Therapist Rodney Long, Jr. (counselingfor.men) returns to the Ascend Health Show to discuss how to use AI without rotting your brain or worsening anxiety and depression. As usual, shenanigans ensue within seconds as Rodney and Nick start distracting each other from the topic at hand. Ironically, we used AI to clean up the transcript below.
Nick Angelis:
Hello and welcome to the Ascend Health Show. I’m your host, Nick Angelis. I’m a nurse anesthetist and one of the owners of Ascend Health Center.
Today I’m joined by my friend Rodney Long.
How have you been, man?
Rodney Long:
Good to see you again.
Nick:
Good to see you too.
I think the last time we did one of these shows, we spent about ten minutes talking about avocado toast. I don’t even remember the context anymore.
Rodney:
That sounds about right.
Nick:
Honestly, this may have been a terrible idea. Two knuckleheads sitting around talking. Viewers have been warned.
Rodney:
That would actually be a great name for a podcast: Two Knuckleheads.
Nick:
Speaking of podcasts, didn’t you start one recently?
Rodney:
I did.
I recently won a grant through Heard Bookkeeping. They asked local business owners how they could support their work, and I explained that I run Counseling for Men and could really use help growing my social media and marketing presence.
They awarded me some funding, and I used part of it to launch a podcast called What Lights You Up.
The idea is to interview other therapists and learn more about who they are, why they became therapists, and what drives the work they do. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at the profession.
I was supposed to release the first episode on the 28th, and I’m running a little behind, but it should be available soon.
Nick:
That’s exciting.
This is actually the 71st episode of the Ascend Health Show, so we’ve been doing this for a while.
Rodney:
You’re practically a Wadsworth television institution at this point.
Nick:
I’ve been runner-up for a couple local broadcasting awards.
Rodney:
You’ve got my vote next time.
Nick:
I’ll hold you to that.
AI and Mental Health
Nick:
Today we’re supposed to talk about AI and mental health.
A few months ago, I had a list of questions prepared for this discussion. Then the schedule changed, I lost the questions, and honestly AI has evolved so much since then that those questions are probably outdated already.
Do you use AI?
Rodney:
I do.
Actually, I’ve been experimenting with AI for several years.
When AI tools first started entering the therapy world, I was one of the early adopters. I participated in beta testing programs for therapy-related software. One of the programs I used was called Session Aid. I’d enter a few summary sentences from a session, and it would generate my clinical documentation.
At the time, that felt revolutionary.
Now everybody is doing it.
These days, I’m actually a bit more skeptical about where AI is headed, but I’ve definitely used it extensively in my practice and business.
Nick:
Interesting.
For me, AI has been surprisingly useful in healthcare.
One thing I tell patients at Ascend is that we’re not intimidated by AI tools. If someone comes in and says, “Here’s what ChatGPT thinks I have,” that’s fine. Maybe it’s wrong, maybe it’s helpful, but it’s another source of information we can discuss together.
Personally, I’ve used AI to help investigate some chronic health issues I’ve experienced. I had ongoing reactions and allergies in operating-room environments, and AI helped me narrow down potential causes such as chlorhexidine sensitivity and histamine-related problems.
Not every suggestion was useful, but some of it helped me connect dots that I might not have considered otherwise.
It’s also been valuable for conditions like mast-cell activation syndrome and histamine-related disorders, which aren’t always well recognized.
In many ways, AI can function like a very enthusiastic but somewhat inexperienced intern.
Rodney:
That’s actually a good description.
The Biggest Risk of AI
Nick:
So what do you think are the biggest risks?
Rodney:
I think there are two entirely different conversations.
One is AI as a professional tool.
The other is AI as a substitute for human thinking.
The speed of adoption has been incredible. People are using AI for business decisions, health questions, relationships, parenting, and even therapy.
I’ve even seen advertisements for AI therapists.
In some situations that’s probably fine. It can generate ideas and introduce perspectives people haven’t considered before.
What worries me is that we’ve started treating AI as an authority.
Instead of using it as a tool, we’re beginning to view it as the answer.
That makes me uncomfortable.
Nick:
That’s an interesting cultural shift.
There was a time when people went to pastors, priests, mentors, friends, or community leaders for wisdom.
Then it became “trust the science.”
Now it’s increasingly becoming “ask the algorithm.”
Rodney:
Exactly.
And what worries me is that we’re losing the habit of turning to real people.
Before the internet, sometimes you simply didn’t know something.
You asked a parent.
You asked a friend.
You had conversations.
Or maybe nobody knew the answer.
Now we’ve become uncomfortable with not knowing.
Google vs. AI
Rodney:
One difference between traditional search engines and AI is that when I use Google, I still have to evaluate sources.
I read multiple viewpoints.
I decide what’s credible.
With AI, a lot of people simply accept whatever answer appears on the screen.
There’s less critical thinking involved.
Nick:
In a way, it’s reducing our need to build relationships with people who know different things than we do.
Instead of finding a knowledgeable person and learning from them, we ask a chatbot.
Rodney:
Exactly.
I learned how to be a therapist by talking to people.
You learned anesthesia by learning from different physicians, nurses, and mentors.
Human beings grow through exposure to different perspectives.
