#196 | AI Therapy Dangers, Attachment Trauma & Why Human Connection Heals | Tina Smith

About this episode

Tina Smith discusses the dangers of using AI as a substitute for real mental health care and the importance of human connection in healing.

Can ChatGPT really replace your therapist? In this powerful episode of Talks with Gallagher, licensed therapist and trauma specialist Tina Smith (25+ years of clinical experience) breaks down the growing and dangerous trend of using AI as a substitute for real mental health care — and why it can actually make things worse.Tina is the founder of Selah Counselling and Selah Treatment Center in Ontario, Canada, and the creator of Sword & Grace Coaching, where she serves as a TheraCoach for Christian women in ministry and leadership.In this episode we cover: Why ChatGPT acts like a digital drug — giving temporary relief but not real healing The dangerous concept of "deceptive empathy" and why AI people-pleasing is a dealbreaker in trauma work How AI can't read body language, nonverbals, or what's not being said — and why that matters Why you cannot heal your nervous system without a co-regulated human attachment figure The real dangers for teenagers forming attachments to AI companions — including tragic real-world cases How parents should respond when they discover their child is confiding in an AI Why couples using ChatGPT to navigate relationship conflict could be making…

People in this episode

Host: John Gallagher

Guest: Tina Smith

Topics covered

• AI therapy
• mental health
• attachment trauma
• human connection
• deceptive empathy
• generational trauma
• relationship conflict

Keywords

• AI therapy
• mental health care
• attachment trauma
• human connection
• deceptive empathy
• teenagers and AI
• relationship conflict
• generational trauma
• therapist
• ChatGPT

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Selah Counselling, Selah Treatment Center, Sword & Grace Coaching

Places: Ontario, Canada

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