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The Machine as Therapist: Unpacking Transference and Emotional Healing in AI-Assisted Therapy

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Abstract

This case study explores the integration of AI, specifically ChatGPT, in the psychotherapeutic process of a 35-year-old woman with anxiety and depression. The patient, already in psychodynamic therapy, began using ChatGPT independently, leading to the development of what we term “robotic transference”—the projection of human-like qualities onto the AI. This paper examines the impact of these AI interactions on the therapeutic alliance, transference dynamics, and emotional healing, revealing both the potential benefits and the limitations of AI-assisted therapy. The case and discussion highlight the significance of human connection and professional oversight in an increasingly digital therapeutic landscape, providing valuable insights for clinicians navigating the complexities of AI in mental health care.

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No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

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Funding

The authors did not receive any funding for this article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Brain Centre, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of

    Farzaneh Barzkar, Alireza Zaribaf & Fatemeh Sadat Mirfazeli

  2. Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Farzaneh Barzkar, Alireza Zaribaf & Fatemeh Sadat Mirfazeli

  3. Research Center for Addiction and Risky Behaviors (ReCARB), Psychosocial Health Research Institute (PHRI), Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Amir-Abbas Keshavarz-Akhlaghi

Contributions

FB and AZ drafted the manuscript, contributed to the literature review, and revised the manuscript. FSMF and AAKA provided case information, edited the manuscript, and offered insights relevant to psychodynamic therapy that helped develop the core ideas presented in the paper. All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Farzaneh Barzkar, Fatemeh Sadat Mirfazeli or Amir-Abbas Keshavarz-Akhlaghi.

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Competing Interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Cite this article

Barzkar, F., Zaribaf, A., Mirfazeli, F. et al. The Machine as Therapist: Unpacking Transference and Emotional Healing in AI-Assisted Therapy. J Contemp Psychother (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-025-09677-7

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  • DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-025-09677-7

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