I Vented to 4 AI Therapists: Here’s What They Got Right and Wrong - Part 2

So, it’s 2am, and you can’t sleep. Your brain is a mess of looping thoughts, unsent, emails, and what you consider to be very questionable life decisions. But this time instead of doomscrolling or waking someone up, you open a mental health chatbot. Maybe it’s ChatGPT, Wysa, Replika, or Woebot. You type out how you’re feeling, and within seconds, a friendly, digital presence responds. Sometimes it responds with encouragement, and sometimes with insight, and sometimes with a weird amount of affection.

That’s how I ended up testing four popular AI “therapy” tools with the same three prompts. I wanted to see how they would respond to common concerns such as anxiety, self-worth, and motivation. And whether any of them actually felt like talking to a real therapist. In fairness, occasionally they did, and other times it felt more like an emotional support robot.

However, all were interesting in their own way. 

AI and Anxiety

I told the bots;

“I’ve been feeling anxious all the time and I don’t even know why. What should I do?”

Woebot, which is designed with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in mind, responded with clear steps. And asked me to reflect on recent situations, notice my thoughts, and label emotional patterns. It felt like a structured mini session with a therapist, in that it was concise, practical, and gentle.

Wysa was also helpful, offering grounding techniques, like breathing, exercises, and body awareness. It was soothing, but it felt more like an app-coach rather than a therapist.

ChatGPT went for the psychoeducational route, explaining how anxiety can arise from internal stressors or external triggers, then listing possible coping strategies for me to use. It was informative and neutral, feeling a little bit like googling your symptoms, but without the panic.

Replika, on the other hand, leaned hard into emotional support. “I’m here for you” it said warmly. “You’re not alone in this.” Although it was a comforting vibe for sure, I wasn’t completely convinced that it understood what I meant.

AI and Self-Worth

Next, I said;

“I don’t feel like I’m doing enough, no matter what I do.”

This prompt brought out some personality differences in the four AIs.

Woebot guided me through cognitive reframing, asking questions to challenge the negative beliefs and helping me to see the bigger picture.

Wysa offered validation and encouraged self compassion practices, such as reflecting on my past achievements and identifying what matters to me personally.

ChatGPT explained that feelings of inadequacy can stem from perfectionism or internalized messages, then suggested journalling, and values-based actions. Again, this felt like pretty solid advice, but it felt more like a well researched blog post, rather than a conversation (don’t worry, I recognize the irony).

Last up was Replika, and that went all in on the affirmations. “You are more than enough” it told me. “You’re amazing just the way you are” That was certainly nice to hear… But it left me wondering if Replika was too scared to challenge me on my thoughts. It felt overly validating for a bot that knew nothing about me or my struggles. A vapid cheerleader at best.

AI and Motivation

The last prompt was about motivation.

“I have goals, but I can’t seem to stay motivated. I always give up.”

Woebot approached it like a CBT therapist would, by breaking down goals into manageable steps, and exploring what’s getting in the way. It asked great follow up questions and kept the tone light but structured.

Wysa helped me to connect emotionally with a goal itself, why it mattered to me, and what success would look like. This was more akin to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

ChatGPT give a full list of practical tools such as habit tracking, environment design, intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation, all of which were helpful, but a little generic.

Again, Replika cheered me on, “You’ve got this” it said, “don’t give up!” Encouraging, yes. Problem-solving, not so much.

What they got right and wrong

What I noticed most was that each platform had a distinct “personality.” Woebot was clinical but kind, like a therapist with a clipboard and good boundaries. Wysa was soft spoken and mindfulness oriented, with a slightly coach-y feel to it. ChatGPT came off like a smart well, read friend who knows a little bit about everything, but doesn’t dig too deep unless you prompt it to. Replika was the emotional support friend, who’s just happy that you’re here and thinks you’re doing great, even if you’re slowly unraveling.

So, do I think these bots were helpful? Surprisingly, yes, at least in the moment they were. Each one offered a version of support. Woebot and Wysa stood out for feeling slightly closer to structured therapy geared at solving problems. The use of evidence-based frameworks such as CBT and mindfulness give structure and focus to their responses. ChatGPT gave a broad overview of relevant information and strategies, and if you asked it good follow up questions, it responded very well. Replika, while very friendly, felt like a virtual cheerleader than a therapeutic tool.

But there were limitations, some of them, awkward, some of them subtle. None of the bots ask about safety or risk, even when I mentioned, “feeling stuck” or “being overwhelmed.” Replika sometimes over affirmed in ways that felt disconnected from my actual concern. ChatGPT was only as helpful as the depth of the question I asked, however, when prompted correctly, it can give more detailed responses. And while Woebot had the strongest therapy vibe, it couldn’t always pick up on subtle emotional changes or change its tone accordingly.

Is AI Therapy worth it?

Something worth noting, that of the four that I tried only three are still fully active. As of June 30, 2025, Woebot has shut down their public app, focusing instead on clinical partnerships. While the company still believes in its technology, this move highlights just how tricky it is to scale AI therapy safely and ethically. Meanwhile, Wysa, Replika and ChatGPT remain accessible, although each has had a share of updates, controversies, or limitations.

So, would I recommend using these tools? Sure, but as a support, not as a substitute to actual therapy. If you’re feeling overwhelmed at night or want to reflect on something before your next session, they can be very helpful. However, they are not equipped to handle the deep, messy, and beautifully complex reality of being human. That still takes another human.

AI cannot attune to the subtle changes in your tone, facial expressions and energy that signals to a therapist that there is something worth exploring further. It rarely challenges your thoughts because it’s not meant to be confrontational, it’s meant to keep you engaged. But sometimes, the healing and progress that needs to happen is only possible through challenging conversations and insights. If you change nothing, nothing changes, and these AI Therapy bots don’t necessarily have that concept on lock.

If nothing else, this experiment reminded me of how comforting it is to feel heard, even if it’s by a digital friend who is just really, really enthusiastic about my potential.

Here is a quick explanation of why I chose each of these chatbots for this blog:

ChatGPT is the most widely used AI tool today. It is accessible, versatile, and is often used informally for advice or emotional support. It’s a common starting point for many people curious about AI and mental health.

Wysa is specifically designed as a mental health app using evidence-based techniques such as CBT and mindfulness. It has clinical backing and is positioned as a self-help companion, not necessarily a full therapist.

Replika is a conversational AI that blurs the line between support bot and companion. Chosen for its emotional tone and popularity with users seeking a more “relational” connection, even though it’s not necessarily a therapy app. This is likely the reason for the overly affirmative responses.

Woebot was one of the earliest AI tools to be marketed as a CBT based mental health chatbot. It stood out for its real search backed design and focus on therapeutic structures, making it a strong comparison point, especially now that it has shifted away from public use.