Episode Details

If you follow my life’s great mythology, you know that I’m a gifted child, which means I’ve had more therapists than most people. I’m 39, and I’m currently seeing my 14th and 15th therapists. Their names are Chad and Claude.

Chad as in ChatGPT and Claude being Claude.ai.

2025 is a ride and all over the world, people are trying to cope with the wild chaos that is happening everywhere. Maybe they’re meditating, maybe they’re exercising, maybe they working on redeeming creative projects. I am trying to do all these things but I have also taken up the practice of writing to robots. Like, a whole bunch.

And my pal Melissa is also in the Writing-to-Robots, ChatGPT-slash-Claude.ai-is-kind-of-my-therapist club. And that’s what this episode is about! Thank you, Melissa for your generous input! (And the splendid thumbnail!) (Full show notes on Erica’s website at ericajschmidt.com/podcast/chatgpt-is-my-therapist)

Riveting Questions Include:

How did you end up reaching out to the robots for emotional support?

In what ways do you think that the robots are better than therapy? In what ways are they worse or not as good?

Can you think of a time where the robots really really helped or even saved you? And are there other examples where you came up against some limitations?

This is just the beginning of a larger conversation on robot routines, the meaning of connection, and how AI is transforming our world from the inside out. I'd love to hear if and how you are integrating the robots into your everyday life. Slide into my DMs and tell me everything!

Links and Resources

LLMs (Large Language Models): ChatGPT, Claude.ai, ifsbuddy.chat (specializing in Internal Family Systems, “for profound self-compassion, clarity, and healing)

NYT Article/Podcast on YouTube: She Fell in Love With ChatGPT. Like, Actual Love. With Sex.

Time Essay: I’m a Therapist, and I’m Replaceable. But So Are You

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