‘Hang on, I have to text my robot therapist back’ is a sentence I never thought I’d use. Until I did. A lot.
Apps like Woebot, Youper and Wysa made this happen – they help people like me manage anxiety or other issues like depression, grief and post-traumatic stress disorder. Via artificial intelligence, they chat with users and offer wellness tips, activities like meditation, and therapeutic strategies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Just like you, my first thought was, ‘Uh, okay...’ I pay $100 (about R1 520) every two weeks to see a human therapist, so the idea of texting my innermost thoughts to a robot seemed weird (would my feels be saved for blackmail?) and unhelpful (could a robot really understand me?). Then I read the reviews.
People claim their virtual shrinks feel like friends and have ‘changed their lives’. The idea that I could spend $0 and still get life-altering care was suddenly very intriguing. I wasted no time.
R2-D2, but make it therapy
‘Hi, I’m Woebot! It’s great to meet you, Kara!’ Cue an animation of a mini robot waving on my screen. Not gonna lie: so far, so cute. Then things took a turn. The app abruptly told me that to keep chatting, it needed me to consent to its privacy policy, confirm I was at least 18, and agree I understood how it would use my data and that it wasn’t a crisis service or replacement for an actual therapist.
This story is from the September 2019 edition of Cosmopolitan - South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2019 edition of Cosmopolitan - South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Marc Buckner
The Bachelor SA Season 2’s star is here to make you swoon. Find out why boss babes are ready to risk it all for this adventurous dog lover.
I Tested Positive For The Alzheimer's Gene At 26 Years Old
A DNA testing kit is like a crystal ball, but what if you don’t like what you see?
Basically No-One Has A 28-Day Menstrual Cycle
Brought to you by: the idea of a ‘normal’ period is a lie
For Those Times When You're Like, ‘I Love You, But You're Annoying...'
Coupledom can be hard!
How To Get Sh*t Done
Calling all procrastinators: sometimes getting started on a new project or goal can be the hardest part. Here’s how to stop putting it off and actually press go
Is Rage Bait Okay?
It has become the new engagement strategy for many brands. Companies bait their followers into engaging with their content around topics that cause outrage. But is this okay? Social -media strategists Talya Goldberg and Jabulile Dlamini -Qwesha share their views.
Is Cardio A Scam? And 7 Other Not-stupid Questions About Fitness Things
Thanks for calling 0800 -WTF- Is -This
Hold The Phone
Zozibini Tunzi is here to remind you all to Take. Up. Space. She’s rewriting the pageantry rulebook, and she wants you to join in (in a bath, wearing sparkly boots, because that’s just how we roll).
How To Tell It Like It Is *And Finally Get A Promotion*
Receiving constructive criticism on your work can be terrifying. But do it right and it can be a career game-changer.
What Makes A Compulsive Liar?
We all do it. Tell those lit t le white lies to ourselves, and others. But what about those for whom lying is a way of life? Catriona Harvey-Jenner investigates the rise of a new kind of scammer.
