There's so much hype about self-care. It's become a bit of a buzzword, both in the mental health world and on social media.

In a world of influencers and online voices (qualified or not), self-care seems to have been reduced down to something that appears costly, time-consuming and, if we're honest, a little self-indulgent. Long soaks in candlelit bathtubs, expensive massages and wellness retreats, anyone?

Who honestly has the time? And more importantly, the money?

ChatGPT is a great tool that is efficient, always available and free (to a point). Late night conversations when you can’t sleep, quick advice in the midst of a crisis – it’s like you have immediate, free access to your own personal therapist whenever you need to reach out for help. But is it as good as it seems? What is the difference between AI generated therapy and that delivered by a trained professional? Does it matter?

The idea of online counselling might seem a little strange at first but there are some attractive advantages.

You've been thinking you might benefit from counselling for a while now but it feels scary to finally book in that session - sound familiar? Not sure what to expect from counselling? If so, you're not alone.