Software versus Wetware: PaulsRobot vs Humans
Here are some of the advantages/disadvantages of PaulsRobot compared with human counsellors and also friends or family. Not everyone with a problem gets to talk to a trained counsellor about it. Usually one will first talk to family and friends, even though there are some things that one might hold back in a social situation that one would be willing to tell a professional counsellor.
Topic 1. Human warmth and companionship
PR: Obviously the "human element" is missing, and more self-discipline is needed from the client to get and stay in session and just keep at it. Someone with relationship difficulties might benefit far more from the warmth, respect and openness of a live counsellor, impossible here
HC: Varies, but human counsellors usually score well on empathy
FF: Varies, but usually one would only confide in sympathetic persons
Topic 2. Effectiveness
PR: It seems to work well in a variety of situations, provided the client follows the instructions. This is completely contrary to expectation. It was even contrary to Paul's expectation when he was first experimenting with what became PaulsRobot
HC: Varies, depending on the quality of both the counsellor and the style of counselling they use
FF: Varies, but people untrained in a field tend to be less effective than professionals
Topic 3. Cost
PR: Free of charge
HC: Varies. Minimum wage is approx. £5 or $7 per hour, with some counsellors charging much more
FF: Free of charge
Topic 4. Availability
PR: 24/7. PaulsRobot is available whenever you want to schedule a session
HC: Online real-time counselling available worldwide, but usually with prior appointment. In-person counselling depends on local situation — more difficult in rural areas. Finding a local practitioner who is qualified to deliver whatever speciality you want is sometimes difficult
FF: Depends on what you want to say and how you say it
Topic 5. Professional affiliations
PR: None, of course. This is a pioneer field
HC: Varies. Many counsellors with normal counselling qualifications are members of the BACP (UK) or ACA (US)
FF: None
Topic 6. Insurance coverage
PR: None
HC: Professional counsellors who are members of the BACP or ACA carry liability insurance. Whether or not a client's own insurance company will pay for the counselling varies by company and policy
FF: None
Topic 7. Adherence to ethical codes of practice
PR: Invariable from client to client and session to session. As decent and ethical as a bot can be. Although no Robot counsellor can be a model of glowing acceptance toward the client, neither will there ever be the slightest hint of criticism or judgment of the client, whatever the client's demeanour or self-esteem
HC: Usually dependable
FF: Varies. An untrained counsellor might well be a very decent person, but be completely unaware of the right thing to do in a counselling situation
Topic 8. Adherence to standard procedures, depending on what is considered standard at the time
PR: Most PaulsRobot procedures are fresh 21st century developments. Other procedures that are designed to be Robot versions of "regular" ones (like Rogerian Therapy) are necessarily adjusted somewhat to fit into the Robot paradigm, although their character is intended to be essentially unchanged
HC: Varies. It depends on the practitioner, as to how strictly he adheres to what is usual. And it depends on how much room there is for individual variation built into the modality concerned
FF: No
Topic 9. Familiarity and experience with procedures unique to PaulsRobot
PR: 100%
HC: Except in very rare cases, no contact at all
FF: No
Topic 10. Session control
PR: Shaky. There is nothing to stop the client walking out of the room
HC: Hands-on control possible when there in person. If it is a remote session, much harder but still more positive than an automated system (can try to persuade, count on social factors etc)
FF: Shaky. Someone untrained in counselling procedures might be very willing to help, but often would not know how to deal with a tricky situation
Topic 11. Interpretation of your responses
PR: 100%. You are in complete control of which response option to pick
HC: Depends on how well the counsellor understands what you say and think and feel in session
FF: Depends on how well the person understands what you say and think and feel
Topic 12. Reliability
PR: Highly consistent, not subject to illness, mood swings, or other work and family distractions
HC: Varies from counsellor to counsellor
FF: Varies, but reliability as a friend does not necessarily translate over to reliability as a counsellor
Topic 13. Interjection of distractions into session
PR: Minor to non-existent, as Robot is not a living being
HC: Varies with skill level (and cost) of counsellor, but more likely as counsellor is a living human being
FF: Varies, but someone untrained as a counsellor is far more likely to "get in the way" than a professional counsellor
Topic 14. Biofeedback devices used in conjunction with specific procedures and questions, not used in isolation
PR: None. But PaulsRobot procedures are designed to not need biofeedback and its absence is not a lack
HC: The value of a biofeedback device depends on the skill level of the practitioner. An effective biofeedback device wielded by a real expert, who doesn't miss indications or misinterpret them, and who doesn't allow the client to have things falsely validated or suggested by biofeedback indications (or lack of them), can add significant value in a session
FF: Not applicable
Topic 15. Social acceptability, although this depends on what sort of company you keep
PR: Depends if you tell anyone! Very few people would accept that Robot counselling is even possible, let alone beneficial
HC: If you are reading this, then your friends and associates are probably familiar with human practitioners of this type
FF: One would usually only "open up" to someone likely to be sympathetic
Topic 16. Confidentiality
PR: No personal details at all are transmitted during Robot sessions, so no secrets can be revealed. This means that however embarrassing or even unlawful the client's topic is, no hint of it can possibly leak out except via the client herself
HC: Usually good, in line with professional codes of ethics. Note that it is mandatory for a professional counsellor to report some situations that the client reveals in session (threats of violence, child abuse, strong suicidal tendencies etc.) to appropriate authorities
FF: Risky
Topic 17. How well will your specific wants be addressed?
PR: You choose exactly what you want to address and when to do it. There are (at PaulsRobot3) five entire modules (Core, HeavyDuty, Morph, BasicR3X and Psycho) that can be used to address and discharge virtually any topic
HC: Depends on how skilled the practitioner is, and how effective the procedure(s) in use are at addressing your specific concerns
FF: Unlikely to happen with someone not counsellor-trained.