In this episode, we explore the growing trend of using AI tools like ChatGPT for mental health and self-reflection. From creating personalized therapy bots to feeding your life story into AI for insights, we talk about the real benefits and serious risks of outsourcing your emotional work to technology.

We get into:

- How AI can mirror your thoughts back to you (and why that matters)

- The line between using AI for self-inquiry vs. emotional outsourcing

- Why inputs matter more than you think—and how to feed AI the right info

- The danger of using AI as a crutch instead of a tool

- How lonely people might become emotionally dependent on bots

- The difference between human therapy and AI “wisdom”

- Tips and prompts for using AI safely and meaningfully for mental health work

This one’s for the curious, the cautious, and the tech-savvy self-healers. We’re not anti-AI but we are pro-awareness.

Chapters:

(00:00) Why We're Talking About AI and Mental Health

(01:03) Building a Therapy Bot: Rachel’s IFS Bot

(01:58) Can AI Spot Your Blind Spots? The Mirror Effect

(02:31) The Input Determines the Output

(04:23) When AI Becomes a Pandora’s Box of Anxiety

(06:15) Emotional Validation & the Danger of Getting Hooked

(08:35) Feeding AI the Full Story (and Why It Matters)

(10:17) The Only Energy AI Has Is the Energy You Give It

(12:03) Using AI for Self-Inquiry Instead of Advice

(14:44) When a Tool Becomes a Crutch That Stunts Growth

(16:01) AI as the New Operating System (and Why That’s Scary)

(18:22) ChatGPT vs. Human Therapists: The Bias Trade-Off

(20:00) Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Use AI for Emotional Work

(21:24) Guardrails and Prompts: Safer Ways to Use ChatGPT

(22:00) AI Isn’t the Answer, You Still Have to Do the Work

Custom GPT links + prompts below:

Rachel’s IFS BOT:

https://chatgpt.com/g/g-MxQl6lAUI-ifs-bot

Great Prompt for Inner Inquiry:

"I'm struggling with [insert situation, thought, or feeling]. Please respond like a compassionate and emotionally intelligent mental health guide. Ask thoughtful, open-ended questions to help uncover the full context including past experiences, possible traumas, conflicting parts of me, and emotional polarities. Be curious and non-judgmental. Validate my emotions, but don’t automatically agree with my perspective, gently challenge any distortions or assumptions you notice. Prioritize emotional truth and self-understanding over comfort or quick fixes. Help me explore what's happening inside with depth, care, and honest inquiry."

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