AI, therapy and the people in your life
Is it weird to journal with an AI instead of a therapist?
By Siri Bandagiriye · No, it isn't weird. Journaling with an AI is like a notebook that answers back: a private place to sort your thoughts. It doesn't replace a therapist, who can assess you and work with you over time. Many people use both.
Not weird at all, but it isn't "instead of". Journaling with an AI is closer to journaling in a notebook that can answer back. It is a private place to sort your thoughts. A therapist is a trained professional who can work with you over time.
Many people use both. Some use an app because a therapist isn't affordable or available yet. That is a real reason, and there is no shame in it.
Just be honest with yourself about when you need more than a notebook.
What the research says
In a small randomized trial of 70 adults with elevated anxiety, online positive-affect journaling was associated with less mental distress and more well-being.1
The APA says AI chatbots and wellness apps should not replace a qualified provider, but may be appropriate as a supportive add-on to ongoing therapy.2
Written by Siri Bandagiriye
I've been a Buddhist monk and mindfulness teacher for 30 years, and for six years a chaplain with Correctional Service Canada, sitting with people in crisis. I built Saati in Halifax as a companion for the ordinary hard days. If you'd like to see what it's like, it's free to try.