Phone Coaching or AI Assistant?
With the rise of various generative AI applications I was intrigued this month when my client told me about her wilfulness about using phone coaching and her workaround for this to plug her question into a well known chatbot.
My client showed me the results and I have to say I was impressed! There was a comprehensive list of skills offered including PLEASE factors as well as some skills from distress tolerance and mindfulness modules. It seemed ideal!
But then I realised something. My client had asked the chatbot the wrong question! She had asked for help in overcoming procrastination in cleaning her house. Viewed narrowly this is a reasonable question to ask. However, if you’re struggling with perfectionism and agoraphobia the last thing you need is guidance on how to stay inside and make your kitchen sparkle! A life worth living does not come from cleaning your house!
Had my client reached out to me for phone coaching she would have gotten a much more nuanced response which recognised:
that she was overwhelmed and just needed 1 skill to be suggested at that time (not 17!)
that she has not yet completed the skills acquisition phase of DBT and hence does not yet know all of the skills that were being suggested, and
that in fact the wrong question was being asked and that what was needed in that moment was the skill of opposite action (in this case to get outside into the sunshine and do some physical activity) and to connect and participate one-mindfully with friends.
In sum, the value of round-the-clock phone coaching from your individual therapist who knows you, your goals, your progress and your skills-breakdown is far more useful that a chatbot.