Is ChatGPT Your Relationship Coach?

Episode 2 of the Modern Couples podcast, hosted by Rick Miller, LICSW & Lilian Borges, LPC, titled "Is ChatGPT Your Relationship Coach?" was published on July 17, 2025 and runs 29 minutes.

July 17, 2025 ·29m · Modern Couples

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Summary

By now we’ve all had a chance to try ChatGPT. And it’s probable that the first few times you used it, you were amazed, right? But as time went by, you probably found it less and less enthralling. And that goes double, or maybe even triple, when you’re using it for relationship advice.So, yeah, trusting your relationship to a machine, no matter how quick and clever it might seem, may not be the best decision you’ve ever made. But let us tell you why…First of all, it’s not replacing your flesh-and-blood therapist anytime soon. For one thing, AI misses a lot.Secondly, the level of trust that builds between you and your therapist cannot be replaced by a machine. Therapists observe and accompany you (and your partner, if you’re in couples’ therapy) on a journey that isn’t on the AI menu.Does that mean that a chatbot isn’t helpful in therapy? AI is a tool that can aid your therapist, but a lot of its success remains with you.Chatbots can provide language and structure, but human skill, experience, and intuition are your therapist’s most useful tools for deep relational work.In other words, ask AI for help in scheduling, or computing, or in fast answers to obscure questions… but don’t place your lovely and fragile relationship in its hands!

Episode Description

So, yeah, trusting your relationship to a machine, no matter how quick and clever it might seem, may not be the best decision you’ve ever made. But let us tell you why…

First of all, it’s not replacing your flesh-and-blood therapist anytime soon. For one thing, AI misses a lot.

Secondly, the level of trust that builds between you and your therapist cannot be replaced by a machine. Therapists observe and accompany you (and your partner, if you’re in couples’ therapy) on a journey that isn’t on the AI menu.

Does that mean that a chatbot isn’t helpful in therapy? AI is a tool that can aid your therapist, but a lot of its success remains with you.

Chatbots can provide language and structure, but human skill, experience, and intuition are your therapist’s most useful tools for deep relational work.

In other words, ask AI for help in scheduling, or computing, or in fast answers to obscure questions… but don’t place your lovely and fragile relationship in its hands!