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Do you think that human therapist  could be replaced by AI chatbots?

That's what we'll

discuss in this advanced C1 news article so you  

can add 58 new words and phrases  to your vocabulary using correct

grammar and correct pronunciation.

Welcome back to JForrest English,  of course, I'm Jennifer. Now let's

get started.

Our headline chatbots are replacing  therapists faster than anyone expected.

Let's look at this classic comparative phrase  here faster than you may know that there are  

two ways to form the comparative. You can  add ER to the adjective or you can use  

more plus adjective. So let's use two examples.  Prices are rising faster than anyone expected,  

or you could also say predicted.  So here our verb is to rise.

And it's in the present continuous because  it's taking place now. It doesn't have to  

be. You could say prices rose and see  it as a completed action. However,  

in this case it's in the present  continuous means this is taking  

place now. So fast is a short word and you  generally add ER to one syllable or short.

Words. Now let's take expensive, which  is three syllables. You generally use  

more plus adjective. So I could say the hotel  because instead of prices, which is general,  

I would use something specific such as the  hotel is more expensive than I expected.

So this then I expected or then anyone  this is general it includes all people  

and you have your expectation and then  you have reality and this is used to show.

They're different. Notice here I used  expected or predicted. They're similar  

but not exactly the same. The noun form is an  expectation. This is the adjective form expected.

So as the word, it means based on feeling or  belief. So I expected I would do better. So  

it's based on more of my feeling or my belief,  maybe based on past experience, a prediction.

So here predicted is the ED form the  noun is a prediction. This is more  

based on data or analysis so I could  say I studied all the hotel prices in  

the area and this is more expensive than  I predicted so I looked at the data or  

analysis coming back to our comparative  phrase, maybe you're thinking right now.

Learning English with the news, what you're doing  right now is helping me improve my English faster  

than I expected. You could also use than I  predicted if you want to make it sound like  

it's more based on analysis or data, but I used  expected because it's more based on a feeling,  

belief, and your life experience.  Now, you could add on, and it's more.

More fun too, so it's more fun than  I expected. I put a star here because  

you may realize that fun is a short  word. It's a one syllable adjective  

so this is an exception to  the rule. We don't say funner,  

although you will hear native speakers say that  it's more fun. So this is an exception to the.

General guideline on er versus more adjective.  And do you agree with that? Learning English with  

the news is a fast and fun way to improve your  English if you do put that right, that's right,  

put that right in the comments. And don't worry  about taking notes. I summarize everything in a  

free lesson PDF. You can find the link in  the description. Now, let's continue with

The article. While we're not  short on divisive topics in 2025,  

there are valid reasons as to why we're  turning to chatbots for emotional support.  

Let's stop here because there are already  some phrases I want to teach you. While  

we're not short on divisive topics,  do you know what a divisive topic is?

Well this comes from the word divide  so it's a topic that divides people  

so it's controversial or it's a heated  topic people have strong beliefs about  

it that would be a divisive topic. Now  let's look at the expression to be short  

on something in this case the something is  divisive topics topics that divide people.

Now, if you're short on something, it means you  have a limited amount or not enough of something.

But notice here this is in the negative  so it's saying we're not limited in the  

number of topics that divide people. This  expression is used in everyday speech in  

both the casual and professional context,  so someone might call you and you say,  

can I call you later? I'm short on  time. So you're letting them know  

you're not able to talk right now because  you don't have enough time. Your time is.

Limited, so it's very common to  be short on time, money, ideas,  

patience, many intangible things and then  tangible things as well. While we're not  

short on divisive topics in 2025, there are  valid reasons as to why we're turning to  

chat bonds for emotional support. Let's talk  about this to turn to someone or something.

To turn to means you go to someone or something in  this case a chat on for help, advice or support,  

for example, she turned to her team for  support because she was short on time,  

so she didn't have enough time she felt.

