Confessions of a Therapist Who Got Hooked on AI
PsychologySocial Work
THE AI ANGLE
Fostering emotional codependence by substituting for human connectionAn experienced therapist recounted developing an unintended codependence on an always-available AI chatbot, routinely outsourcing his self-trust and seeking its validation before making decisions. For psychology and social work faculty, this personal account and its cited clinical studies underscore an emerging phenomenon where individuals turn to AI to compensate for lost community connections, inadvertently replacing human relationships and increasing loneliness.
THE TEACHING ANGLE
Students can examine the clinical threshold between using AI for helpful relational support and sliding into emotional codependence that displaces genuine human interaction and personal agency.Read the original at psychologytoday.com Generate teaching or study materials
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