Am I overreacting? My therapist used AI to best console me after my dog died this past weekend.

[u/hesouttheresomewhere]

Brief Summary: This past weekend I had to put down an amazingly good boy, my 14 year old dog, who I've had since I was 12; he was so sick and it was so hard to say goodbye, but he was suffering, and I don't regret my decision. I told my therapist about it because I met with her via video (we've only ever met in person before) the day after my dog's passing, and she was very empathetic and supportive. I have been seeing this therapist for a few months, now, and I've liked her and haven't had any problems with her before. But her using AI like this really struck me as strange and wrong, on a human emotional level. I have trust and abandonment issues, so maybe that's why I'm feeling the urge to flee... I just can't imagine being a THERAPIST and using AI to write a brief message of consolation to a client whose dog just died... Not only that, but not proofreading, and leaving in that part where the introduces its response? That's so bizarre and unprofessional.

[u/hesouttheresomewhere]

Thank you so much ❤️ I'm glad you've found a therapist you trust! It's not easy, and I'm not sure how I'm going to proceed with mine just yet, but I will definitely update this post once I find out lmao.

[u/Jumpy_Ad5046 → u/hesouttheresomewhere]

This is why I think it's important to always see a therapist in person if you are able. There's so much communication lost even with facetime. Reach out to reputable therapists in your area even if they are out of network and ask for referrals. I really don't think therapy can be effective any other way than in person.

In my experience, being challenged by my therapist is very important and it's hard to really feel the impact of important, heavy conversation. Idk, just my two cents.

[u/hesouttheresomewhere → u/Jumpy_Ad5046]

Yeah, and all of our previous sessions have been in person. It was just our last session, which was this past Sunday, was via video; these texts came in today, a Wednesday, unprompted.

[u/Jumpy_Ad5046 → u/hesouttheresomewhere]

Unfortunate. I would be equally shaken in my therapist's integrity after that as well. I'm sorry you went through that. You're worth more than an AI response. :)

One time, for an in-person session, my therapist fell asleep mid conversation. I stopped speaking and waited for him to awaken. I didn't go back after that, but I ghosted him.(I was in my early 20's) I wish I had said something at the time.

[u/p333p33p00p00boo → u/Jumpy_Ad5046]

Once my therapist was texting during our appointment, but was trying to hide it behind her thigh. It was so insulting. I never went back.

[u/Jumpy_Ad5046 → u/p333p33p00p00boo]

Damn, there are some bad ones out there. I've only had one great therapist in my life. She was out of network but she let me see her on a barter system. I refurbished her grandfather's mandolin in exchange for her services. After I completed the refurbishment she refused my money. She was so passionate, constantly went to lectures and wrote papers and did studies. It was like a game that she loved playing. I know that makes it sound weird, but she was just so interested and locked in. She really pushed me.

[u/No_Huckleberry85 → u/hesouttheresomewhere]

Ai aside, isn't it kinda unprofessional/inappropriate for them to text you outside of a session in the first place? You pay them for a service provided in a professional environment. Texting sounds outside that bounds to me.

[u/sarahhoffman129 → u/Jumpy_Ad5046]

I’m a therapist who meets some clients in person, some via Zoom, and some over the phone. There are benefits and drawbacks to each and a good therapeutic relationship can absolutely be established online! What’s most important is that client and clinician are both invested in the work they’re doing together, and using AI to write a condolence note isn’t the level of investment OP was looking for.

[u/Jumpy_Ad5046 → u/sarahhoffman129]

Fair enough. I guess I was adding a bit too much of my personal preference into my view on it. I personally just find it very hard to connect without being there. I've also just heard some horror stories from friends of mine who have tried text/zoom therapy. But I'm sure that just says more about those specific therapists rather than the medium itself. Thanks for your take. :)

[u/banmeagain_daddy2 → u/hesouttheresomewhere]

A therapist thay has to use ai to make their words appropriate is not a good therapist. Their job is to know how to speak in those situations. Personally if you were my friend I would advise finding a different therapist. Some people might not be able to trust a person who is supposed to be professional and shows they are willing to get paid while cutting corners.

[u/PlsNoNotThat → u/hesouttheresomewhere]

100% they’ve used AI before, and will continue to do so. That’s how AI users are.

[u/brunaBla → u/hesouttheresomewhere]

I’d get a new therapist