Can ChatGPT Help with Relationship Therapy? Experts Respond to LA Couple’s Experiment

Can ChatGPT fix relationship problems? An LA couple swears by AI therapy, but experts warn it's no substitute for human counsellors. We explore the pros, cons, and what therapists really think.
  • Amit Diwan
  • Editorial
  • Updated - 2025-03-24, 18:02 IST
 artificial intelligence chatgpt help with relationship

As artificial intelligence becomes more sophisticated, an unconventional trend is emerging in relationship therapy, couples are turning to ChatGPT for conflict resolution. With traditional therapy sessions costing hundreds of dollars, many are now using AI chatbots as affordable, neutral mediators.

Los Angeles-based couple Dom Versaci and Abella Bala have been using ChatGPT for six months to navigate disagreements. "ChatGPT has saved our relationship," Bala, a 36-year-old influencer talent manager, told the New York Post. The couple pays $20 monthly for ChatGPT's premium version, which they say provides practical communication advice without the high costs or emotional tension of human therapy.

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"ChatGPT is weirdly helpful for de-escalating fights, neither of us wants to argue with a robot," Bala said. Versaci added, "Therapy is expensive, and sometimes you just need a neutral third party to tell you who's being irrational."

Pros and Cons of AI Therapy

While AI therapy is gaining traction among budget-conscious couples, experts caution that it has limitations. Ashley Williams, a licenced mental health counsellor in New York, acknowledges that ChatGPT can help with minor conflicts and communication skills but warns against relying on it for deeper issues.

"There's not enough research proving ChatGPT's advice is reliable," Williams said. "How much personal information are you sharing with AI, and where is that data stored?"

A February 2025 study by Hatch Data and Mental Health found that participants preferred ChatGPT's responses over written advice from human therapists, describing the AI's guidance as more "positive" and uplifting.

Dr Susan Albers, a psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic, noted, "Chatbot therapy might help you think through a relationship concern or navigate an awkward conversation. It's nonjudgmental and affordable."

Dr Ananya Reddy, a Mumbai-based clinical psychologist, warns that AI lacks emotional intelligence. "ChatGPT can offer generic suggestions, but it can't read emotional cues or tailor advice to complex relationship dynamics," she said.

Rahul Mehta, a Delhi-based couples therapist, added, "AI may help with surface-level disagreements, but deep-seated issues require human empathy and professional intervention."

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While ChatGPT provides accessible, low-cost advice, experts agree it shouldn't replace licenced therapy for serious conflicts. For now, AI remains a supplementary tool, useful for minor disputes but incapable of replacing the nuanced care of human professionals.

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Image Courtesy: Freepik

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