Back to the Roots: AI Mental Health Companions Reuniting Coaching with its Psychological Origins

In my previous article about the Next Generation in AI (in) Coaching, I touched on an intriguing trend: the convergence of AI-driven coaching chatbots and mental health AI companions. While most AI-driven coaching chatbots focus on professional growth, self-reflection and goal attainment, another category of AI tools, such as the Stanford University founded AI companion Woebot Health and the brand new mental health companion Ebb by Headspace , is emerging with a different focus - supporting mental wellbeing.

This overlap isn’t surprising. Coaching as we know it today owes much to psychology. Early pioneers like Carl Rogers, whose client-centered approach emphasized empathy and active listening, laid the groundwork for many coaching methodologies. Solution-Focused Coaching, Cognitive Behavioral Coaching (CBC), and Narrative Coaching all borrow principles from therapeutic frameworks like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Motivational Interviewing.

However, coaching evolved into a distinct practice, shifting its focus from emotional healing to forward-looking development. While therapy often deals with the "why" of human behavior, coaching focuses on the "how" of achieving personal and professional goals. Yet, their shared emphasis on growth, connection, and empowerment underscores their common DNA.

As AI continues to evolve, these once-distinct areas I feel are slowly closing in on each other once again. Most digital coaching platforms hire behavioural psychologists to drive their digital and AI offerings besides hiring technologists. Are the lines between coaching and therapy beginning to blur?

This article delves into the origins of this overlap, the technologies driving these advancements, and the opportunities and challenges as AI navigates the blurred boundaries of coaching and therapy.

?? The Birth of AI Therapy Companions in the late 1960s

The story of AI's role in therapy began in the 1964 with ELIZA, an early natural language processing (NLP) chatbot developed by Joseph Weizenbaum at MIT until 1966. Using a script based on Rogerian therapy, ELIZA simulated empathy by simply reflecting users’ statements back to them.

The project was designed to explore communication between humans and machines, simulating conversation using pattern matching and substitution methodology. ELIZA's most famous script, DOCTOR, simulated a Rogerian psychotherapist, responding to user inputs with non-directional questions. The program operated by processing users' responses to scripts, applying pattern matching rules to generate replies. Despite its simplicity, ELIZA often created a convincing illusion of understanding and empathy, leading many users to form emotional attachments to the program. If you are curious I found a version that is still running, very interesting considering this is from the late 60s: https://www.masswerk.at/elizabot/. There is also a fun voice version: https://www.masswerk.at/eliza/

?? Current Market Overview: Leading Players in AI Mental Health Companions

Fast forward to today, the evolution of AI therapy companions has been marked by standout innovators who shaped the landscape with their early research and approaches. Here’s a closer look at some of the most influential players:

Most of these players employ proven AI technologies like modern Natural Language Processing (NLP) combined with mostly Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques to deliver emotional support and self-reflection exercises and are currently researching generative AI integrations for better conversational fluency.

Wysa ??

Wysa is an AI chatbot, founded in 2015 by Jo Aggarwal and Ramakant Vempat, that employs a range of evidence-based therapeutic techniques o support mental health. It offers tools for managing stress, anxiety, and depression, provides mood tracking and guided meditations and integrates mindfulness techniques alongside its conversational AI. Notably, it employs a mix of CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Wysa also offers working with a human therapist accesible on every screen within the app.

Woebot ??

Woebot Health launched in 2017 by clinical research psychologist Dr. Alison Darcy and her team at Stanford University, Woebot quickly gained recognition as one of the first research backed AI tools to deliver therapy-like support using evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).

Since August 2023 Woebot is only delivered within a formal healthcare setting in the US. I found some former screenshots from the early days ;) though.

Youper

Founded in 2016 by Dr. Jose Hamilton, Youper positions itself as a personal mental health assistant. Using AI-powered journaling and mood tracking, Youper guides users through self-reflection exercises to foster emotional awareness. Its strong focus on emotional intelligence and mood analytics sets it apart. Youper often recommends content like exercises, articles, or meditations based on user inputs, providing a personalized experience.

Ebb by Headspace

Ebb by Headspace is an empathetic AI companion trained in motivational interviewing, helping users reflect on their emotions and suggesting personalized meditation and activities as well as doing gratitute work. Currently it is only available to subscribers in the U.S., Australia, and Canada.

More Players

Yuna.io is an innovative "coaching tool" (now proving my earlier point of coaching and therapy closing in on each other again ;) that makes use of cognitive behavioral therapy patterns in its advanced AI system. It's designed to provide robust support for your personal growth journey, aiding you in achieving life goals and boosting self-confidence.

MindPeace AI a personal AI therapist for mental wellbeing.

Cass AI is a clinically proven technology solution that uses text messaging to assist users with behavioral health coaching, timely resource delivery, and appointment and treatment reminders during care.

ww.serena.chat emotional a virtual mental health companion trained on real therapy sessions

?? The Future of AI Companions in Coaching & Mental Health

As we move forward, this convergence challenges us to think critically about coaching’s place in the broader landscape of human growth. Could coaching’s return to its psychological roots redefine it as the most versatile and essential tool for navigating both personal and professional challenges?

What’s clear is that coaching, empowered by AI, is on the verge of a transformation - one that honors its origins while pushing its boundaries. By embracing this blend of behavioral science and technology, coaching can evolve to address the full spectrum of human potential, becoming an indispensable part of personal and professional development.

And as these technologies continue to evolve, it is crucial to address the ethical, legal, and psychological implications to ensure the safety and well-being of users no matter if we call future AI conversation partners AI coaches or mental health companions.

Further Reading suggestions!

Acceptability and Effectiveness of Artificial Intelligence Therapy for Anxiety and Depression (Youper): Longitudinal Observational Study

Loneliness and suicide mitigation for students using GPT3-enabled chatbots