AI can’t fully replicate that.
The Importance of Being Wrong
Rodney:
One of the challenges in therapy is helping people recognize their blind spots.
Everybody has them.
We all tell ourselves stories that aren’t completely accurate.
The problem is that AI often reinforces those stories.
People get trapped in an echo chamber where the technology keeps validating their assumptions.
We need relationships with people who can occasionally tell us:
“You’re wrong.”
“That’s not how it happened.”
“You need to rethink that.”
Those moments are essential for growth.
Is AI Weakening Our Brains?
Nick:
Do you worry that AI could actually weaken our ability to think?
The same way other habits can weaken emotional resilience?
Rodney:
Absolutely.
There’s a concept called cognitive offloading.
We already do it with GPS.
Many of us can no longer navigate without it.
The concern is that we’re starting to offload everything.
Problem solving.
Writing.
Decision making.
Critical thinking.
If we allow AI to handle every challenge, we lose the opportunity to develop those skills ourselves.
That’s what worries me most.
Nick:
It’s similar to what happened physically.
Many jobs became less physically demanding, and people realized they had to exercise intentionally because work no longer provided that challenge.
Now we’re talking about mental exercise.
If AI does all the thinking, we have to be deliberate about preserving our cognitive abilities.
Attention and ADHD
Nick:
Another concern is attention.
Everyone thinks they have ADHD now, but we also live in a world where we’re interrupted every few seconds.
How do people protect their attention?
Rodney:
Honestly, I don’t think we can beat the technology companies at their own game.
They’re hiring incredibly smart people whose job is to keep us engaged.
Psychologists.
Behavioral scientists.
Design experts.
Data analysts.
They’re optimizing platforms to capture our attention.
My solution isn’t trying to outsmart them.
It’s choosing not to engage as much.
That’s really the only strategy I trust.
AI, Marketing, and Manipulation
Rodney:
One thing that concerns me is that these systems know an enormous amount about us.
The more information we provide, the more accurately they can market products, shape behavior, and influence decisions.
That makes me uncomfortable.
Not because the technology itself is evil.
But because powerful tools can easily be used in ways that don’t benefit the user.
Nick:
It’s a little like social media.
Many services are technically free because we become the product.
Rodney:
Exactly.
Protecting the Weird Parts of Yourself
Nick:
One thing we’ve talked about before is the value of being weird.
A lot of patients come into our clinic worried that something is wrong with them when, really, they’re just unique.
And that’s okay.
Rodney:
I completely agree.
Not every personality trait needs medication.
Not every quirk needs fixing.
There are parts of us that make us who we are.
Sometimes the goal isn’t to erase those parts. It’s learning how to live with them.
I worry that the more we rely on technology to standardize thinking, the more individuality we’ll lose.
Nick:
Sometimes the weird parts are where creativity, humor, and innovation come from.
If we smooth away everything unusual, we smooth away part of what makes us human.
AI and Validation
Nick:
There’s also the issue of validation.
If you have a chatbot constantly telling you that you’re brilliant, wise, and always correct, that’s not necessarily healthy.
Rodney:
Exactly.
We need people who support us, but we also need people who can challenge us.
The healthiest relationships contain both encouragement and honesty.
A chatbot can encourage you.
It’s much less likely to tell you a difficult truth in the way a trusted friend can.
Parents, Children, and AI
Nick:
One area that concerns me is parents and AI.
A lot of older generations grew up trusting authority figures.
Doctors.
Teachers.
News anchors.
Now they’re being introduced to AI at the same time as their children.
Rodney:
I think you’re right.
Another issue is loneliness.
Many older adults are isolated.
AI offers companionship.
For busy parents, AI offers convenience.
It can tell stories.
Answer questions.
Entertain children.
The danger is that convenience can slowly replace human connection.
I don’t think most people are doing anything wrong. They’re overwhelmed.
But we have to be careful about what we’re trading away.
The Bigger Lesson
Nick:
Maybe that’s really the theme of this conversation.
AI can make life smoother.
It can remove friction.
But growth often comes from friction.
The challenge is deciding which hard things should remain hard.
What struggles teach us something valuable?
And what tasks are simply busy work that technology can help us complete more efficiently?
Rodney:
I think that’s exactly right.
There are things AI can help with.
There are also things we need to do ourselves if we want to continue growing as people.
The key is learning the difference.
Closing
Nick:
We’re almost out of time.
Tell everyone where they can find you.
Rodney:
I’m located at 223 Northwest Avenue in Tallmadge, near Tallmadge Circle.
I run Counseling for Men.
Much of my work focuses on men’s issues, pornography addiction, Christian counseling, relationships, and couples counseling.
While I primarily work with men, I also see women and couples depending on the situation.
Nick:
And at Ascend Health Center, we’re located in Fairlawn near Copley High School.
We offer therapy, psychiatry, ketamine infusions, Spravato, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and treatment for conditions including depression, anxiety, migraines, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, and other mental health concerns.
This was a great conversation.
Rodney:
Good to see you again.
Nick:
You too. Maybe someday I’ll make an appearance on your podcast.
Rodney:
We’ll have to make that happen.
Nick:
Thanks for watching.
You are watching WCTV, Wadsworth Community Television.