Overwhelmed, so she relied on her team.  She went to her team and said I need  

your help. I need your support can you  help me? Can you help me complete this  

project? She turned to her team. You  don't have to include this for support  

it's if you just say she turned to her  team because she was short on time.

It would be implied that she was going to  her team for either support, help or advice.  

So if you want to be specific, you can, but you  don't even need to include it. So here they were  

specific notice the preposition is for something  so for support and then what type of support.

There could be financial support, but  in this case it's emotional support,  

so support for your emotional well-being.

And why people are also very much against it  so against what? Agains turning to chatbots  

or replacing therapists with chatbots. So notice  you can be against something you're for something,  

which means you support it or you're  against something which means you oppose it.

Against is a preposition.  So if you had the noun form,  

you would need the Jain verb against  replacing therapists with chatbots.  

Now if you use opposed which has the same  meaning and you specified the subject.

You also have to use 2, which is a preposition,  so you would still need the ING form. People  

are also very much opposed to replacing  therapists with chatbots, but both of these  

can be replaced with it because a Jain phrase is  conjugated as it, so opposed to it against it.

Now remember to be against something  you need your verb to be which is here  

the opposite is to be for something, the  preposition for so you need your verb to  

be because it's to be for something.  Some people are for it for replacing  

therapists. Now if you use the word support,  you would just say some people support it.

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lesson.

The next part of the article is a question. So how  

willing are you to embrace this new  form of therapy? And of course the

The form of therapy is using chatbots  instead of a human therapist and embrace  

this sounds like you will accept it and  you will willingly accept it. You will  

enthusiastically accept it so that would be  embrace. Now in a reply to this how willing.

In the highest you can say I'm highly  willing or very willing. You could  

also use extremely. Now you can end it at  willing or you could add on to try this.

If you're more in the middle, more neutral, you  can say I'm somewhat willing to try this. Now  

if you're at the lowest end, you're  opposed to it, to make it negative,  

you would say I'm not at all willing to try this.  This sounds the most negative. If you just said.

I'm not willing to try this. This sounds less  negative than not at all. So adding those two  

words intensifies your unwillingness. You could  also say I'm unwilling. You can make willing  

negative and say I'm unwilling to try this.  Let's continue with the technology developed.

And evolving faster than the academic community  can study and publish evidence-based studies  

on it. There's nonetheless a growing  body of expert commentary surrounding  

AI large language models. LLM is the common  abbreviation and their ability or lack thereof.

So they're talking about the technology of  chatbots. Now here notice that comparative  

again faster faster than something else. Now you  could say quicker rapid is a common adjective  

as well and even though this is a short two  syllable adjective, it uses more so I put an  

asterisk here because you can also think of it as  an exception to the guideline of short adjective.

use er, but this one is more rapid than the  academic community can study and publish  

evidence-based studies on it, it being the  technology, the development of the technology.  

Now there's nonetheless, nonetheless is there  because it introduces a contrast or exception  

so it lets you know that the next point is  going to be a contrast to what was just said.

You're familiar with other connectors  I'm sure like although however but is  

a more casual one nonetheless  is a more academic or formal  

connector you can say I'm short on  time. I can help you nonetheless.

Or you could say I'm short on time, but I can help  you that's a more casual everyday way of saying  

it. Although I'm short on time, I can help you.  This sounds a little more formal than but, but it  

still sounds casual and conversational  nonetheless does sound quite formal.

There's nonetheless a growing body  of growing body of expert commentary  

surrounding AI large language models  so the commentary commentary represents  

things that people are saying so it  could be they're going on podcasts.

Or the news and verbally saying that  language, large language models can be  

beneficial for therapy. They're writing  it in academic journals and articles,  

so commentary can be both verbal or written.

Let's look at this part and their ability, so  the ability of chatbots or lack thereof. Oh,  

do you know what this means? This is a  great expression to know. It's commonly  

used in more formal sounding speech, but it  is used in everyday conversations as well.

