CCC 28-2_LR

TRENDING NOW

w • It is readily available—we can ask AI anything on our minds and often obtain “reasonable” answers. • It feels non-judgmental and accepting—we have a confidential source of wisdom at the push of a button. • It provides a sense of clarity in emotionally charged and confusing situ ations—we are all hungry for an “objective” opinion. • It offers sophisticated answers people cannot find for themselves—I have been amazed at the complexity and comprehensiveness of AI’s answers. • It feels like a “safe” and anonymous place to disclose sensitive relational information. Where AI Struggles With all of its obvious strengths, let’s consider why we may need to slow down. What are some of the drawbacks we are aware of now, and perhaps some we may not become aware of until much later? I have several concerns: First, AI struggles to assess the severity of a situation. There is no way for AI to read interpersonal cues to assess a complicated marriage or individual crisis. How important is our ongoing relationship with a person to “know” what is transpiring? Second, AI struggles to “see” pattern recognition over time. I rely heavily on hearing stories repeated over time to get a “sense” of what is going on and recurring exposures in counseling situations to understand the situation, and AI does not have that capacity. Third, AI has no real understanding of coercive control or issues such as “trauma bonding.” AI cannot effectively witness power and control dynamics occurring in a relationship, and thus cannot help us much when it comes to assessing narcissistic and emotional abuse. Fourth, AI struggles to differentiate “typical” conflict from emotional abuse. It takes real skill, experience, clinical judgment, and insight to differ entiate normal conflict from emotional abuse; therefore, AI is again limited in what it can offer us in this regard. Fifth, there is some evidence that AI tends to agree with whatever you are saying, unless you are specifically promoting it to challenge you and disagree. If there is any field of endeavor needing very critical thinking, it per tains to narcissistic and emotional abuse. Finally, AI struggles to recognize “thinking errors,” manipulation, gas lighting, and DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender) dynam ics. Emotional abuse is often the culmination, and accumulation, of “thinking errors” that must be caught and confronted in the moment. AI is unable to offer real-time accountability of these dynamics. Further Limitations These are some of the more obvious limitations. As these limitations pertain to narcissistic and emotional abuse, there are even more concerns. As we sit with challenging individuals and couples, it is crucial that we as sess which partner holds the power and how they do so. We make assessments regarding safety and whether the individuals are mutual contributors to the problems. We evaluate whether a person is “rewriting history” or omitting facts to present themselves in the most favorable light. These are critical issues that we face every day, for which AI cannot reliably provide a solution. As we interact with victims and perpetrators of narcissistic and emotional abuse, we explore complicated issues such as Narcissistic Personality Disorder traits, all requiring clinical judgment. We explore emotional manipulation, long-term resentment patterns, and relational trauma, again requiring experi ence and acute clinical judgment.

Christian Counseling Connection 23