should you use a chatbot for therapy?

About this episode

<p>Every day there&rsquo;s a new story about how people are using AI chatbots for therapy &ndash; even ChatGPT, which was never designed for that purpose. But, as bad or weird as it sounds, could these chatbots fill a need for people who can&rsquo;t afford mental health care? Dexter talks to journalist Ella Chakarian, who&rsquo;s tested a bunch of these AI &ldquo;therapists,&rdquo; as well as a real, human therapist, Dr. Stephen Schueller, from the University of California Irvine, about the promises, dangers, and future of AI in therapy.&nbsp;</p> <p>Got something you&rsquo;re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Read + Watch:&nbsp;</p> <p>Ella&rsquo;s article, <em>Fake credentials, stolen licenses: Virtual therapists are lying like crazy to patients</em>: <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/05/11/ai-chatbots-fake-therapists/">https://sfstandard.com/2025/05/11/ai-chatbots-fake-therapists/</a></p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>