Or lack thereof means the thereof represents  the lack of whatever was just mentioned. So  

in this case what was just mentioned was  the ability of LLMs large language models  

so it's saying their ability or lack of  ability and then you can just replace that  

with lack thereof. Here's an example of how we  would use this expression in everyday speech.

In a meeting someone might say we need to  discuss the project timeline or lack thereof  

so they state it as a positive discussed  the project timeline but then they add  

on or lack thereof to say because we don't  have a project timeline we need to discuss  

the fact that there isn't a project timeline  so it's often added after to say that this.

There's an absence or lack of this.

Now let's review this part their abilities,  so the chatbot's ability or lack of ability,  

lack thereof in replacing real human trained  psychologists, much like the broad reasons  

people use chatbots, so broad means there are  many different reasons that people use chatbots.

Instead of broad, you could say  diverse to mean there are many  

different reasons or you could say wide  ranging, much like the broad reasons  

people use chatbots employing them as a  digital therapist is also multifaceted.

Multifaceted in this context  is more of a replacement to  

broad in the sense that there are  many different reasons but it can  

also mean many different features or  components so if you describe a chap.

Not as multifaceted, it sounds like it can  do many different things. There are many  

different features, many different  components. So it's another way of  

saying complex. Now notice here  they're using the verb to employ.

In the ING form employing them, so  chatbots in this case employ means use,  

but it's not interchangeable for the verb use. I  wouldn't say I employ my toothbrush every morning  

I would just say I use my toothbrush. So employ  means to use something for a specific purpose, so.

Again, I wouldn't say I I'm employing my pen,  

but I might say I employed my pen to  build a tent first thing I thought of,  

so I used it for a specific purpose in a very  strategic way. So that's when you would replace  

the simple verb use with employ to use for a  specific purpose, often in a strategic way.

Let's continue. In-person therapy is prohibitive,  

prohibitive. So this comes  from the verb to prohibit.

As an adjective, it means that it prevents  people and it's usually because of cost,  

it could be because of the effort involved,  it could also be because of the location. So  

learning English with a native English speaker  may be prohibitive in your country because or  

your town because you don't have access to  one, so it could be because of location.

Now in person therapy is prohibitive now  they're telling you the reason why often  

to the segments of society that need it  most so the segments of society, this is  

just another way of saying there are certain  groups or categories of people within society.

A session costs between $100 and $300 US,  so notice you say $100 and then after you  

verbalize the money sign as dollars and the  dollars has an S on it if it's more than 1.

Not 100, just $1.02 dollars. So  everything after $2 has that S on  

it when you verbalize the money sign,  and this is why it's prohibitive.  

So you can say in-person therapy is  prohibitive because of the high cost.

Because of the high cost, so that's the  reason why and there's an and here so we  

know they're providing an additional  reason as to why it's prohibitive and  

wait times so the wait times refers  to the time you have to wait for  

an appointment, wait times to even  see someone so for an appointment.

And hope they're a good fit can be  months something that's worsened  

following the pandemic OK something so  that's this can be that is or that has,  

but I know it's that has worsened following  the pandemic because this is an action that  

started in the past and it has an impact on  the present, so it's the present perfect.

Instead of saying that has worsened, you  could also say that has become worse. Both  

of them are interchangeable. Now here, notice  this is your verb to be they are a good fit.

Now they're talking about to see someone so to  have an appointment with a therapist so this  

is the someone and the they represents  the therapist they are a good fit. If  

someone is a good fit, it means they  are ideal for what you want or need.

So for a therapist to be a good fit for me, they  need to have the style of therapy that I prefer,  

the skills and experience that I require.  They need to have the personality that I  

get along with that I prefer. So it depends  on many different things, but this is common.

Used in a job interview. So you're  reviewing resumes and you say this  

person isn't a good fit. Maybe  they don't have the education,  

maybe they don't have the experience. Now maybe  the resume, they look like a good fit, you have  

the interview and then personality style isn't  right, so you can say um they're not a good fit.

