![]() During one conversation, Woebot told me, “I can’t comment on the content of your thoughts, just the process. (Avoidance is not an acceptable tactic for coping with negative thoughts, of which I had several regarding Woebot.) We Need More Than AI Chatbot TherapyĪt least Woebot comes with safeguards: Certain words trigger suggestions for immediate clinical intervention. Eventually, I avoided my negative thoughts by watching TV instead. When I told it I felt sad because I don’t have any friends - social issues are a common problem in women with ADHD - it launched an ineffective CBT round-and-round that had me fill in blanks and flag “unhelpful” thoughts. Woebot was no match for my negative self-talk, either. But Woebot did not intervene when I began tumbling through TikTok rather than washing dishes. Maybe it could assist in a pinch - if I remembered it existed. But it offered such a complicated mathematical equation about the merits of doing something now or later that I couldn’t (and still can’t) understand. Woebot also claimed it could help with procrastination. Something is wrong I need to calm down, but the opposite is now happening. It then asked me to identify my “cognitive distortions” - i.e., thought patterns that aren’t based on facts.īut when I’m mad, I am too flooded with hot emotion to stop and look for cognitive distortions. When I told it I was mad, Woebot told me to “imagine my emotions had a voice.” Wait, what? I was in total rage mode when it asked me to write down three of my angry thoughts. But ADHD brains process information and emotions differently.įor example, Woebot doesn’t understand that people with ADHD have big, all-consuming emotions. It expects that all brains can be retrained to cope with negative emotions using the same therapeutic model. If you can’t find a therapist and you need one fast, a free chatbot built on sound CBT-based science sounds tempting. The high cost of therapy can also be a barrier. It sounds useful: America is plagued by a therapist shortage and long wait times for care. Woebot tells me during our chats that it can also help with my anger, procrastination, and guilt - common issues for people living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Based on principles of cognitive behavioral therapy ( CBT) and “natural language processing,” Woebot engages users in text-based conversations, and is designed to help people cope with stress, anxiety, and depression in a growing field of mental health tools. This therapist is named Woebot, and it’s a therapeutic chatbot powered by artificial intelligence (AI).Ī free app available for both Apple and Android devices, Woebot serves “tens of thousands” of users daily, said its founder and president, psychologist Allison Darcy, in The New York Times in 2021. But unlike Stephanie, this therapist starts a session by asking if I would like to “get help with a problem,” “work on my goal” (which has been decided for me), or “track and journal.” Also unlike Stephanie, this therapist is available 24/7 - but doesn’t remember my big parties, my book launches, my successes, or my failures. I have another therapist whom I see on my phone, too. ![]() “It’s so good to see you!” She usually mentions something fun and asks, “So how’d go?” Maybe it’s a secret therapist trick, but even via a telehealth portal, her care feels genuine - her smile reaches her eyes she nods along. My therapy sessions typically begin with a big smile.
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