“I don't want to be guided through a 7-step CBT module. I want to tell someone that my mom said something awful at dinner and have them actually respond to THAT, not redirect me to a mood tracking exercise.”
There's a fundamental difference between talking to something and being walked through something. Most mental health apps are the second kind — they have a curriculum and you're the student. But sometimes you don't need a lesson. You need a conversation. ILTY is built for open-ended conversation first. No modules, no progress bars, no 'let's try this exercise.' Just talk.
When you download a 'therapy chatbot' and it immediately asks you to select your mood from a list of emojis, something feels off. You came to talk, and instead you're filling out a form. Then it walks you through a coping exercise you didn't ask for, congratulates you for completing it, and asks if you want to do another one. That's not a conversation — it's a worksheet.
The thing is, structured programs work for some people. But if you're someone who processes by talking things through — who needs to go on tangents, circle back, and arrive at insights through actual dialogue — then scripted modules feel like a cage. You keep trying to have a real conversation and the app keeps redirecting you back to the lesson plan.
•Scripted modules are easier to build, test, and get clinically validated than open-ended conversation systems
•Many apps are designed by clinical researchers, not conversation designers — they prioritize protocol adherence over natural interaction
•Open-ended conversation carries more risk (the AI might say something unexpected), so companies avoid it to limit liability
ILTY doesn't have modules, lessons, or exercises unless you ask for them. Open the app and start talking about whatever's on your mind. The conversation goes wherever you take it.
If you go on a tangent about your childhood while talking about work stress, ILTY follows you there. It doesn't say 'Let's get back to the exercise' because there is no exercise. The conversation is the point.
The Stoic Advisor might push back on your framing. Mr. Relentless might challenge you to stop avoiding the real issue. These aren't neutral facilitators reading from a script — they're conversational partners with distinct viewpoints.
There's no 'Session 3 of 8' or 'Week 2 Module.' You talk when you want, about what you want, for as long as you want. Some conversations last two minutes. Some go for an hour. Both are fine.
We want to be honest about our limitations:
ILTY is conversation-first, but if you ask for specific techniques — like grounding exercises or thought reframing — your companion can walk you through them naturally within the conversation. The difference is that you choose when and if to do them, and they emerge from the dialogue rather than being imposed by a program.
ChatGPT is a general-purpose tool. ILTY is specifically designed for mental health conversations with persistent memory, companion personalities, and an understanding of emotional context. It's the difference between venting to a search engine and talking to someone who knows your story.
Absolutely. Some days you might want to freely talk about what's bothering you. Other days you might ask your companion to help you work through a specific problem step by step. ILTY adapts to what you need in the moment.
How ILTY's free-form conversation compares to Wysa's guided toolkit approach.
The landscape of AI therapy apps and where conversational AI companions fit in.
Understanding the different types of AI mental health tools and how to choose the right one.
When AI therapy responses feel hollow and scripted instead of genuine.
ILTY is free during beta. It's not therapy. It's not a cure. It's a place to talk through what you're going through—honestly, without judgment, whenever you need it.