ChatGPT: The New Affordable Couples Therapy Alternative

Situationship, complicated, or red flags: How ChatGPT is helping couples resolve relationship conflicts affordably

Some couples are using ChatGPT, an AI chatbot, to help resolve relationship conflicts. As therapy costs rise, couples are using ChatGPT as an affordable alternative to resolve relationship conflicts and improve communication, the New York Post reported. The report quoted a couple saying: "ChatGPT has saved our relationship." The couple was reportedly using ChatGPT for six months to settle disputes. As per the report, instead of paying for human therapy, they have relied on AI to navigate their differences. The chatbot's premium service costs $20 per month and offers communication guidance. "ChatGPT is weirdly helpful for de-escalating fights, neither of us want to argue back and forth with a robot," the Post quoted the couple as saying. The trend of using AI for relationship support is growing among cost-conscious couples in the United States. Traditional therapy sessions can exceed $400 per session in cities like New York, making chatbots a more accessible alternative. However, experts caution that AI-based guidance remains limited. Quoting a mental health counselor in New York, the report said ChatGPT can help with minor relationship issues by improving communication and conflict resolution strategies. However, she emphasized that AI cannot replace professional mental health experts. A study by Hatch Data and Mental Health, released in February 2025, found that participants preferred ChatGPT's guidance over written advice from human therapists. The study revealed that users found the chatbot's responses to be more "positive" and uplifting. While ChatGPT provides a low-cost alternative for couples seeking guidance, experts highlight the need for professional support in more complex cases.

Can ChatGPT fix relationship? Techie and his girlfriend use the tool to settle fights

Abella Bala from Los Angeles uses ChatGPT to help resolve conflicts with her boyfriend Dom Versaci, crediting it with strengthening their relationship. The AI offers unbiased guidance during disputes for a monthly fee of $20, although not all suggestions were practical. The couple finds it an affordable alternative to traditional therapy, helping de-escalate tensions effectively.Abella Bala from Los Angeles, credits ChatGPT with strengthening her relationship. She humorously remarked that the AI serves as a neutral "referee" in her disputes with her boyfriend, Dom Versaci. For just $20 a month (Rs 1,700 approx) the premium subscription has helped the couple navigate disagreements with less stress and tension -- no real-life mediator required. With nothing more than a WiFi connection, the duo has relied on AI's insights for the past six months. However, not all suggestions have been practical, they shared while speaking to The New York Post. During a particularly rough patch, ChatGPT proposed they explore an open relationship -- an idea they quickly dismissed. On another occasion, it suggested Bala give Versaci a "hall pass" to date other women. While the advice was far from ideal, it made them laugh and distracted them from their argument, easing the tension. Abella also posted a video on her Instagram account, where the video's title read, "Using ChatGPT to save our relationship because we can't afford couple's therapy. Beyond its occasional missteps, the AI has proven surprisingly effective in de-escalating conflicts. Bala admitted to being blunt and harsh, particularly when criticizing her boyfriend's driving. Versaci, on the other hand, acknowledged his tendency to be emotionally manipulative, often believing he's never at fault in everyday disagreements, such as those over household chores. ChatGPT typically offers diplomatic guidance rather than internet-driven hot takes, encouraging them to meet in the middle. It might suggest Bala soften her tone while advising Versaci to take responsibility for his actions -- simple but effective advice that has become a comforting presence during heated moments. Dom Versaci, Abella Bala's partner, explained that traditional therapy can be costly, and sometimes all a couple needs is an unbiased perspective to point out who is being unreasonable. For him, ChatGPT serves as an affordable and completely nonjudgmental alternative. Abella Bala is a seasoned Digital Campaign Manager and an Influencer Talent Manager in Los Angeles, California. Meanwhile, Dom Versaci is a Senior Data Analyst.

