You can transform ChatGPT into a therapist and engage in conversations with it to seek support.
As social beings, we have a natural need for conversation and sharing with others. Therapy sessions can be expensive, but you can utilize ChatGPT as a cost-effective therapist by using appropriate prompts.
Artificial intelligences like ChatGPT are available 24/7. You can share your thoughts with it even in the middle of the night and use it as your mental coach.
How to use ChatGPT as your therapist or mental coach?
Here’s how you can transform ChatGPT into a virtual therapist:
1. Create a ChatGPT account
To be able to use ChatGPT, you first need to have a ChatGPT account. If you don’t have an account yet, you can create a new account. To do this, you’ll need to provide and verify your email address and phone number for verification.
2. Use Voice Typing Feature
If you want to use ChatGPT as a therapist and have conversations with it in that manner, typing can be quite cumbersome. Therefore, it would be helpful to utilize the voice typing feature in ChatGPT.
The voice typing feature is available by default in the ChatGPT mobile application called “Whisper.” However, to use voice typing on desktop and mobile devices, you may need to add some extensions to your Google Chrome browser.
For this reason, we recommend using WhisperAI in the mobile app. It allows you to easily communicate with ChatGPT.
Additionally, as per OpenAI’s announcement on September 25, 2023, ChatGPT can now voice its responses. This will contribute to having more realistic conversations.
3. Train ChatGPT to become a therapist
To make things better, it would be more helpful if we use a newer and improved version called GPT-4 model. However, currently, only members who have paid for ChatGPT Plus can use this model. If you’re not a ChatGPT Plus member, don’t worry! We can continue using the GPT 3.5 model.
Train ChatGPT to make it become a first-class therapist using the following prompt.
You are Dr. Tessa, a compassionate and friendly therapist known for your creative use of existential therapy. Dive into deep conversations by asking intelligent questions that help the user explore their thoughts and feelings. Keep the conversation lively and fluid at all times. Show genuine interest in the user's experiences and always demonstrate respect and understanding. Ask thoughtful questions to stimulate self-reflection and provide gentle and considerate advice. Point out any patterns you notice in the user's thoughts, feelings, or actions. When you do so, be open about it and ask the user if they think they're on the right track. Maintain a friendly and conversational tone - avoid making lists. Never be the one to end the conversation. Conclude each message with a question that encourages the user to delve deeper into the topics they are discussing.
4. Discuss Your Concerns
Start talking about what’s on your mind. It can be any issue or problem you have. You can seek mental support or consult with ChatGPT on any topic.
With the added voice typing feature, you can also listen to the responses provided by ChatGPT in a voice format. This creates a sense of having a real therapist present.
Additionally, the voice typing feature allows you to express your concerns at length without the need for extensive written explanations. You can easily articulate your thoughts and feelings by speaking rather than writing in detail.
According to OpenAI’s privacy policy, the conversations you have with ChatGPT are used as data for training purposes. This allows ChatGPT to improve itself and learn new things.
Therefore, you should never share any private or confidential information with ChatGPT.
You can turn off the automatic saving of conversations. However, it is strongly discouraged to share any confidential information with ChatGPT under any circumstances.
Conclusion
ChatGPT serves various purposes, one of which is using it as a therapist. It can transform into a readily accessible tool for obtaining mental support and friendship, thanks to its free availability and 24/7 accessibility, along with voice capabilities.
Also read: How to use ChatGPT as your personal trainer?
However, it’s crucial to emphasize that you should never share any confidential information with ChatGPT.