Client-Therapist Transcripts A Rich Source Of Training Data For Mental Health Generative AI
Latest innovative approach for getting AI up-to-speed on mental health advisement.
Getting Generative AI Into The Groove
In my latest Forbes column posting, I closely examine an innovative approach toward getting generative AI and large language models (LLMs) to become data-trained in performing mental health guidance. The approach consists of using client-therapist session transcripts as a rich source of data that the AI can computationally pattern-match. I will provide a brief overview here.
If you’d be interested in seeing the details and full coverage in my Forbes column, use the link here.
Methods For Generative AI Customization
Here is a quick rundown of the major paths being undertaken to turn generic generative AI into mental health generative AI:
(1) Remain generic. Generative AI is further broadly data-trained on mental health matters and not focused on this as a core specialty per se.
(2) Advanced prompting. Generative AI can be pushed toward mental health therapy advisement using advanced prompting approaches.
(3) Transcripts of therapeutic sessions. Use therapist-client therapeutic transcripts to data-train generative AI accordingly.
(4) Ingest via RAG. Utilize the in-context modeling capabilities of generative AI and ingest mental health domain data via RAG (retrieval augmented generation).
(5) Build from scratch. Start anew when building an LLM and generative AI by having mental health therapy as a foundational core to the AI.
(6) Other approaches.
Let’s focus on the bulleted item number 3 above, namely making use of transcripts from therapeutic sessions.
Leaning Into Therapeutic Session Transcripts
Consider the following.
If we were able to collect together tons of therapist-client session transcripts, we could feed that data into generic generative AI or a large language model (LLM). Like when being data trained across a wide swath of the Internet, we are instead going deeply into the mental health space. This could be done by also feeding books about mental health therapy and other written works, which I’ve covered previously, see the link here.
In the case of transcripts, we want the AI to pattern-match how therapists engage in therapeutic discussions with their clients or patients.
The more transcripts we feed into the data training process, the better off we are. Think of things this way. If we only fed transcripts of one particular therapist, even a famous one, we would essentially be hobbled by having the AI only pattern-match on that one style or clinical approach.
I’ve got good news on this.
There are lots of entities such as private companies and government or educational organizations that have collected together entire databases of mental health therapy transcripts. Thus, the data is sitting out there, waiting to be used for this purpose.
It is a gold mine, waiting to be explored.
Caution has to be exercised in terms of ensuring privacy and confidentiality associated with the use of such transcripts. Other concerns arise too. All in all, this approach provides substantial merit, and additional exploration is abundantly warranted.
Additional Resources Of Interest
For those of you interested in learning more about the rapidly evolving realm of AI for mental health, here are some resources you might wish to explore:
In my popular Forbes column, I encompass the latest in AI for mental health, see for example my must-read comprehensive overview piece at the link here, and see my Forbes column main page at the link here for ongoing postings.
I am honored and pleased to indicate that I was featured in a famed CBS 60 Minutes episode on the latest in AI for mental health (“Your Chatbot Will See You Now” which aired April 7, 2024, Season 56, Episode 7), here’s a link to my appearance in the segment: https://x.com/60Minutes/status/1777116424818860275
You might be interested in my keystone fundamentals book entitled “Disrupting Mental Health Therapy Via Generative AI” which is packed with twenty informative and engaging chapters on what you need to know about AI for mental health. Available for purchase at major online booksellers including Amazon at the link here.
You might also be interested in my advanced book entitled “Advances In Generative AI For Mental Health” including more engaging and informative chapters covering crucial advances in generative AI for mental health. Available for purchase at major online booksellers including Amazon at the link here.