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When Dom Versaci and Abella Bala can't see eye to eye, the sweethearts tech advice from AI. "ChatGPT has saved our relationship," Bala, 36, an influencer talent manager from Los Angeles, told The Post. "Until it takes Dom's side," she joked, adding that artificial intelligence has served as a handy "referee" in their disputes for the past six months. Instead of staying stalemated on an issue, the millennials turn to the sophisticated system for support. For just $20 per month for the premium package, ChatGPT helps the LA lovebirds better understand each other's perspectives sans stress, strife or an intercessor in real life -- all they need is WiFi. It's a sign of the cybernetic times. Owing to the rise of generative AI -- technology spurring advancements in physical health, education and beyond -- romance help is now only a few keyboard clicks away. And the swing toward robo-therapy is picking up high speed among budget-conscious couples from coast to coast. Rather than breaking the bank on therapy with a human -- pricy appointments that can run NYCers more than $400 per session -- twosomes are tapping chatbots to be their doc, inputting their problems and heeding the program's output. Ashley Williams, a licensed mental health counselor in New York, told The Post that ChatGPT can serve as a useful "tool" for minor matters of the heart, especially in pairs hoping to improve their communication skills and conflict resolution strategies. But she warns that AI is not currently equipped to usurp the role of psychological professionals, people trained to address the specific, nuanced needs of individuals in a relationship. "There's not enough research [proving that ChatGPT's advice] is reliable," said Williams, who also fears that relying on robotics could be risky. "How much of your personal information are you divulging to AI, and where is that information being stored?" Her concerns notwithstanding, the high-wired hack for help is receiving high praise from experts due to its uncritical slant, 24-hour accessibility and low cost. A February 2025 study by Hatch Data and Mental Health revealed that folks actually "favored" therapeutic tips from ChatGPT over the written advice of human healers. Research participants found the bot's responses more "positive" than those from mere mortals. Susan Albers, a psychologist for Cleveland Clinic, also lauded the large language model for offering quality aid in a pinch. "Chatbot therapy might be useful to help you think through a response to a relationship concern or to respond to an awkward conversation," Albers said in a recent report. "It is nonjudgmental and it is affordable." Those are two perks Versaci and Bala enjoy the most. "Therapy is expensive, and sometimes you just need a neutral third party to tell you who's being insane," Versaci, 29, a data scientist, told The Post. "ChatGPT is the cheapest, least judgmental option." Williamsburg resident Grace Mijoo, 35, agrees, admitting that she and boyfriend Eric, 40, routinely benefit from AI's unbiased feedback -- namely during conflicts over how often they check in with one another via text. "I tell ChatGPT what's going on between us, and we provide it with transcripts of what our conversations are like," Mijoo, a self-love coach, explained. She chose not to share Eric's full name for privacy purposes. "In challenging moments, it really helps us take a step back, reflect and talk about what routine checking-ins through text mean to both of us," said the Brooklynite. Catherine Goetze, a tech pro from Los Angeles, known to her over 360,000 social media fans as "CatGPT," also credits AI with keeping her relationship on track during small setbacks. "My boyfriend and I had a huge argument over something extremely insignificant while we were out for dinner," Goetze told The Post of a recent date-night fight. "I went home, talked to ChatGPT and it said, 'You were pretty hungry. You hadn't eaten in an hour. You were just hangry,'" she recalled with a giggle. Goetze and her beau quickly made up, thanks to the tech's cheeky take. The bot's even come in handy for singles like Grace Clarke, who leaned on it during a recent breakup. "I told ChatGPT to give me direct, specific and harsh feedback," said Clarke, a 30-something from the West Village. She and her ex-fella, whose name she chose to withhold for privacy, called it quits in December after two years together. In the name of self-improvement, she tasked the computerized counselor with offering up insights into her behaviors and repeated relationship patterns. And that it did -- so much so, that the blond has virally lauded AI for being "a million times more helpful" than her human therapist amid the split. Unfiltered in its approach, the automation pinpointed "unhealthy" habits and "obsessive" tendencies that could come up as pitfalls for Clarke, such as yelling or double-texting up a partner during disagreements. ChatGPT also presented her with introspective exercises such as: "If you're looking back on your breakup in a year, describe the type of person you'd want your ex to say you were [during the relationship and breakup].'" It was a profound prompt that helped the millennial prioritize peace over problematic practices. Clarke, a marketing strategist and founder of GraceAI, tells The Post she's now healing and hopeful for the future. "I feel very resilient," she said. "I'm excited about my next partnership, even though it is a little strange getting advice from a machine."