I use the framework I’ve developed based on my research, which we’ve discussed in previous videos as well – ARCH. This framework aims to build emotional resilience by making sense of one’s vulnerabilities and those of others around us. The "A" in ARCH was guided brilliantly by the use of Chat GPT with the appropriate prompts. I explored it with the consent of clients coping with diverse issues, and all of them responded positively about how they were able to use it to go through the first two steps of ARCH.

A – is about being AWARE of our thoughts and feelings and allowing them to surface without dismissing them or distracting ourselves from them.

R – is about respecting these thoughts and feelings, identifying where blame and shame are arising, and reflecting upon them or grouping them into key themes so that we can gently move to the next step.

C – involves gaining clarity and then choosing to communicate. Finally, it is about framing our communications non-violently and deciding on what boundaries work based on the context. Health and healing are all about being able to do this daily.

Just as the clients narrated their experiences, I typed them verbatim into Chat GPT and gave the prompt, “Convert each line of the below into one-liner ‘I think’ statements and corresponding ‘I feel’ words.” Within seconds, every single line they narrated appeared as thoughts and feelings combinations. Then the clients were encouraged to read through each and strike off what they thought did not match and how they would modify it. This provided a clear framework to focus on, and at the same time, they did not have to think and speak but could vent it all out as they would to a human.

The second step, once the thoughts and feelings combinations were decided and agreed upon, involved copying and pasting them again into Chat GPT and giving different types of prompts to move to the step of reflection and gaining clarity. Some of the prompts were, “Group them into key themes in order of priority,” “Group them as ‘thoughts and feelings about oneself’ and ‘thoughts and feelings about others,’” or “Group them as ‘frequently occurring’ and ‘intensely occurring,’” and so on.

We went through the themes together, and it was most insightful. Some clients could see for themselves how most of their thoughts and feelings were not representative of their own but about what someone else would think or feel about them. They had never realized this until it came out so strikingly clear. Some clients realized how what they were saying was too intense, even though they did not really think that intensely about the person they were talking about, and inferred how their communication to the person in context could be coming across as harsh. Another client understood how they needed to reprioritize and park some thoughts for later, as they were not relevant now even though they were frequently coming up.

Of course, this does not mean Chat GPT solved all their emotional issues, not at all. However, what I would have achieved in a one-hour session with active listening, gentle probing, and asking questions could be done together with much curiosity and focus, and all the clients agreed to try it out on their own too and come back with those areas where they felt stuck.

It has been hardly 3 weeks since I began to explore this. Maybe others have done it long ago, I don’t know. But since I am seeing positive results, I thought I must share. No, I am not a great advocate of using technology mindlessly and would continue to hold that technology is like fire – we need and use it daily in our homes, but it has the potential to burn us down too. HOW to use it and how to make it individualized will remain the key.

I explored it thanks to my own vulnerable position after a month of being unwell. I received a 10-page “venting” from an old client, and I was feeling stuck myself on how to read it all and respond. I decided to explore Chat GPT and, of course, informed the client too and sent her the results. That was a turning point for her and me!

Many later told me that on days they feel like talking and venting but cannot manage a session or do not have the funds for it, they use Chat GPT to gain some clarity on their thoughts and feel more grounded. What they called overthinking and spiraling is now getting more structured with much ease.

Do let me know your thoughts and questions.

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ARCH Framework Recap:

A: Awareness

R: Reflect

C: Clarity

H: Health and Healing

Watch the previous videos to learn more about ARCH.

#MentalHealth #AIInPsychology #EmotionalResilience #ARCHFramework #ChatGPT #TherapyTech #Mindfulness #HealingJourney #SelfAwareness #MentalHealthTools #TechInTherapy #Psychology #VulnerabilityAndHealing

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