Now the structure is to be, so that's your  verb to be ah don't forget this article  

and then you don't have to use good. You  can use any adjective. She's a great fit,  

a perfect fit. She's an ideal fit. She's  a terrible fit. She's a horrible fit for  

the management job, so for and then  a position, a role, or a situation.

Let's continue. Online counseling with a  human on the other end of the phone or laptop.

Is somewhat more accessible. uh, so remember  we use this somewhat with willing I'm somewhat  

willing and remember I told you that  makes it sound like more in the middle,  

more neutral. We had, I'm extremely  willing I'm not at all willing and I'm  

somewhat willing so you can use this as  a modifier for a choice like accessible.

So it's extremely accessible. It's not at all  accessible it's somewhat accessible so it's in  

the middle. Now notice here they just ended  the clause somewhat more accessible now you  

could continue on and use then if you wanted to  provide the other side of the comparative online.

Counseling is somewhat more accessible  than in-person counseling. So this is  

the other part of the comparative. Now, if  you didn't have this somewhat and you just  

said online counseling is more accessible,  it sounds like it's a statement of fact,  

but if you say somewhat more  accessible, it's reducing it.

Let's continue, but a monthly subscription, so a  monthly subscription to access online counseling  

with a human therapist can be in excess of  $400. Remember we verbalize this with an S,  

so in excess of means more  than can be more than $400.

And that's why they use this modifier somewhat  to make it sound less accessible because remember  

that word we learned before prohibitive  prohibitive paying $400 per month for  

counseling would be prohibitive to many segments,  groups, categories of society, of the population.

For many, however, a chatbot offers  an outlet for raw, honest discussion.

Let's review outlet and outlet,  this represents an opportunity,  

and it's an opportunity to express  thoughts, feelings, emotions.

Now we commonly use this if you're talking  to a friend and you're telling them about  

how difficult things have been at work  or at home and you're just sharing your  

your feelings in a very raw, which means  unfiltered or honest, a raw honest way,  

you can thank that friend or that colleague, that  family member and say thanks for being my outlet.

So my outlet you're saying you are my  opportunity to just express how I truly  

feel without thinking about what I'm saying so  that's my outlet. A lot of people use journaling,  

so writing down their thoughts, feelings,  emotions, uh, on a piece of paper or a  

word document so you can say journaling, the  activity is a great outlet is a great outlet.

So this article is suggesting that  the chatbot can be that outlet,  

that opportunity to express your  thoughts, feelings and emotions,  

which for now may be more beneficial than  nothing. So again, here's a comparative.

Beneficial is our adjective, more  beneficial because beneficial is a  

longer word. It's three or more syllables, so  we use more beneficial than nothing than doing  

nothing or then saying nothing.  So if you had the choice between

Keeping all your thoughts and feelings  inside or talking to a chatbot,  

talking to a chatbot may be  more beneficial than nothing.

If you include a verb, which is not required,  

but if you include it, it would be in the  ING form because then it's a preposition.

Chotbots, so notice here we have quotations  which means someone is saying this. Chop bots  

can provide a sense of anonymity so  this comes from the word anonymous,  

which means your name is nobody knows  your name. So if you publish a book  

and you don't provide your name, that  would be anonymous or if you report.

Some sort of wrongdoing at work,  

but you write a note and you don't sign  the note that's anonymous so anonymity is.

A sense of nobody knows that you are  the one sharing this information and  

then confidentiality refers to the fact that that  

information will not be known outside  of the conversation with the chatbot.

Chatbots can provide a sense of anonymity and  confidentiality which can foster trust among  

individuals who may be hesitant to seek in  person help for their mental health concerns.  

Do you know what this verb means? So this  is a verb foster to foster can is a modal,  

so after modal verbs we use the base verb. So  that's why you have this in the base verb foster.

