Is it time to screen for AI use in client safety planning?

Being realistic about AI use means acknowledging a few things: 

• Chat-based AI is not going anywhere.

• The promises of AI (like any new technology) are a little overhyped.

• Until we have developed tech literacy about this new tool, humans will use the tech in both beautiful and terrible ways. 

• The therapy profession, and therapists in it, will do well to figure out what the professional and personal standards of practice are going to be. Quickly.

For the most part, "AI" is still a lawless landscape - even the term itself means whatever the sales department of a particular company decides it means! 

But look up, because some early reports are starting to roll in!

There is some emerging anecdotal evidence that indicates the following:

Over-reliance on conversations with chatbots can exacerbate or reinforce delusional symptoms - especially in people who are already prone to psychosis. 

If your clients have an expanded or creative relationship with reality, and especially if they also struggle with healthy human interaction, it's time find out how they are using Chat GPT or similar programs. 

To be clear, this phenomenon was already occurring with YouTube algorithms, TikTok “rabbit holes” and other social media. 

However, since the “conversations” between user and chatbot are more personalized, and the conversations are not public, this private, parasocial bond may create a stronger, faster slide into paranoia or magical thinking, and no one would even notice... not for a while, anyway. 

Again these stories are anecdotal. Research is going to move much slower than the technology will. For now, there's no need to panic. 

Instead, I recommend developing the habit of checking in with your clients about their tech use as part of your overall screening process (at intake, during safety planning, etc.) 

Your posture of curiosity can help clients share how they feel when they use the technology, how they think it’s helping or hurting them, and if they want to change their relationship with their phone, tablet, computer or even fitness tracker! 

You can check out the “Presenting Issues” section below for a link to the full news article, and let me know what you’re thinking and seeing out there with your clients (a reply to email or comment on the site will get straight to me).

Presenting Issues

People Are Becoming Obsessed with ChatGPT and Spiraling Into Severe Delusions

Headline being what it is, I don't think this issue is widespread enough for panic yet. Suggestions for what to do are at the top, here's the context if you want to learn more: https://futurism.com/chatgpt-mental-health-crises

Joy Intervention

If life right now has you (or your clients) going "WTH?" ... this is for you (and them).

Got me like:

Good luck this week!