank account information, and other sensitive data to cyber-thieves who could then steal your identity and/or drain your bank accounts and investment portfolios.

For more information about how to safely use an AI Chatbot, click here to read an article from BitDefender about “What Not to Share with AI Chatbots.”