There are many common synonyms. Foster  is a more academic or formal sounding  

word. Some common synonyms are  encourage, trust, promote, build,  

develop, or support trust among  individuals. Now if they're has.

It means that, oh, I don't really  want to do this. I'm hesitant to do  

something. So you might be hesitant to speak  in English, even though you know you should.

And in this case, they may be  hesitant to seek in person help for  

their mental health concerns because it's  uncomfortable to to share your thoughts,  

feelings and emotions in  a very raw and honest way.

And remember this was a quotation, so  here they're saying who said this? Noted  

researchers in this 2023 paper. Noted  is a more formal way of simply saying  

said or claimed or even suggested  would be other ways of saying that.

Now the quotations begin again and here is  another transition word furthermore, so I  

know they're going to provide an additional point  or an additional reason so if you're providing a  

list of reasons or a list of points you can  use furthermore instead of additionally. So  

furthermore sounds a little more formal academic,  moreover is another choice that sounds more.

Formal academic casual ones are also in  addition. Additionally is another great  

choice. So these three are the more everyday  casual ones. Furthermore, moreover are the  

formal ones. Furthermore, these chatbots can  help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.

The stigma, this refers to disapproval  or judgment by society, so it could be  

society as a whole, it could be your group  of friends, your family, your co-workers,  

whatever social group it is. So it's a  feeling of being judged or a feeling of shame,  

embarrassment because of something. Now  the preposition you can use surrounding.

Mental health, you can also use the preposition  around so the stigma surrounding losing your  

job or the stigma around losing your job  and make it easier for individuals who  

experience anxiety when visiting therapists. Of  course you can use and to connect to ideas so.

The chatbots can do two things. It can reduce the  stigma and make it easier. Now, we already use  

furthermore in this sentence, so you wouldn't use  furthermore again here, but I want to show you,  

you could have two things and say chatbots  can reduce the stigma period. Furthermore,  

it can make it. So you could end this as a  period and then start the next sentence with

Or more, but you would have to include the  subject again because you need the full  

clause so subject verb object. Furthermore,  it can make it and then the rest is the same,  

easier for individuals. So that's just  an option where you can have two ideas,  

you can connect them with and or  if you want to sound more formal or

Academic, you can have end a sentence and then  start the next sentence with a transition word.  

Furthermore, also in addition, additionally,  and that's the end of the article. So what I'll  

do now is I'll read the article from start  to finish, and this time you can focus on  

my pronunciation. Chatbots are replacing  therapists faster than anyone expected.

While we're not short on divisive topics  in 2025, there are valid reasons as to why  

we're turning to chatbots for emotional support  and why people are also very much against it.  

So how willing are you to  embrace this new form of therapy?

With the technology developing and evolving  faster than the academic community can study  

and publish evidence-based studies on it, there's  nonetheless a growing body of expert commentary  

surrounding AI large language models LLM, and  their ability or lack thereof in replacing real  

human trained psychologists, much like  the broad reasons people use chatbot.

Employing them as a digital therapist is also  multifaceted. In-person therapy is prohibitive,  

often to the segments of society that need  it most. A session costs between $100 and  

$300 US dollars, and wait times to even  see someone and hope they're a good fit  

can be months, something that's  worsened following the pandemic.

Online counseling with a human on the other end of  the phone or laptop is somewhat more accessible,  

but a monthly subscription can  be in excess of $400. For many,  

however, a chatbot offers an outlet for  raw, honest discussion and reflection,  

which for now may be more beneficial than nothing.  Chatbots can provide a sense of anonymity.

And confidentiality which can foster trust among  individuals who may be hesitant to seek in-person  

help for their mental health concerns, noted  researchers in this 2023 paper. Furthermore,  

these chatbots can help reduce  the stigma surrounding mental  

health and make it easier for individuals who  experience anxiety when visiting therapists.

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