😳🤖 Out: Therapy. In: Chat GPT?

It’s Monday, Boston.

🍦 Start your week off on a sweet note: Southie’s vegan haven LuLu Green is now open on Mondays, and to celebrate, they’re slinging FREE scoops of FoMu ice cream from 12 to 2 p.m., and giving free mini sundaes with every dine-in meal from 5 to 9 p.m.

👀 What’s on tap today:

• Trump’s student loan caps

• Coldplaygate updates

• Lizard on the loose!

Up first…

HEALTH & WELLNESS

AI comes for therapy

Meet your new (robot) therapist. As mental health care gets harder to access and more expensive, a growing number of people are turning to AI chatbots, according to the Globe.

Here’s what to know:

🙋 Finding a (human) therapist can feel impossible. Six in 10 psychologists don’t accept new patients, and the national average wait time for behavioral health services is two months, per the Bureau of Health Workforce. And even when you do nail down an appointment, most therapy isn’t exactly affordable. In Mass, you’re looking at ~$158 per session.

🤖 Enter: AI chatbots. Whether it’s because they can’t find or afford a human therapist, want additional support when their IRL therapist is off the clock, or just like it better, many people are turning to AI chatbots as their go-to mental health resource. “Chat is there for me at 4 a.m. when I'm having a new mom meltdown and just need some validation,” one B-Sider said via our poll.

🧠 Some users say the bots are surprisingly effective. Providence 26-year-old Scout Stephen told the Globe she credits Chat GPT with saving her life and diagnosing her with autism (which was later confirmed by a human psychiatrist). Another B-Sider called it “a shockingly good therapist. You can even tell it whether you want to be coddled or need some tough love dad vibes.” 

✋ That said, most health professionals do NOT approve. To put it lightly, the American Psychological Association (APA) isn’t a fan of chatbot therapy. The association cites risks ranging from privacy violations (chatbots aren’t HIPAA compliant), to inaccurate diagnosis and inappropriate treatments, to the exploitation of minors.

💻 At the end of the day, chatbots weren’t made to be therapists. Which means a chatbot’s goal isn’t necessarily to properly diagnose or treat your mental health crisis. Case in point: According to the APA, in order to keep users engaged for as long as possible or simulate companionship, many of these bots tend to “repeatedly affirm” whatever a user says, even when it's harmful or misguided. In the context of mental health, that can lead to straight-up dangerous outcomes. 

😵‍💫 And until we see some regulations, those risks won’t go away. Some AI companies told the Globe they’re working on new tech that’s more attuned to the needs of minors or mental health crises. But currently, there are pretty much zero state or federal government guidelines and guardrails to keep users safe or hold companies accountable. 

💬 If you’re looking for a therapist: Here’s a guide to finding one and a list of local mental health resources. For immediate support, anyone can call 988 to speak with a counselor for free 24/7.

POP QUIZ!

🏘️ Before you read on: What’s the median price of a single-family home in Greater Boston?

CITY

Quick & dirty headlines

💸 Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” is slowing down student loan borrowing. The new bill will cap the amount of federal loans borrowers can take out. Think: a $200,000 cap for medical and law students, $100,000 for grad students, and a $257,500 total lifetime limit for all. Supporters argue the limits will save taxpayers billions and put downward pressure on tuition prices, but opponents say it may just drive borrowers (who are disproportionately women and people of color) to take out riskier private loans or skip out on higher ed altogether. 

💋 We have some updates on “Coldplaygate.” ICYMI: Last Wednesday, a CEO’s illicit relationship with his head of HR was exposed on Gillette’s jumbotron at a Coldplay concert, and the internet freaked out. So much so that by Saturday, the CEO in question, Andy Byron, resigned from his post at tech company Astronomer. Meanwhile, on Friday, the company took to social media to check the internet sleuths, debunking viral theories like another employee being present and a fake statement from Byron.

🏠 Greater Boston just set a new housing record (derogatory). For the first time ever, the median price for a single-family home in Greater Boston has cracked $1 million. The figure comes from data of June home sales, which put the average price at $1,003,250 —  an increase of 2.4% over May and 4.5% over last June. So what does that actually mean? Well, for a $1 million house, you could reasonably expect a $200,000 down payment and a $5,000+ monthly payment … plus taxes and insurance *sobs*.

🍳 Need an excuse to have breakfast for dinner? Or lunch? Or literally whenever? Daily Provisions, an all-day cafe out of NYC, opens in Harvard Square today. This marks the chain’s 10th location, and first outside of NYC and New Jersey. On the menu: All day eats from breakfast food, coffee, and pastries, to light lunch, roast chicken, wine, and cocktails, but the crown jewel has to be its iconic breakfast sammies (which look amazing) served all day long. Even better: The first 100 customers get a free, Bon Appetit-approved cruller!

THINGS TO DO

Weekday plans

🍷 Put a twist on paint and sip. There are still a few tickets left for Trident's craft and cocktail night on July 22. For just $30, you can paint your own wine glass while tasting three new sips and snacks. 

🍿 Check two outdoor movies off your bucket list. Stop 1: Time Out Market’s outdoor screening of “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” on July 21 (with free popcorn!). Stop 2: “Mean Girls” at The Speedway on July 23. 

🏃 Run in the name of lOoOove. Imagine: A run/walking club where everyone is single and on the prowl. That’s exactly the vibe of Lunge Run Club’s meet up on July 23.

🎭 Just say “no” to $100 theatre tickets. It wont be hard since Shakespeare on the Common returns this week with free performances of “As You Like It” on July 23. BYO blanket!

🧘 Shavasana at sunset. This sunset yoga class with Corepower on the Esplanade on July 24 might sound like it’s $40, but surprise: It’s free! Just be sure to bring your own mat. 

🛍️ Visit Boston’s best after-hours shopping. We’re obv talking about the Brighton Bazaar’s Night Bazaar on July 24. On deck this month: 100+ small businesses, free Culture Pop, and so much more!

🍕 Leave the food and funk at home. ‘Cause there’s going to be plenty of both at Bow Market’s food and funk fest on July 25. Think: Pizza, funky brews, and live music in the heart of the market. 

🍿 Rep your fave Massholes from your couch. 2025 Emmy noms dropped last week, which is all the more reason to binge the nominees with Boston ties. Spoiler: It’s not just “The Bear.”

ONE LAST THING

Lizard on the loose!

Webster, Mass. is currently cosplaying as Jurassic Park. And by that, we mean this six foot lizard is on the loose. 

That’s right: According to Webster Animal Control, a huge water monitor lizard escaped from its home Friday and is currently on the loose. Thankfully, despite their terrifying appearance, water monitors aren’t venomous or known to attack humans or dogs unprompted. Buuuut if threatened, they do bite, which, besides hurting pretty bad, can transfer dangerous bacteria.

If you’re thinking “I didn’t know I was allowed to own an 80-pound lizard in Mass.,” good instincts. Water monitors *are* illegal to own here, but officials say that shouldn’t stop you from calling Webster animal control if you see the little very big guy. 

— Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario

🦎 Thanks for reading! And per usual, the best part of this whole thing are the iconic Facebook comments. Not someone calling it a “water puppy” lol.

🤖 The results are in: The B-Siders have spoken: 87% of them would NOT use AI as a therapist. One reader said: “You know how people say ‘he acts like a robot’ and that's a bad thing?”

🎵 🕺 Don't forget to grab your tickets to Best Day Ever, our Aug. 2 food, music, and shopping bash at Artists for Humanity!

💃 Keep up with us @BostonBSide on IG, TikTok, and Twitter. Send comments and suggestions to [email protected] or [email protected].