A Stanford researcher might be on the brink of a dramatic shift in how we treat depression

We do know, however, that talking seems to help - especially under the guidance of a licensed mental health professional. But therapy is expensive, inconvenient, and often hard to approach. A recent estimate suggests that of the roughly one in five Americans suffering from mental illness, close to two thirds have gone at least a year without treatment . Several Silicon Valley-style approaches to the problem have emerged: There are apps that replace the traditional psychiatry office with texting, and chat-rooms where you can discuss your problems anonymously online. The newest of these tech-based treatments is Woebot, an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot designed using cognitive behavioral therapy, one of the most heavily-researched clinical approaches to treating depression.