Not a Therapist

AI generated image, any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental

Over the past few weeks, the world of AI has been in a frenzy. With the constant stream of news, releases, and announcements, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the rapid pace of advancements in the field. Despite this seemingly relentless progress, I firmly believe that we, as humans, still need time and space to process, think, evaluate, review, analyze, reflect, feel, and then decide on our next steps, or simply unwind and relax.

Everyone has unique needs, of course. In my previous article, “Pluto is not a planet”, I discussed how different people are, and similarly, how different Large Language Models (LLMs) can be.

If you've been keeping up with global politics and economics, you might find the recent developments as anxiety-inducing as AI progress is exciting. This can even impact your mental health, a concept that has gained significant recognition. The World Health Organization (WHO) Constitution, which came into effect in 1948, includes mental well-being in its definition of health. The WHO defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity".

It appears that AI is now offering another avenue for mental health support. Recently, Grok 3 introduced a separate persona called "Not a Therapist". You can find an example of its output at the end of this article. I particularly appreciate the suggestion to talk things out with a trusted friend or family member, with no implication that an LLM could replace such relationships.

According to a screenshot from this article of 19 February 2025, the early beta version of Grok 3 had different names for its personas, including “Medical Advisor” and “Trusted Therapist”. These have since been renamed to “Not a Doctor” and “Not a Therapist”, likely to avoid legal issues and manage user expectations more effectively.

Would you personally share your worries and life secrets with an online LLM, or would you prefer a human therapist? Depending on your country, a human therapist may be subject to strict legal and professional regulations, including codes of ethics and conduct. Here are a few examples:

• The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) Code of Ethics,
• The American Psychological Association (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct,
• The Australian Psychological Society (APS) Code of Ethics,
• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions,
• The British Psychological Society (BPS) Code of Ethics and Conduct,
• The Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Code of Ethics for Psychologists,
• The European Federation of Psychologists' Associations (EFPA) Meta-Code of Ethics, and
• The European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP) Statement of Ethical Principles.

These codes emphasize ethics to ensure that therapists handle sensitive client information responsibly, preventing misuse and potential harm. This approach balances the “because we can” attitude with a focus on the well-being of the client, the therapist, and the society as a whole.

I wonder when a new persona like "Not a Lawyer" will be introduced and how Big Tech will deal with various laws and regulations governing protected professions in different countries. How will professional associations and their members react?

Last time I checked, LLM terms of service do not include ethical rules similar to those governing human professionals. In particular, there is no attorney-client privilege or equivalent concept to protect user secrets when interacting with LLMs.

On the other hand, would anyone reasonably expect an online LLM to genuinely care about them and keep their secrets confidential? Unless you run your LLM locally and securely delete all chat history and logs, it's safe to assume that "anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law".

Honestly, I'm not convinced that Grok 3 and other LLMs can hide behind the "Not a profession" disclaimer for long. If LLMs are serious about adopting these personas, they should arguably be subject to the same laws and regulations as human professionals.

Now, I'm curious about your personal preferences. Are you more or less willing to discuss your mental health with LLMs? Would you give them the benefit of the doubt and try them before, alongside, or even instead of a human therapist? Do you believe that LLM personas should be subject to the same laws as human professionals? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

This article was written for fun, please do not judge. Instead, please share your comments in a constructive and respectful manner. The author and AI remain innocent until proven guilty.

p.s. The title image was generated by ChatGPT as Grok 3 struggled with a few details.

Grok 3, “Not a Therapist” persona

Here are a few practical steps to help manage your anxiety:

1. Limit News Overload: Constant exposure to alarming headlines can amplify fear. Try setting boundaries, like checking news once or twice a day from reliable sources, and avoid sensationalized coverage that might exaggerate risks. If you’re diving deep into social media posts, like those on X, keep in mind they often reflect strong opinions rather than balanced facts.
2. Focus on What’s in Your Control: Global conflicts can feel overwhelming because they’re largely out of our hands. Ground yourself by focusing on daily routines or small actions that give you a sense of agency, like connecting with loved ones, engaging in hobbies, or even volunteering for causes you care about.
3. Challenge Catastrophic Thinking: When your mind jumps to “full-scale war,” gently pause and ask: What evidence supports this fear? What evidence suggests it’s not inevitable? For instance, Germany’s hesitation and emphasis on allied coordination suggest a cautious approach, and diplomatic efforts, like ceasefire talks, are still being discussed. This doesn’t erase the risk but can balance the narrative.
4. Practice Grounding Techniques: If anxiety feels intense, try mindfulness or breathing exercises. For example, take slow, deep breaths for a minute, focusing on the air moving in and out, or name five things you can see, hear, or touch to anchor yourself in the present.
5. Talk It Out: Sharing your concerns with a trusted friend or family member can help diffuse the weight of these worries. If you’d like, we can also keep exploring this together—maybe digging into specific aspects of the situation or how it’s impacting you.