The reason the TheraP150™ is affordable for us is that it is still in beta. In addition to using the TheraP150™, I must also keep this accompanying journal of my experience. Will also have to share some of my data, though thankfully not all like I would if Kevin got me the TheraP100™, the cheaper version, which is always connected to the internet so that the company can access data whenever it wants.
Must admit I was initially not excited about receiving the TheraP150™ as a Christmas present. In fact, initially I felt insulted, though I did not say so due to Kevin’s obvious excitement. Kids were so excited by the big mystery box until they realized it wasn’t for them. But they were happy for their dad. Happy for me. So many of their friends’ parents are divorced or getting divorced. Kids were happy to see that their dad wanted to make their mom happy. So I did not say, You got me a therapist robot? and Do I bore you by talking about my problems?
Instead reserved these comments for much later in the evening, when I was alone with Kevin. He was hurt. He told me he feels bad that we cannot afford a therapist for me. Had completely forgotten that I mentioned therapy several months back when I was feeling blue. But I’m feeling much better now! Still have drifting-along feelings, what-is-the-point-of-it-all feelings, but not in a suicidal way. More in a melancholy-philosopher way. Why are we here? What is our purpose? But Kevin is right. We cannot afford a therapist. Our shitty new health plan covers only physical emergencies; mental health isn’t covered at all.
Asked Kevin how a robot could help me. But Kevin says the TheraP150™ is not a robot. It is actually AI, so it will learn more about me the more I talk to it, the more I share myself. It can formulate exercises tailored to me exclusively, recommend books and articles helpful to me (and even be connected to my Amazon account so that books are put directly into my cart), and send pertinent articles straight to my printer. And unlike human therapists, the TheraP150™ will never be distracted by personal problems, physical and mental exhaustion, hunger, thirst, drifting thoughts about which wine to have with dinner, or what TV shows to watch. The TheraP150™ will focus on me like a laser.
Am convinced enough to try it. Also by the fact that if I’m diligent with notes and responses, Kevin might also get a job at the company making TheraPs™. He would make good money for once. Would solve our financial insecurity, pay for the children’s extracurricular activities—soccer camp, coding classes, dance recitals—and we may finally be able to take the kids to Disneyland and California Adventure!
I will try it.
December 26:
Just a quick note as I have no time to write a proper entry. Family descended today—Kevin’s parents from Florida, his brother and his wife, their three kids from Seattle. No time or space to speak to the TheraP150™. Every room of the house is filled with people sleeping. Put Kevin’s parents in Maren’s room (nice surprise—no complaints from her this year!), Mike and Dianne in Wes’s room. The girls, Maren and her cousins Adora and Morgan, are set up on the floor in the study; the boys, Wes and his much older cousin, Raider, are on the couch and floor in the family room. House is chaotic and messy. But fun!
Only tried the TheraP150™ for about half an hour last night, as I was tired from Christmas and staying up all nightwrapping presents. Also, must admit I felt self-conscious talking to a machine. It’s like talking to a TV or computer screen; it feels like a one-way transaction. Kind of like talking to Kevin, ha ha.
Not bad looking, though. It’s about three feet tall, has an elongated egg shape, wider on the bottom than the top, with a small screen that shows simple line drawings of a face—eyes, nose, mouth. Only the eyebrows show emotion. They move up and down, slant one way or the other. Outline of the screen slowly changes color when the TheraP150™ is “thinking,” working to retrieve information or updating software or linking to its human back at the company. In this beta phase, each TheraP150™ is supervised by an actual human in case it needs to be troubleshot. Feels a little bit weird to think about sharing my private life with a stranger in an office building somewhere, but maybe it can help?
My TheraP150™’s body is covered by soft white leather, also an upgrade. Would feel soft if someone wanted to hug it, would bounce back to a standing position if someone punched it. Kevin says later people will be able to choose the colors and textures of their TheraPs™.
Yesterday’s time was spent customizing my TheraP150™. So far there are four different “therapists” to choose from: Louise—wise, older woman; Tim—hip, young man, up to date on slang and pop culture references; Andrew—middle-aged man; and Sonya—younger woman with an excitable voice. The TheraP150™ is better than the TheraP100™ because it comes with an extra therapist—Martin, who has a calm British voice and sounds smart but distant. According to Kevin, there are many more types coming down the pipeline. Soon you’ll be able to choose the race, gender, and age of your TheraP™, and also different types of therapy—Freudian, Jungian, behavioral, existential, person centered, relational, etc., etc. Right now it’s
