Can texts replace your therapist? - Futurity

You are free to share this article under the Attribution 4.0 International license. There are benefits and drawbacks of using smartphone and internet technology to administer mental health care, report researchers. Interacting with a machine may seem like a strange and impersonal way to seek mental health care, but advances in technology and artificial intelligence are making that type of engagement more and more a reality. "Talking to a machine may feel like a safer way to share experiences without feeling ashamed." Online sites such as 7 Cups of Tea and Crisis Text Line are providing counseling services via web and text, but hospitals and mental health facilities have not widely used this style of treatment.