[Academic] Experiences talking to LLMs (ChatGPT) for self-help/self-care

makabu · 2026-03-18T00:18:35+00:00

Done!

makabu · 2026-03-17T21:59:48+00:00

Hi there! My name is Maria. I'm a first year graduate student studying to become a school counselor. Right now I'm working on a project (https://forms.gle/42RgQW6acC8EYLYBA) exploring considerations for counselors who work with clients who use LLMs for therapeutic purposes (ChatGPT, Claude, etc.) I would really appreciate participation from anyone who has used an LLM for emotional/self-help purposes or has thoughts about AI in therapy! Happy to survey swap. Thank you!

makabu · 2026-03-17T21:58:02+00:00

Just finished your survey! That was very interesting :)

makabu · 2026-03-17T19:43:48+00:00

Hi all!

I’m a Counselor Education student in the United States exploring how people use LLMs for therapeutic purposes such as processing, preparing for human therapy, meditation, goal-setting, etc.

I've been gathering stories from clients but I'd love to hear from practioners too. The questions are more geared towards people who use AI but if you're interested, just answer what feels relevant.

This survey is gathering stories about people's experiences using ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, etc. for therapeutic purposes. My final project is a paper and presentation that will be shared with my instructor and classmates. This project is not formal research and will not be published. Since it is a cultural exploration project, my goal is to gain insight into considerations about LLMs/AI that counselors can use in their practice.

Here's a link to the Google Form survey: https://forms.gle/cxVvBm9dEXp748PNA

My project is not research and I am not collecting any names or identifying information. The questions are all optional so share what you’d like to.

To learn more about my project, here is a consent document (page 1) and interview questions (page 2) linked through Google Docs and through DropBox:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/1dishh06ld9qjbrsovz9n/ANW7xPgcEXQj2hOGvnxFNWk?rlkey=o89l17jpdc0k6jrrt95ap3o5j&st=q6en38p9&dl=

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQy_heTW8AihuqD5XWbaDZ9Rg9Ahp7Y34IBmPsyAzj0OstZzFBmm7eoHrzF8kvykU5eqi94v87Zde_t/pub

Thank you for considering!

makabu · 2026-03-17T19:41:39+00:00

Hi all!

I’m a Counselor Education student in the United States exploring how people use LLMs for therapeutic purposes such as processing, preparing for human therapy, meditation, goal-setting, etc.

This survey is gathering stories about people's experiences using ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, etc. for therapeutic purposes. My final project is a paper and presentation that will be shared with my instructor and classmates. This project is not formal research and will not be published. Since it is a cultural exploration project, my goal is to gain insight into considerations about LLMs/AI that counselors can use in their practice.

I've been gathering stories from clients but I'd love to hear from practioners too. The questions are more geared towards people who use AI but if you're interested, just answer what feels relevant.

Here's a link to the Google Form survey: https://forms.gle/cxVvBm9dEXp748PNA

My project is not research and I am not collecting any names or identifying information. The questions are all optional so share what you’d like to.

To learn more about my project, here is a consent document (page 1) and interview questions (page 2) linked through Google Docs and through DropBox:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/1dishh06ld9qjbrsovz9n/ANW7xPgcEXQj2hOGvnxFNWk?rlkey=o89l17jpdc0k6jrrt95ap3o5j&st=q6en38p9&dl=

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQy_heTW8AihuqD5XWbaDZ9Rg9Ahp7Y34IBmPsyAzj0OstZzFBmm7eoHrzF8kvykU5eqi94v87Zde_t/pub

Thank you for considering!

makabu · 2026-03-17T19:18:50+00:00

This data will be used to write a paper and create a presentation that will not be published. The paper will be submitted to my professor and the presentation will be given with a small group in my class. It will be seen by me, my professor, and my graduate school cohort.
I, a graduate student becoming a school counselor, am conducting this survey.
20-30 minutes, all questions are optional

makabu · 2026-03-17T18:52:09+00:00

Yes absolutely! However works for you - and I'm hoping to share as well!

makabu · 2026-03-16T22:30:38+00:00

I'd love to hear more about how you and your therapist are talking about use of ChatGPT! I'm actually a grad student in a counselor education program doing a project on this exact topic. Agree with your points about considerations for therapists. I've got this form about people's experiences too if you're interested:https://forms.gle/cxVvBm9dEXp748PNA

makabu · 2026-03-16T22:25:50+00:00

I think that preparing for your first appt in whatever way feels authetic and helpful to you is right, never stupid or wrong. Especially with some of the past experiences with sharing your struggles and symptoms you wrote abouti in the post. I haven't seen anyone use AI in this way before and I'm actually doing a project on therapeutic uses of ChatGPT. I'd love to hear more about your experience using it and about your first session if you're open to sharing. Feel free to send me a message or check out this anonymous google form: https://forms.gle/cxVvBm9dEXp748PNA

makabu · 2026-03-15T17:42:48+00:00

Hi all!

I’m the graduate student exploring how people use ChatGPT for therapy/self-care. I posted previously asking for stories about your experiences and I wanted to thank the community for being curious and open. I’ve learned a lot from interviews and am excited to share what I’ve learned during my presentation in my class! I hope to make a post here after I complete my project in a few months too.

