I Used ChatGPT To Process My Father’s Death (And It Did What Therapists Couldn’t)

Harnessing AI for Personal Reflection: A Personal Journey Beyond Conventional Therapy

In recent years, the conversation surrounding artificial intelligence has primarily revolved around its applications in automation, business, and productivity. However, some individuals are discovering personal and profound ways to utilize AI technologies for mental health and self-understanding. This is a reflection on one such journey—an example of how AI can serve as a tool for introspection, especially during times of emotional turmoil.

Personal Context: Facing Grief Alone

The story begins with a deeply personal experience: the passing of a father with whom there had been no recent contact. Residing in the United States while he was in Spain, the individual found themselves overwhelmed by an unexpected wave of grief—recursive thoughts that refused to settle. Unlike conventional mourning that might involve crying or seeking support, this person experienced a form of internal looping—prehistoric, unshared, and relentless.

Rather than turning to traditional support systems or therapy immediately, they had already been experimenting with AI in everyday tasks. This familiarity eventually extended into using AI as a companion for emotional processing.

A New Approach: Using AI as a Reflective Mirror

Instead of relying solely on its traditional applications, the individual reoriented AI as a tool for introspection. They fed personal writings, childhood memories, and reflections into AI systems, asking it to interpret or comment on these inputs. Interestingly, the AI responses varied—sometimes distorting, other times mirroring thoughts—and these variations proved insightful.

This process resembled holding up a mirror to oneself but with the added dimension of intentional distortion or reflection, which fostered greater self-awareness. It became a means to examine biases—both personal and artificial—and to triangulate understanding of one’s internal landscape.

Comparing AI to Traditional Therapy

While acknowledging that therapy is valuable, especially for many people, this individual pointed out a key difference: therapeutic perspectives are filtered through human biases and projections. AI, despite its imperfections, offers an unbiased, albeit artificial, reflection. Recognizing that both human therapists and AI possess biases enables a more conscious engagement with these tools.

This approach did not replace therapy but supplemented it, providing unique insights that might otherwise be inaccessible—particularly for those who prefer solitude or who find traditional therapy insufficient for their personal needs.

Broader Implications: AI as a Tool for Self-Discovery

This personal narrative highlights an emerging perspective: AI can be a powerful instrument for self-exploration and emotional processing. It’s a