Co-presenter, with Leora Trub, PhD

The Metropolitan Institute for Training in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

AI is now an ever-present force in our patients' lives, and consequently, in their psychotherapy experiences—even when they don't explicitly bring it up. Just two years after generative AI became widely accessible, recent data shows that its most common use is for therapy and companionship. How do we navigate this digital landscape, where individuals frequently turn to non-human entities for support and understanding? How can we communicate the unique, sacred aspects of our work—and human relationships more generally—amidst this new reality?

What is it that comprises our uniqueness? AI apps like ChatGPT, Pi, Claude, and others offer various forms of assistance, but their emotional and psychological capabilities are limited by the fact that their programming is culled from cognitively based data from the internet. This presentation posits that Emotional Communication, a way of relating that is viscerally based and quintessentially human, is a superpower of psychoanalysts that sets us apart. Illustrative case examples will be presented to illustrate the contrast between a person conducting psychoanalysis and that of AI offering support.

We also address the importance of therapists maintaining a deep awareness of countertransference: our own fears, resistances, and hopes regarding AI that may interfere with our ability to address it fully in sessions. Drawing on clinical examples from both the speakers and the audience, we will explore how to approach this evolving dynamic with greater literacy, courage and competence.

As therapists, we are tasked with meeting our patients where they are, immersed in a world shaped by AI’s opportunities and challenges. We define the roles of both human therapists and AI, while also maintaining a deep awareness of our own countertransference; our own fears, resistances, and hopes regarding AI.