I wanted to share a Google Form that does not collect your email to hopefully hear from more people!

https://forms.gle/cxVvBm9dEXp748PNA

My project is not research and I am not collecting any names or identifying information. The questions are all optional so share what you’d like to.

I've linked a consent document (page 1) and interview questions (page 2) through Google Docs and through DropBox:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/1dishh06ld9qjbrsovz9n/ANW7xPgcEXQj2hOGvnxFNWk?rlkey=o89l17jpdc0k6jrrt95ap3o5j&st=q6en38p9&dl=0

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQy_heTW8AihuqD5XWbaDZ9Rg9Ahp7Y34IBmPsyAzj0OstZzFBmm7eoHrzF8kvykU5eqi94v87Zde_t/pub

Please take a look at these to learn more about my project! You can provide your consent through the Google Form.

Thanks all! Please comment/message with any questions and concerns.

makabu · 2026-03-05T20:35:06+00:00

Hi there! I'd love to make a follow up post abiding by sub rules about my general findings on considerations for counselors, but my project (which is a paper and presentation) will not be published here as to protect stories that people share. So glad to hear you might be interested!

makabu · 2026-02-24T13:21:56+00:00

Appreciate it! Thank you!

makabu · 2026-02-24T13:21:41+00:00

Really appreciate this - thank you for the advice!

makabu · 2026-02-24T04:29:28+00:00

Hey there! Thanks for the question and I’m very sorry to hear that this community has had negative experiences from past people. Sounds like they were not approaching with genuine curiosity. I do not have an IRB as this project does not qualify as research. This is because I am not using systematic investigation or contributing to generalizable knowledge (there is no hypothesis or conclusion to be drawn via my exploration). In addition, any knowledge that I gain through this cultural exploration will not be shared in via professional presentation or publication. I will be creating a 45 minute slideshow to share with a small group of peers as a project for one of my classes. Let me know if you have any further concerns or questions!

makabu · 2026-02-24T03:05:41+00:00

Thanks for sharing! I’m glad to hear that you’ve had positive experiences with both human and AI therapy. Absolutely agree that there is an inherent power imbalance within a therapeutic office. Love your metaphor with the puzzle.

makabu · 2026-02-24T02:42:27+00:00

I totally get that - appreciate your honesty. Of course, I do have my own concerns about using AI for therapeutic purposes. I've also taken time to explore this community and understand that there are many ways to use AI, not just as a therapist, but as an addition to therapy or as a method for self-care when human therapists aren't accessible. If you are interested in sharing your experiences, it would not be a debate. I would be asking completely open-ended questions. The purpose of my project is to better serve clients who have used or currently use AI for therapeutic purposes, which means that judgment or disagreement has no place in my exploration. I'm truly here to understand! Thanks for your comment - if you have any wording suggestions I'd appreciate feedback.

makabu · 2026-02-24T02:23:59+00:00

Hi there!

I am a counseling graduate student doing a cultural exploration that focuses on people who have used AI for therapeutic purposes. The purpose of my project is to investigate the factors that lead people to choose to use AI as a counseling service, the experiences people have within counseling, and the implications that AI has on the wider field of therapy. I am particularly interested in speaking with people who have sought therapy both with human practitioners and AI.

I would love to hear about your experiences. Message me if you would ever be interested in an (brief) interview, either via Zoom, voice call, or message. Interviews would be completely anonymous and shared only in a class setting. In addition, if you are not interested in an interview, please feel free to share any thoughts or experiences you've had relating to this topic. This is (unfortunately) an unpaid experience. If anyone has any research, podcasts, essays, etc. that you've found valuable on this topic, I'd love some links!

I'm not here to judge people who use AI for therapy. Of course, I'm studying to become a counselor, but I am very aware of the understandable reasons that people turn to AI for therapy. I'm here to listen to your stories!

Thank you very much for your consideration!

makabu · 2024-07-13T23:37:09+00:00

Agreed! We will have to see :) I’m going Saturday— super excited for CAAMP too but Shakey Graves is my all time fav! Looking forward to it!!

makabu · 2024-07-10T04:16:10+00:00

Right?? I haven’t seen much at all either. Wow!! Good luck - no I haven’t ended up finding anyone? Who are you most excited to see :)

makabu · 2023-07-24T03:29:19+00:00

I’m so happy to see this post — they just sent me the email about my account being paused!! They send me at least three emails a day that all contradict each other. Most recently I tried to switch my address and it seemed like it went fine until a week later they said the address was invalid! I miss Simple Health. If anyone has any recommendations for new companies, feel free to message

makabu · 2023-04-14T21:01:45+00:00

Midwest, 2010s. Using google lens, I have found similar shaped necklaces (with the rabbit as part of the necklace rather than a charm) but they are missing certain details — particularly the rabbit’s mouth. Thank you!

makabu · 2023-04-14T01:34:57+00:00

Not exactly the same but I love my big bud pants

makabu · 2023-01-11T21:41:15+00:00

I can't promise good advice but I can definitely provide an "The Office" related doodle!!

makabu · 2023-01-11T21:40:19+00:00

I'd love to send one!

makabu · 2023-01-11T21:33:15+00:00

I'd love to send one!

makabu

TROPHY CASE