Aligning large language models for cognitive behavioral therapy: a proof-of-concept study.

ABSTRACT: Recent advancements in large language models (LLMs) have significantly impacted society, particularly with their ability to generate responses in natural language. However, their application to psychotherapy is limited due to the challenge of aligning LLM behavior with clinically appropriate responses. In this paper, we introduce LLM4CBT, designed to provide psychotherapy by adhering to professional therapeutic strategies, specifically within the framework of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Our experimental results on real-world conversation data demonstrate that LLM4CBT aligns closely with the behavior of human expert therapists, exhibiting a higher frequency of desirable therapeutic behaviors compared to existing LLMs. Additionally, experiments on simulated conversation data show tha

SUBMITTER: Kim Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12446991 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature