Semantic Environments of Psychotherapy: From AI to Zoom
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
The relevance of general semantics to the practice of psychotherapy is clear to anyone who is familiar with its central principles. From Korzybski’s Science and Sanity to the later writings and professional practice of such scholars as Wendell Johnson (People in Quandaries) and Albert Ellis (A Guide to Rational Living), the potential for general semantics to provide a roadmap to improved mental health has been well established.
This is a particularly interesting time to revisit the connections between general semantics and psychotherapy. The semantic environment of psychotherapy was transformed by the covid-era transition to virtual modalities in place of the traditional in-person model; many patients and practitioners have chosen not to return fully, or at all, to in-person sessions. Self-help apps for mental health, mindfulness, and other aspects of wellness (such as Calm, Headspace, and Noom) have proliferated in recent years, as have online therapy services like TalkSpace.
Nearly 60 years ago, Joseph Weizenbaum created ELIZA, a computer program that he designed to mimic a Rogerian therapist. To his surprise, users became deeply emotionally involved with the program, and many psychiatrists believed it could be developed into a complete replacement for psychotherapy. In Computer Power and Human Reason (1976), Weizenbaum argued that “there are certain tasks which computers ought not be made to do, independent of whether computers can be made to do them.” He maintained that “there are some things people come to know only as a consequence of having been treated as human beings by other human beings.” Given the extensive recent developments in AI for psychotherapy, how do Weizenbaum’s critiques hold up? What role should digital technologies play in the therapeutic experience?
Our panelists are uniquely qualified to discuss these issues:
Peter Costello holds two doctorates: one in media ecology from New York University, and one in clinical psychology from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Communications at Adelphi University and a clinical psychologist working with individuals and couples in New York City. He is the author of Attachment-Based Psychotherapy: Helping Patients Develop Adaptive Capacities (APA Press).
Lori Ramos holds a Ph.D. in media ecology from New York University and a MSW from Fordham University. She is Professor Emerita from the Department of Communication at William Paterson University and a LCSW practicing in New York City, with a particular interest in trauma-informed therapy.
This event will take place from 6 PM to 9 PM Wednesday, October 16 at the historic Players Club in Gramercy Park.
Registration is free, but all attendees must be registered in order to gain admittance to the club. This includes any guests you might want to bring with you.
The program will take place in the Library on the 2nd floor of the club. Please note that, as an historic 19th century landmark, the site is not handicap accessible. Dress code is business casual and is strictly enforced, including no sneakers, shorts, ripped jeans, or t-shirts.