Therapy grounded in real inner work and genuine human connection.
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ChatGPT can be a helpful tool for basic emotional support when you need a quick response, but it is not a good long term substitute for professional therapy…even though Chat’s answers are sometimes surprisingly insightful. Let’s talk about the benefits of talking with ChatGPT and the problems and/or risks.
If you experience an intense emotional situation and you don’t have someone to talk to and you aren’t currently set up with a therapist, turning to ChatGPT is always available at no cost. Because it’s so easy to access, you can quickly release your feelings which can relieve emotional distress.
Sometimes you may need a sounding board to talk through situations or decisions and ChatGPT can help you organize your thoughts and think through various perspectives. This may be all you need to get through what you are facing. And bots don’t judge you so it feels safe.
It’s also easy to get basic guidance and support by giving you information that you may need or helping you define something that you don’t have all the facts on. Similar to a Google search, ChatGPT can give you basic strategies and ideas for coping skills that you can use to address your problems.
One of the vital elements of what makes therapy so effective is the relationship that is built between a patient and a therapist, and ChatGPT cannot do this.
“Across the different therapeutic modalities, there is a consistent theme of being in a relationship with another person and making psychological contact.”
(Priestly, Stephanie. “Why Using ChatGPT as Therapy Is Dangerous.” Medium. April 7, 2023. https://medium.com/@stephanielouisepriestley/why-using-chatgpt-as-therapy-is-dangerous-e8e2f4678e7e)
The trust that is built and the connection that is formed is a basic human need that we all need. All therapists will tell you that the therapeutic interventions they make are some of the least important parts of therapy. It’s the connection between the therapist and client, the shift in facial expression the therapist recognizes, the experience of a therapist working with people’s internal worlds everyday that can pinpoint something AI cannot see.
Your therapist is a mirror, helping you to see what you can’t. Ai has information, it can reflect back the information you give it, which can be super helpful if you need to talk something out.
But you do have to ask it for alternative perspectives, otherwise, it will reflect back and validate only your experience, which is valuable, but doesn’t reliably create progress.
Another concern is the lack of privacy when sharing personal information. Anytime you share your info online you are taking a chance that it is not kept secure.
“HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) doesn’t apply to ChatGPT because it deals specifically with the electronic transmission of healthcare information related to insurance. ChatGPT has nothin’ to do with insurance, so it doesn’t apply.”
(Jancer, Matt. “Don’t Use ChatGPT as Your Therapist—Unless You Want Your Private Information Leaked.” Vice. July 30, 2025. https://www.vice.com/en/article/sam-altman-comments-chatgpt-therapy/)
So while it may be helpful and offer basic coping strategies and validation, ChatGPT is not equipped to support you in the way a human therapist with training and experience can,
It may be helpful between therapy sessions to help you think through things, problem solve or to vent your thoughts and emotions, but establishing a human connection with a trained professional is an investment that will pay dividends for a lifetime. For that to happen, find the right therapist. We wrote a blog about that here.
If you are ready to take the step to begin therapy and so that you can make a positive impact on your mental health, contact us, we are here to help.
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Summer is in full swing and sleepovers can become a big topic for families. So let’s talk about some things to consider before sending your kid on a sleepover, what to consider if you don’t, or they have challenges around sleepovers.
Sleepovers can be beneficial for kids and we know they can bring up anxiety for you and for them. Let’s talk this through so you can land on what feels right for you and your kiddo.
When your child attends a sleepover they are able to practice independence since they are outside of their normal environment and away from home. It also gives them some exposure to other family dynamics, cultures and routines; they get to see that everyone and every environment is not exactly the same as theirs and this can help them become more adaptable.
“A sleepover at someone else’s house can also be an insightful opportunity for kids to see how another family operates. This may help them value what makes families different and what they love about their own family.” (Gwilliam, Ellie. “Should my Child go on a Sleepover?” Parenting Place. https://parentingplace.nz/resources/should-my-child-go-on-a-sleepover)
Interacting with friends outside of their structured school or sports type of activities is also helpful to strengthening their social skills. Being in a more relaxed environment can help them build closer bonds in friendships and practice different kinds of communication skills.
Because every family and every parent is different, there may be some things that you do not agree with going on in the household where the sleepover is being held. These can be minor things that you just don’t want your kid exposed to, or it could be major things that are a cause for concern.
One concern could be different levels of supervision. Some parents give their children more freedom or have more lax rules than you might be used to in your home, which can bring up anxiety for you and or your kid..
There may also be exposure to things that you don’t want your child to be around like different kinds of food or activities that you don’t normally do (maybe more screen time, different types of things they might have access to watch, older kids in the house, ect).
First, consider your relationship with the host family. How well do you know them? Are you familiar with their parenting style? Have you visited their home before and felt comfortable there, even though there might be some differences?
You may not know all the parents of your children’s friends, but getting to know them a little bit might help you get a sense of how comfortable you feel with allowing your child spend the night. Maybe you have their child over first, maybe you have a phone conversation with the parent and ask a few questions to get a sense of how their values and parenting style. This is not meant to come across as suspicious, rather: hey I’d love to connect so that everyone has a good time. It can also be a way for you to share anything special about your kid like food allergies or shyness or bossiness that can come up.
