ChatGPT outperforms human therapists in empathy

An experiment with more than 800 people shows that ChatGPT generates therapeutic responses that are more empathetic and aligned with the fundamental principles of psychotherapy than human therapists with decades of experience. The finding, published in February 2025 in PLOS Mental Health by a team of researchers from Brigham Young University, suggests that artificial intelligence could play a key role in the future of mental health.

in my life i have had several therapists, and their lack of authentic empathy was astonishing. ChatGPT 4o is much better at simulating empathy than any therapist i have had the displeasure to meet. oh, and therapists are nuts. that's why they become therapists. would any sane person want to sit and listen to crazy people all day?

would have been helpful if it was in English and not Spanish.

Enough of this pro AI therapist bullshit.

Empathic responses can be taught, that is true, however, for a human being to really experience empathy, as in the therapeutic healing, one must experience a whole lot more than the regurgitation of taught words.

As in all Therapy, being real, or authentic is at play here. A human being can easily distinguish between fake empathy and empathy that is authentic and genuine.

The best way to understand empathy is to watch a mother with her new born child in her arms while she is talking to her baby. Now study and imagine all the unspoken empathic responses between mother to baby and baby to mother.

Then think of AI as a substitute mother.

AI will never ever be able to reproduce the depth of empathy required for therapeutic change.

A simple undergraduate understanding of empathy:

Therapist notices that the client is clenching their fists and their stomach is moving up and down in a roling fashion while talking about an abusive family member.

Therapist responds: I noticed that when you are speaking about the family member you seem to get really angry and your stomach seems to roll.

Client; looks down at their stomach moving and their clenched fists. yes, I do feel angry all the time.

will AI ever be able to understand the link between the clench fists and the client being unaware of, and unable to express, their anger.

NO!