News Ellie The Robot Therapist

[anthony]

I'd lie to the robot about all the stuff is lie to my T about

Yes... but see the difference here, is that robot will detect the lie with far greater accuracy, than a human could. So the robot is far more likely to challenge you in the lie, to get at the truth. Either way, what is fed back to a therapist would either state the robot deems you are telling the truth, or the robot deems you are not being truthful in x area.

 

[Suzetig]

Apparently there's been some work done on the use of AI in counselling in the UK too - would be interesting to look at comparing applications, efficacy etc. My initial gut reaction is no, but I can see where it could be useful.

 

[ms spock]

Lying has always been a defence for me, one that I'm painstakingly working through with my T,

Lying has always been a defence for me as well, and I have also been painstakingly working through that with my psychiatrist. Lying was mandatory and in my family you had to agree with whatever lie/version of reality that was presented. You had to say what they wanted you to say. It was a very different reality to how I understand to function in some families. It is always heartening to read that someone else struggles with the lying - I even lie when there is absolutely no need to do - reflexive self defence.

For some the AI might not be as helpful say as a horse was for that woman in Bessel der Kolk's book. They are not saying it will take over from a human that it will be an adjunct - I have read science fiction where people are in therapy with an AI and it is interesting to imagine the possibilities.

I think those of us who have severe reactive attachment disorder and/or abandonment issues - the necessity for that imprint on another human being is a deep visceral need that is probably not documented to the level that it will be in the future. It is an interesting development.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I have developmental issues. I need to learn that for real.... how to bond properly. How my T's experiences have been (his stories of others, his family - you know, normal stuff) and I am guessing a robot won't have that to draw on.

Agreed. I know a great deal about my therapist's family and "normal" life. Seems very odd to most but its how my therapist got me to eventually see my past wasnt normal and was abusive. He used his family and life as an example of "normal" and made me compare.

He and I have a two way "friendship-like" relationship and trust that I wouldnt trade for anything.

I need that human interaction. Its a huge part of my therapy and without it I wouldnt be where I am today in therapy.

Like I said, maybe ok for some, but not for me. And because many need an actual human, if this rolls out to the average person, I doubt it will be all therapists replaced my a robot and the therapist just sits in the background. Maybe along side the human therapist but even so that would freak me out.

I think it would have been helpful to my therapist to have some sort of hidden thing like that (a watch maybe) to tell him i wasnt lying about my past. Instead he did many "cross examinations" as I guess thats a "thing" but id be all freaked if i knew there was a robot there, listening.

Knowing me id be intrested in how it worked and wouldnt get to my therapy lol.

It is intresting though. We've had computers that learn for a while now. Just interesting to see it in the mental health field.

 

[Deleted member 541]

IDK........ kinda weird. It's bad enough that people don't have conversations anymore. We text, email and use social media to convey everything in life practically. Now they want you to pour your heart out to a robot?!?!?!?

Nope, not for me. I need that human connection, and sometimes just a pat on the back on the way out of the door, or the smile on the way in...

 

[aut555]

Can Al hand me a tissue when l start crying for the umpteenth time? Well Al understand my bad jokes? Can l make funny faces, will Al even notice? This just leaves me scratching my head.

 

[Deleted member 29920]

Not for me either.

 

[anthony]

I would love to see this combined with work at MAPS... just WOW wouldn't that be a potent, cut through the BS way through trauma.

 

[I_will_recover]

I think those of us who have severe reactive attachment disorder and/or abandonment issues - the necessity for that imprint on another human being is a deep visceral need that is probably not documented to the level that it will be in the future.

Exactly

 

[EveHarrington]

Sign me up! I'd do it in a heartbeat.

A robot won't fire you for having a PTSD episode. I mean I can rant and rant and rant and as long as I don't physically attack the robot (which I never would), the robot isn't going to fire me for getting butt-hurt.

And a robot isn't going to play stupid human mind games. I hate manipulation.

 

[asadafagahajakal]

I don't know what I think of that.

I can see how it could be beneficial.
Though I can also see...

The isolation part is no good, unless youre in a state that you simply dont wajt to talk to a person since because you might fear judgement, or simply because interacting with someone and talking about disturbing things can be too much for someone.
Maybe the AI can help talk the client/user(?) Into being more open with a human. I can see this technology being used to help initiate dialogue with psychiatrists and therapists.

 

[ladee]

If it looked human and sounded human..just out of curiosity I would love to try it!