There should be open communication between you and the child’s parents and they should be willing to answer any questions you have before allowing your child to stay at their home. If they aren’t willing to do so, that’s probably a red flag.
Another thing to consider is who will be supervising and who are the other kids attending the sleepover. If your kid is younger you will want to make sure the parents are going to be present and supervising them the whole time. If you are not comfortable with them being left with an older sibling or other family member you need to communicate that.
How many other kids are attending and who they are can also be an important factor. Does your child get along with them? Could bullying or exclusion be a problem if other kids are also there?
There are also some things you need to consider about your child, like are they emotionally mature enough to be away from home. Some kids struggle with anxiety or home sickness and a sleepover can be a trigger. Ask yourself if they are ready for a sleepover and make sure they are not feeling pressured by their friend(s) to attend. If you think it’ll be a stretch, you might want to develop a plan so they can check in for reassurance.
Be prepared to deal with these types of situations by being available so they can call or text you if they need you, and you can also develop a plan of how they can let you know if they are uncomfortable or want to come home, like a code word.
You’ll also want to consider if your child has any medical needs/concerns like allergies, conditions or medications. This is not a deal breaker but definitely needs to be addressed with the parents at the host home.
While communication with the host parents is important, it’s also very important to communicate openly with your child if you allow them to attend a sleepover. This can include rules (for safety and behavior), personal boundaries, what a potentially dangerous situation can look like, and how to handle a situation that makes them feel uncomfortable. It also is helpful to include ways they can practice being a good guest For example: saying thank you, offering to help, asking permission, etc
“Just like the internet, sleepovers aren’t inherently bad, but they do pose inherent risks – and education can be key in prevention. When kids and parents know the dangers and warning signs, they can both be better equipped to stay safe.” (“7 Tips for a Safer Sleepover. Child Rescue Coalition.” https://childrescuecoalition.org/educations/7-tips-for-a-safer-sleepover/)
The decision to allow your child to have sleepovers or not is a personal one, and you have to do what feels right for your family. By considering all the risks and benefits and taking necessary precautions, you will be equipped to make an informed decision for your child’s well-being and safety.
If you are struggling with making this decision, knowing how to set your child up for success with things like sleepovers or other important parenting decisions, contact us, we are here to help!
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If your child is having consistent emotional, behavioral, or social challenges that interfere with their daily life, well-being, or development then it may be time to look into getting some professional help for them.
As a concerned parent you will want to do some research to see what is best for your child. So let’s talk about what’s more helpful, tap outs or therapy?
Tap outs is an online mental wellness program that teaches emotional skills, confidence, growth mindsets, resilience and healthy habits, so that kids are prepared to deal with life’s challenges. There is an element of fun in the tap outs program that makes it appealing to kids such as videos, games and rewards.
“Once the fun and excitement is established, we found kids to be much more receptive to new learnings and willing to apply those to real life.” (https://help.tapouts.com/en-us/knowledge-base/what-tapouts-is)
The program is designed for kids ages 4-16. Groups of 8-10 kids (grouped by age) meet online for 30 minutes each week and they are led by a coach. Each week a new learning outcome is introduced and there is discussion and learning that is done in a fun way to keep them engaged.
Being involved in a group that includes other kids who have similar challenges can help your child feel like they are not alone or really normalize challenges. This can make it easier for them to express their feelings and want to participate.
There is also a points system that encourages participation and they can cash in their points for rewards like gifts cards, games, and other prizes. This positive reinforcement is typically something that kids respond well to. So they may be more motivated and less resistant than they would be towards therapy.
This type of program can be very helpful for kids because it’s a relaxed environment where they can connect with other kids and have fun.
AND. This is really great for creating a baseline of skills for your child. They will have some foundational knowledge and experience that support their experience in therapy if it comes to a time when they would benefit from therapy.
Tap outs is not recommended if you have some more intense things happening emotionally. For example: if your child is experiencing ongoing social or school difficulties, if they’ve been through or are going through an emotionally intense experience at home or they’ve experienced trauma. If any of these things are happening and you want to combine tap outs and therapy, great! But you don’t want to put a bandaid on something that needs professional attention, you know?
Therapy builds emotional awareness to help kids identify and express feelings like anger, sadness, fear, or frustration and sometimes this is most effective in an environment that is private and individualized.
A therapist can see beyond the presenting behaviors and get to underlying causes so there can be healing, learning to emotionally regulate during intense experiences at home, at school or with friends.
Therapists can pick up on subtle cues and read the body language of the child after getting to know them and this is helpful, especially if they have a hard time verbally expressing their feelings.
When a kid is in therapy, family involvement is encouraged. This is beneficial as it improves parent-child communication, helps parents understand what the child is experiencing, and gives them tools to address behaviors at home and provide effective discipline. In a past blog we talked about what to expect when your child is in therapy, you can read that HERE.
There is no clear cut answer to the question, “What’s more helpful? Tap outs or therapy?” because it all depends on the kid and the situation. You have to look at their personality and what specific challenges they are facing,so that you can make the best decision for them.
If you are ready to look into what is best for your child so that you can begin managing their mental health, contact us, we can help you get started.
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