Comparing AI self-help formats
What you can discuss with ChatGPT about your feelings
Start with a small task. Ask for help describing what upset you in a conversation, or prepare notes for a therapy session. ChatGPT can discuss thoughts with you; its answer isn't a professional assessment of your condition.
If you need a therapist, ChatGPT doesn't replace one. If you want to organize thoughts before a session, set a specific task and check whether the assistant understood your situation.
- Describe a feeling in your own words
- Prepare questions for a therapist
- Examine the facts of one situation
- Compare a conversation with ordinary notes
An illustrative example
An illustrative prompt: "I feel embarrassed after a meeting. Help me describe what happened and separate the facts from my interpretation. Ask one question at a time." This gives the conversation a specific task. If the answer misses something, point out the detail.
FAQ
- Should I ask ChatGPT to act as a therapist?
- For a specific exercise, describe the task. A role in a prompt doesn't give the assistant professional qualifications.
- How is Nearby different?
- Nearby focuses the conversation on emotional support and CBT questions. The separate comparison covers features and data.
- Where can I read the research?
- Our article on ChatGPT and psychotherapy examines what researchers tested and what their results mean.
Text updated: October 9, 2026
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