04/02/2026
As a counsellor, I fully support you using ChatGPT… for drafting texts, late-night overthinking, and instant validation on demand.
But here’s the thing: sometimes you don’t need more validation—you need to be challenged.
Where ChatGPT might say, “It makes total sense that you feel that way.” A therapist might say, “Let’s unpack that. What you are describing is a thought, not an emotion. What are you feeling and how are you experiencing that emotion?”
These are the kinds of questions that help therapists get to the core issues. While seemingly simple, it helps determine if individuals can identify their emotions, cope with them healthily or rely on distraction/avoidance methods, how they feel about communicating these emotions to others (vulnerability), whether they have skills to do so or have a fear of rejection so avoid vulnerability altogether.
ChatGPT validates. Therapists (the good ones) validate, challenge, question, teach, and occasionally (kindly) call you out. Know when to use Chat GPT and when to seek professional support.
