Have you used ChatGPT for relationship advice? People use it to craft difficult emails, navigate relationships with family members, and even to help message dating partners for optimal results. A recent study by Collins et al. (2025) indicated that most users experienced more benefit as opposed to risk in using ChatGPT for mental health issues. It is particularly strong in wording messages. It is, however, limited in some critical ways. It is inconsistent in its responses, does not have a moral compass (although it is getting better), is not accountable for its answers and advice, and does not abide by HIPAA or respect your privacy. In these respects, although it may provide you with therapeutic advice, it is not a therapist and could put you in some precarious positions.

Have you noticed how live therapists (the kind who reside in physical bodies and sit in therapy offices) shy away from giving you direct advice or telling you what to do? There is a reason for this. If I have a client who is processing a dilemma, and they really push me for direct advisement, I typically give them a disclaimer. It goes something like this: “If I give you direct advice and tell you what to do, I can’t take direct responsibility for the outcome. I do not have to live your life or suffer the negative fallout (relational, professional, financial, etc.) of your decisions. So, it’s easy for me to sit here........

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